My Irish Cocktail Passport

On my recent trip to Ireland, I no doubt consumed more Guinness than I will ever consume in another week, but I also had the opportunity to try some of the most unique and fabulous cocktails I’ve ever tried. Here is the breakdown of my Ireland cocktail passport… 

Dublin

Bar 1661 

The Belfast Coffee cocktail from Bar 1661 in Dublin

This bar was on every recommendation video or blog I found while planning my trip, and for good reason. Bar 1661has collected many well-deserved awards for their creative cocktail menu that is crafted to elevate Irish cocktail culture. I like to think that I have a pretty good knowledge of spirits, but when I opened up the menu and saw the word Poitin, I was puzzled, as this is something I had never heard of before. After some investigation, I learned that it is a uniquely Irish spirit that has been made since the 1600s. Often referred to as “Irish moonshine,” it is similar to vodka and is made with potatoes. It is the main spirit in the cocktail that they are known for, called the ‘Belfast Coffee’, which has to be one of the, if not THE best, cocktail I’ve ever had. Along with Bán poitín, it is made with cold brew, cream, demerara, and nutmeg. It is such a simple cocktail, but perfectly balanced, balancing the best of both an espresso martini and Irish coffee. 

The Untamed Flame cocktail from Bar 1661 in Dublin

The second drink I tried here was called the Untamed Flame, made with Mad March Hare poitín, Havana Club 7, Allta miso butter, banana, caramel, and egg. Although it doesn’t look like much in the glass, this tasted like cream brulee in a cocktail, and was rich in flavour with every sip. 

El Silencio 

Margarita from El Silencio speakeasy in Dublin

The first time I went to Ireland 2 years ago, my friend and I went to a fast casual Mexican restaurant to get burrito bowls to fuel up the night before a night of beers at the pub. Imagine my surprise when I was scrolling through my TikTok feed the week I got home, and there was a whole speakeasy hidden within the burrito restaurant, kept hidden behind a hot sauce cabinet. On this trip, I made it a mission to go back and give it a try. It had a really cool vibe and the margarita was great. I would definitely recommend it for a great date night spot. 

Vintage Cocktail Club

Southern Passion Cocktail from Vintage Cocktail Club in Dublin

This one is another speakeasy that was recommended to a couple I met while I was in Galway, and thank goodness they did, because although I know the whole point of a speakeasy is that they’re hidden, this speakeasy was super hidden. Located in the Temple Bar, the busiest area in the city, lies a

door that looks like perhaps a back receiving door, and is marked with the letters VCC. When you knock on the door, a member of staff will bring you up to the dark, vibey cocktail bar. Their cocktail menu is thorough and gives you a snapshot of cocktails throughout history sprinkled with their own unique spin. I ordered the Southern Passion and it was fruity, sweet, and easy drinking. The atmosphere and overall experience definitely made the drink better. I think that could probably be proven by science somehow. 

Caribou

When I visited Ireland for my first time, I went to Caribou in Galway based on a recommendation from someone my friend and I met at a pub. Their location was a low-key craft beer snack bar with a great selection of cocktails. One of the drinks I had there was borderline life-changing, and one of the first cocktails I ever experimented with at home to try and recreate the recipe. An Irish podcaster I follow on Instagram posts somewhat regularly at the newly opened Caribou in Dublin, so I had been eager to give it a try. The space was much larger, more chic, and cozy. If I were to open a restaurant, I would want it to look exactly like that. My main goal when I was there was to try their

Vietnamese Carajillo cocktail from Caribou restaurant in Dublin

roasts, which is what they’ve become known for, but when I saw the Vietnamese carajillo on the menu, I knew I couldn't leave without trying it. It was a great balance of sweetness with the coffee flavour still present, and the booziness wasn’t overpowering, which is what sometimes puts me off about a coffee cocktail. An extra bonus point was that it was served in an adorable ceramic cup, and if my suitcase wasn’t already overflowing, I may have considered taking it home with me (just kidding, please don't steal from small businesses x). 

Cork

The next and final city of the cocktail roundup takes me to Cork. I would like to note that my trip was 10 days and we did see other cities, however, while I was in Galway and Dingle, our other two destinations, I was strictly on a G&T and Guinness diet. 

Paladaar

San Patricios Cocktail from Paladar in Cork City

The Paladar is located along the River Lee, and serves up Latin American-inspired cocktails and cuisine. We got some tacos that were so good, and I don’t think that it was just because I was starving from the long drive from Dublin. To drink, I got the San Patricios, which was made with Poitin, Mezcal, Cocchi Americano, banana, butter, white chocolate. The flavours were really complex and it was overall a really enjoyable cocktail, but the whole experience was made because we were sitting at the bar. Watching their bartender at work crafting so many cocktails, and talking to him, picking his brain on cocktails, and asking him for his recommendations when he had a spare minute, it made the whole experience. Whenever I go to a new bar, I always sit at the bar for this reason. The bartender's recommendation sent us to our next bar and the final one on this list 

Cask

Man of Aran cocktail from Cask bar in Cork City

Located in Cork City center is Cask, named Cork's best cocktail bar. One thing that I really admired about the bar is that all of the cocktails were heavily inspired by Irish stories and flavours. I love when local restaurants and bars infuse their culture into their drinks and dishes, as I think there is so much to learn from a place through your stomach. I got the Man of Aran, which was made with Connemara Peated Whiskey, Cocchi Americano, smoked wakame, and dillisk. In all honesty, this was not my favourite cocktail, but I think it's just not for my taste. I think peated whisky just isn’t my favourite. What I did admire about this cocktail is that it was able to balance the bold, smoky flavours of a peated whisky and the salty flavours of dillisk, which, to my understanding, is essentially Irish seaweed. It wasn’t too salty or too smoky, both flavours were bold but not overpowering. 

Safe to say many cocktails were enjoyed during my travels, and I am already compiling a list of drinks to try when I inevitably go back. I think the key piece of my experience at all the bars I went to is the incredible hospitality and kindness by not only the bar staff but the patrons as well. Everyone I crossed paths with welcomed me to the beautiful place they call home and did so with open arms. Ireland stole a piece of my heart (and probably my liver), and I can’t wait to go back someday.