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BARFLY PINNING IT! IRELAND GETS ITS COCKTAIL PINS
Big news for lovers of Irish cocktails with word that three bars have just been PINNED by The Pinnacle Guide, the global gold standard for cocktail culture. Perhaps unsurprisingly Dave Mulligan’s multi-awardwinning BAR 1661, pictured, flies the flag in style for Dublin with the much coveted 2 PINs — an ‘Outstanding’ rating, making it one of just 18 new 2-PIN bars worldwide, and admitting it to the ranks of such revered establishments as Gentlemen 1919 in Paris and Vancouver’s Prophecy. Also making the cut is The Sidecar at The Westbury, one of the city’s classiest joints, of which our restaurant critic Conor Stevens previously advised Totally Dublin readers, “It’s for special. Wear some adult shoes and run a comb through your hair”. Alongside Killarney-based Pig’s Lane, The Sidecar was awarded 1 PIN for excellence, which begs a question. Of all the awards for all the bars in all the world, why does this one matter? Well, it seems that The Pinnacle Guide judges everything from drinks, to hospitality, sustainability, and staff welfare, all backed up with anonymous global reviews from a network of industry enthusiasts and experts that lend it serious heft. The cognoscenti tell us that the inclusion of three Irish bars in the Pinnacle Guide is a major nod to the country’s growing cocktail confidence, putting Irish bars from city innovators to hotel glamour and regional trailblazers firmly on the world’s cocktail stage. Praise indeed – and we’re more than happy to drink to it! bar1661.ie THE IRISH PUB – HOW DID WE GET HERE? ON THE BOOZE AND ONLINE - DUBLIN BY PUB One of our favourite amateur social history projects recently launched a new website accompanied by an Etsy page where they are currently selling some cracking photos of pubs they have compiled over the years. In a heroic labour of love, the trio behind the accessible pint loving blog have been gradually building an archive of images and text capturing the worthy subject of ‘Dublin Pubs in the modern age’ for posterity. The blog’s epic quest to visit every pub in the city has resulted in a fascinating selection of articles memorialising the city’s taverns while sharing opinions and reminiscences on the various city establishments they have frequented over the decades. The design of the new look website takes its inspiration from “some of the typefaces seen on the facades of pubs throughout the city.” With “no pub too rough or too affluent”, their lens is currently trained on pubs north and south of the city’s canals, but we are quietly confident that future expansion is only a matter of time. As for the images, each handsome photographic print comes hand-mounted and hand-stamped, and as they so succinctly put it, “should look nice in any room of the house… even the jax!” For more see dublinbypub.ie 32 DRY JANUARY, MAYBE? With January carrying a hard-core rep for fresh starts, under-indulgence, and giving up the booze for at least a few weeks, it seems that Dublin’s inventive drinking hostelries are more than up to the challenge. We’ve been spotting plenty of pint-and-a-pizza specials, a flurry of game nights and lots of premium sports offerings to entice regulars back across the threshold this month. We’ve also noticed that those in search of merriment without the booze, are often to be observed making their way towards Clanbrassil Street at this time of year on a mission to while away the last of their winter evenings at Board. This month sees the low alcohol and no alcohol stalwart offering a chance to undertake a class in Mocktail making, in addition to the regular bill of fare featuring a vast compendium of games, quizzes, and banter. There are also plenty of folk on hand to school newcomers on the intricacies involved in mastering the ancient game of chess, with social chess sessions taking place at 7pm every Wednesday. Let’s face it, at roughly 7,000 days long, January is the perfect time to do just that, before returning to more regular pursuits in the spring. @boarddublin You wait all your life for a great read on Irish Pubs, and suddenly two come along at the same time. First up is Donal Fallon’s classic, The Dublin Pub: A Social and Cultural History which we featured in last November’s issue of Totally Dublin and can be read online at totallydublin.ie The second is The Irish Pub: Invention and Re-invention, the first full-length academic study of the Irish pub ever undertaken. From candle-lit corners in the 17th century to the polished snug bars to be found from Dublin to Dubai, this academic tome takes a deep dive into how our most famous institution came to be, and looks at where it’s headed next, taking time to unpack the Irish pub’s role in culture, community, and identity along the way. Edited by Moonyoung Hong and Perry Share, contributions from academic experts across history, literature, sociology, psychology, music, architecture and food and drink studies interrogate the many ways the Irish pub has been invented and reinvented over the centuries. Revealing hidden histories, inside stories, and some interesting new perspectives, the book explores everything from female publicans and queer pub life to diaspora bars and icons of Dublin’s pub design including The Long Hall. Smart and incredibly accessible, this makes for a fascinating read for anyone who’s ever pulled up a stool at the bar. The ideal accompaniment to a pint and a chaser. Published by Cork University Press.