Here’s how to up your cocktail game with new book

OISÍN Davis has been a leading figure in the quiet revolution of Irish craft spirits for over two decades, and now he has put all that practiced experience into his first book, Irish Kitchen Cocktails.

This forward-thinking book is packed with 60 fantastic cocktail recipes designed with the home mixologist in mind – no fancy equipment here, just straight up ways to shake your way to cocktail nirvana!

Oisín spent his first decade ensconced in Irish American life in New Jersey, his later years spent firmly on the bar and club scenes in Ireland. He became an award-winning mixologist and drinks consultant with his company, Great Irish Beverages, and began wondering where the love for Irish drinks was when they are some of the very best in the world.

“For centuries, Ireland has been home to some of the best distilleries on the planet. Initially, that was just whiskey, but now we’re also creating incredible Irish gin, poitín, vodka, rum, liqueur, mead, vermouth and fruit distillates,” explains Oisín.

“In the same way that the Spanish know their Riojas and the Germans know their native beers, we should be up to speed with our Irish spirits. 

Understanding the basics of cocktails will allow you to explore these Irish spirits in delicious ways.

For the past ten years, Oisín has specialised in what he terms Bar Tender Advocacy. Couched in training and development, he used his skillset to train bar staff in new developments in Irish craft spirits, how to serve and talk about them, and to create a menu of signature cocktails serves.

“It’s a really important area of development for craft drinks brands to have bartenders that are ambassadors for their drinks,” says Oisín.

The flip side of the drinks industry is the at-home cocktail enthusiast. Through his work with SuperValu magazine, Oisín developed recipes and mixology methods that enabled people to enjoy a great cocktail experience at home without the faff and expensive equipment.

“During lockdown, I could see that people were really honing their home bartending skills,” he says.

“Today, in terms of sales, what we are seeing is more people than ever before purchasing spirits from supermarkets and off-licences rather than in bars.

I felt it was important to give people a way to experience how good these drinks can be at home.

Logic follows that if you want to be a better cook, buy a cookbook, and if you want to be a better at-home cocktail guru, you need a cocktail recipe book that shows you exactly how to do that.

“It’ll up your cocktail game at home, as well as teaching you how to appreciate a good cocktail when you’re out in a bar - or if you don’t like it, at least you’ll know why!”

Ireland is learning to embrace its curiosity for an exciting and dynamic cocktail culture borne from a craft spirits industry that easily competes on the world stage. In an ideal world, Oisín would like to see every neighbourhood bar, bistro or gastro pub able to shake up a handful of top standard classic cocktails.

“If everyone could master an old fashioned or an Irish Coffee, I’d love to see that happen,” he says.

Cask is Cork’s multi-award-winning cocktail bar, established by celebrated mixologist and hospitality entrepreneur Andy Ferreira, and it was to here that Oisín headed as part of his Irish Kitchen Cocktails book tour, back on October 11. Everyone present got a signed copy of the book, a Blackwater Rickey gin cocktail, and gave a demo on how to make the same cocktail.

Oisín was also on hand to field any questions and impart some trade secrets on how to shake, stir and blend your way to better cocktails.

Keep up to date with the latest news by following Oisín Davis on social media at @Oisíndavis @greatirishbeverages.

Here’s one of the recipes from the book...

Bertha’s Rickey

Ingredients, makes 14 x 70ml serves

175ml freshly squeezed lime juice (6–10 limes)

1 x 700ml bottle of Bertha’s Revenge Irish Gin

100ml water

2 tablespoons caster sugar

ice cubes

1.5 litres sparkling water

lime wheels, to garnish

Method

• 1. Pour juice into a large jug, then add the gin, water and sugar. Using a hand blender, blitz it for 30 seconds. Pour into a clean 1-litre swing-top bottle. Label with the name and date and stick it in your fridge door to chill.
• 2. For each serve, give the bottle a quick shake. Fill a slim jim or long glass with ice, pour in 70ml of the gin mix and top it up with sparkling water. Garnish with a lime wheel.
• 3. This will keep for two weeks in your fridge. After you’ve opened it use it within a couple of days, as the lime will start to fade.
• Irish Kitchen Cocktails by Oisín Davis is published by Nine Bean Rows (€18).