Stitch and Bear

A long-running Irish blog with reviews of the best restaurants in Dublin and throughout Ireland. Some wine and cocktails thrown in for good measure!

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

[Listing] 'Love Irish' Cocktails at the Fitzwilliam Hotel

A few days ago, yet another press release popped into my Inbox. A lot of these emails usually get a quick read and then get filed away for future reference, if required. However, this particular email from the Fitzwilliam Hotel caught my eye, firstly because it involved cocktails, and secondly because it involved well-priced cocktails.

So what was it all about? The Inn on the Green Bar at the Fitzwilliam Hotel has created the 'Love Ireland' cocktail collection which features 5 cocktails inspired by the "Irish landscape and quintessentially Irish memories". All are priced at an attractive €7.95 and will  be available for a limited time at the Inn on the Green Bar.

And so I found myself propping up yet another bar on a Friday evening. We ordered two of the cocktails, the Aul'Fashioned and the Gin-spiration (see below for full details). The Aul'Fashioned is made with Connemara, the only Irish peaty whiskey which brings an extra dimension to this classic drink. The traditional orange aromas and sweetness comes from the clever use of whiskey marmalade. Overall, I thought that it was a very nice take on the Old Fashioned, but the peaty whiskey may not be to everyone's taste.

The Gin-spiration was initially very lavender-y and I thought that I had inhaled some pot pourri. But then some wonderful alchemy happened, and the lavender blended very nicely with the smashed berries. A very pleasant surprise.

I really wish that the Fitzwilliam would consider relocating their bar, perhaps into the lobby space. The existing bar suffers from a lack of natural lighting and the faint odour of food that lingers in the room occasionally. The bar just doesn't do the cocktails justice, especially when there has been an effort at creating something distinctive and Irish. But a definite thumbs up nonetheless for the cocktails.

The "Love Irish" cocktail menu

The Muddled Wexford Strawberries & Cream
Fresh Wexford strawberries, sugar syrup, Absolut vodka, Crème de Fraise and fresh cream. It's designed to be "reminiscent of long summer drives, with the ubiquitous stop off for a punnet of Wexford's finest".

An Aul'Fashioned
Connemara 12 year whiskey, Grand Marnier, Angostura bitters and Irish Whiskey marmalade (hand-made by Helen Gee in Abbeyleix). "Perfect for Dublin-based Don Drapers".

Hedgerow Mojito
Lime, mint leaves, nettle-infused sugar syrup, Cork Dry Gin, soda water and garnished with a carmelised mint leaf. "No dock leaves needed for this bittersweet mix".

The Lavender Gin-spiration
Fresh blueberries, mint leaves, sugar syrup, lavender-infused Beefeater gin, fresh lime juice and soda water. This distinctive aromatic purple flower may be native to Southern Europer, but it's a common feature of the Irish summer landscape. Here it's a key component in this scented cocktail.
The Long Ireland Iced Tea
Java Wild Berry tea, Irish blueberries and strawberries, Absolut Kurrant, Chambord, sugar syrup and lime juice. This is also available in a non-alcoholic version for €4.00. This cocktail captures both "the rich bounty of Ireland's summer berries and our deep rooted tea fascination".

The Inn on the Green, the Fitzwilliam Hotel, St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2
Tel: +353 (0)1478 7000
URL: www.fitzwilliamhoteldublin.com
Twitter: @FitzwilliamDUB
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2 comments

WiseMóna said...

I love their cocktails too and agree about the bar Joanne. Next time I am in the big smoke we will meet there for a drink. The bar would be fabulous in the lobby ..which is bright and airy and perfect. Hope all is well x

dudara said...

Móna - I like the way you're thinking! Let me know when you're next in Dublin

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