Dublin to host second annual Cocktail Fest

Dublin is set to welcome its second annual Cocktail Fest next month, when all of the city’s bars will serve drinks made with Irish spirits or liqueurs.

Run by Great Irish Beverages, Dublin Cocktail Fest will take place on 12-17 October with participation from more than 30 venues.

Every participating venue has been asked to create a specific cocktail to sell for the week at a 30% discount to anyone who has a festival wristband.

Wristbands for the event cost €5 and can be used throughout the week at all of the venues.

Irish brands involved in the festival this year will be hosting public tastings and masterclasses across a number of venues.

“The whiskey and spirits industry is thriving once again in Ireland. Distilleries are opening up across the country crafting everything from single pot still whiskies, premium gins and vodkas, old school poitíns and liqueurs infused with wild Irish berries,” festival organisers said.

“In the Irish whiskey business alone, exports are expected to double by 2020 and double again by 2030. Cocktails are a fantastic way to enjoy such drinks.

“Dublin is heavily populated with fantastic bars, award winning restaurants and top class hotels who are now experts at mixing and serving drinks at a very high level.”

Said to be the first cocktail festival in Ireland, Dublin Cocktail Fest first launched in October 2014.

London Cocktail Week will also return next month and has recently launched an online guide to bars taking part in the event.