Now in its second year, Dublin Cocktail Festival (Oct 12th-17th), has built itself a solid Irish foundation. In an industry long rooted in New York and London, suddenly poitin, whiskey, potatoe vodka and beech leaf liquers are pushing ahead of the curve.
Thirty-six Dublin bars have taken up the challenge this year, each creating a signature drink with only one rule: give it an Irish base. The festival idea sprang from London but the atmosphere on the streets and in the venues here is definetly more Manhattan than Camden. With a young, dedicated clientele there’s a lot to be said for how quickly cocktails have taken hold here.
Some of the best bars in the city are on board – Vintage Cocktail Lounge, the Liqour Rooms, Peruke and Periwig, Coppinger Row. You could spend hours darting from bar to bar and not make them all, although I’m reliably informed that there will be some hardy souls attemping to do just that.
But it's not just about the drinking. Throughout the week there'll be a series of workshops offering masterclasses on topics such as making a great Kalak martini, why poitin has come full circle and why infusing Jameson is the latest trend. You'll find a full list at greatirishbeverages.com and there are courses for bartenders interested in upskilling.
The best way to get started is to buy a wristband at any of the venues for €5 and this gets you a 30 per cent discount on the featured cocktails. You can also avail of food pairing specials and other special offers organised in a partnership with thetaste.ie.
Download a copy of the venue map here and get planning. Cocktail Festival map.
