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PROUDLY SPONSORED BY SLANE EXTRA SHERRY WOOD WHIS
KEY RELEASE When you make whiskey in a distillery in the heart of an historic Irish estate filled with acres of woodland rich in biodiversity, it’s hard not to be mindful of the crucial part played by wood in the Irish whiskey making process. Even more so if, as in the case of Alex Conyngham, you happen to live there too, as part of a family tradition dating back over three hundred years. The enterprising co-founder of Slane Whiskey is currently involved in planting in excess of 20,000 trees in the grounds of his family home at Slane Castle, as part of a commitment to protect and expand the local woodlands there this year. He also recently launched the special new Wood Series from the Slane Irish Whiskey distillery, observing that, “Wood has always played a crucial part in the Irish whiskey-making process and for our team you could say it’s a part of our brand DNA. We have always been hugely inspired by the impact different wood casks have on the taste of our core blend and this natural experimentation led us to establish the Wood Series.” The distillery’s latest release is Slane Extra Sherry Wood, which has been expertly crafted under the creative direction of Distillery Manager and Master Distiller Dr Gearóid Cahill and his team. It has been bottled at a robust 45% ABV, and matured using their signature ‘Triple Casked’ method using virgin, seasoned and sherry barrels, with the enhanced influence of Olorosso Sherry Casks intensifying the notes of dried dark fruits and baking spice with hints of chocolate. This gorgeous whiskey is already garnering great reviews from those who have had a chance to enjoy its unique flavours. Excellent on its own, with ice or as a base for whiskey cocktails, it also works well paired with some very fine produce from the local Boyne Valley region, such as chorizo and salamis from The Wooded Pig, and cheeses such as Boyne Valley Ban and Boyne Valley Blue. Slane Extra Sherry Wood is available exclusively in The Loop at Dublin and Cork Airports, and at the Slane Distillery in Co. Meath, making the brief hour-long jaunt up the road to check it out, followed by a scenic walk through the ancient woods on the banks of the river Boyne, more than worth your while. @SlaneWhiskey NOTE BISTRO There was a lovely buzz around Note when it first opened at the corner of Fenian Street and Denzille Lane late last year. In the months since, the ‘Bar, Bistro, Bureau’ venture from Andy Collins and brothers Essa and Ahmad Fakhry has been offering a nice selection of classic snacks, along with delicious orange, red and white wines in the beautiful space designed by the innovative team at AB Projects. Recent weeks have seen them launch the DASH BURGER X GEORGE MOTZ They say you should never meet your heroes, but Barry Wallace of Dash Burger has made an honourable exception for George Motz, the famed advocate of the smash burger technique who inspired him to kick start his own burger business during the early days of the pandemic two years ago. Motz rocks into town this month for a special event at Urban Brewing in the CHQ Building, where he’ll be dishing up his historic Oklahoma Onion Burger using the best of Irish beef at an outdoor cook out curated by Dash Burger. To coincide with the event, Dash Burger will also have a special addition to the menu in celebration of their hero throughout the week of May 19th. Paying homage to In & Out Burger from LA, the tasty Double Double Animal Style burger comes with Double Smash Patties, American Cheese, Pickles, Lettuce, Tomato, Grilled Onion and Animal Sauce. Sink your teeth in to this meaty treat at Dash Burger’s Kevin Street and Capel Street outlets. dashburger.ie SPUD MILK Back in early January we confidently predicted that the growing interest in plant-based foods we’ve witnessed over the past few years was likely to continue unabated, with products such as Potato Milk likely to feature more prominently on shopping lists here as the year progressed. In line with those expectations, this month sees the much anticipated arrival of the first potato based dairy alternative to milk here, courtesy of Swedish brand DUG. Developed by Professor Eva Tornberg at Lund University in Sweden, we’re advised that the product has a neutral taste profile, and can be used in teas and coffees, smoothies, cooking and baking, just like traditional milk. Now available in Barista, Original and Unsweetened varieties, it retails at €2.90 per litre and can be found at Fallon & Byrne or ordered online at dugdrinks.ie Bistro side of the enterprise with a new menu that continues to make good on their promise of quality food and humble service in a low-key setting. The selection of bistro style dishes on offer includes gems such as Cockles, Wild Garlic, Asparagus and Cider, alongside beautiful Pressed Pork Shoulder with Coco Bean and Salsa Verde. A special Chef’s Menu is also available at €70 per person. Note also continues its very popular Saturday wine tasting series, which this month sees expert Enrico Fantasia guiding customers through a selection of five favourites chosen by Grape Circus wines. The tasting takes place over two hours between 1.30pm and 3.30pm on Saturday, May 21st. Tickets €30. @notedublin 39