BAR 1661, a cocktail bar in the heart of Dublin 7 which opened in 2019, has made the final four for World’s Best Cocktail Menu, one of the most coveted awards in the business.

The BAR 1661 team will be heading to the  19th annual Spirited Awards® show in New Orleans on 24th July where they are up against world renowned bars Jigger and Pony from Singapore, Maybe Sammy from Sydney, and Panda and Sons from Edinburgh.

Founded in 2007, The Spirited Awards are the spirits and cocktail industry’s equivalent of the Michelin Awards, recognising beverage professionals, products, establishments, journalists, and media across every facet of the spirits and cocktail industry on a global scale.

BAR 1661 was recognised for ‘We Call This Power’, a celebration of Irish poitín, Irish drinks, and Irish producers. To be named as one of the top ten in the world is a remarkable achievement — to make the top four and to be invited to the awards show is reserved for only the best bars in the world.

Cocktails featured on the menu include the bar’s iconic Belfast Coffee (€10), made with Bán poitín, cold brew coffee, cream, demerara and nutmeg, White Oak (€15) made with Egan’s Vintage Grain Irish whiskey, Lost Irish whiskey, pear, fig, white port, sour grape, lemon peel and cinnamon Parts Unknown (€15), made with Bán poitín, Don Julio tequila, grapefruit, pineapple, mulberry, lime and chilli, and Round Towers (€15), made with Glendalough gin, Micil poitín, aquavit, kiwi, lemon sherbet and celery.

We Call This Power finds its purest expression in the bar’s groundbreaking 28 course miniature liquid tasting menu. BAR 1661 Experiences are held in the bar’s adjacent cocktail factory, and take the form of an intimate shared table format limited to 10 people. Hosted by owner Dave Mulligan and his award-winning bar team, these unique events are held twice weekly and are designed for flavour explorers, connoisseurs and passionate alcohol enthusiasts.

“This one’s for our team, community, collaborators and anyone who has walked through the doors of our little bar in the heart of Dublin 7” says BAR 1661 owner Dave Mulligan. We Call This Power is built on BAR 1661’s orbit of community, partners and collaborators in Ireland, and to see it recognised at this level is a huge honour. A huge team effort and special thanks are due to our design partners Studio FDDP and photographer Al Higgins.”

BAR 1661 is open seven days a week with table service indoors and outdoors on the sunny terrace overlooking St. Michan’s Park, with bookings recommended. BAR 1661 We Call this Power Experiences take place Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm-10.30pm. These are ticketed events priced at €165 per person.