Dubliner

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Cocktail History

The Dubliner is a modern cocktail that was created in the 1990s by Gary “Gaz” Regan in New York City, New York. It’s a simple variation of a Manhattan that was first made as an ode to Irish pubs. It uses the classic’s whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters template, but it calls for Irish whiskey in lieu of rye, adds a citrusy punch via orange curaçao and citrus bitters, and dons a festive green cherry as its garnish.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Irish Whiskey: This is a spirit made in Ireland with malted or unmalted barley and yeast, which are distilled and then aged in wooden barrels to develop a smooth, oaky flavor.

Sweet Vermouth: This is a type of wine made with red grapes and a blend of herbs and botanicals, which are fermented and then fortified with a neutral spirit and sweetened to develop a rich, grape flavor.

Orange Curaçao: This is a liqueur made with bitter orange peels, brandy or distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a sweet, rich citrus flavor.

Orange Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with orange peels, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a slightly bitter citrus flavor.

Green Cherry: This is a fruit that has been soaked in rich syrup and dyed green.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey
• 🔗 Carpano Rosso Vermouth
• 🔗 Senior & Co. Orange Curaçao Liqueur
• 🔗 Woodford Reserve Orange Bitters
• 🔗 Reese Green Maraschino Cherries

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Mixing Glass: This is a sturdy glass vessel with a wide opening that’s used for stirring cocktails with ice before straining and serving.

Julep Strainer: This is a round metal strainer with a perforated bowl shape and handle that’s used for straining stirred cocktails from a mixing glass while holding back ice and solids.

Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring cocktails, layering ingredients, and reaching the bottom of tall glasses and mixing vessels.

Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender skewer made from metal, wood, or bamboo that’s used for holding cocktail garnishes in place.

Nick & Nora Glass: This is a small, stemmed glass with a round or square delicately curved bowl that’s used for serving stirred, spirit-forward cocktails in smaller portions.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Julep Strainer
• 🔗 Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon
• 🔗 I-MART Gold Metal Cocktail Pick Set
• 🔗 Viski Nick & Nora Glass

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Orange brown color

• Aroma: Sweet orange and malty whiskey

• Taste: Spirit-forward but relatively sweet flavor with orange and vermouth notes

• Finish: Strong whiskey spice and more citrus

Kendall’s Take: “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a classic Manhattan, so it was fun revisiting the template with this Irish-inspired version. Its mix of ingredients is fairly simple, which means its taste is also fairly straightforward, in my opinion. It’s a nicely balanced whiskey drink that’s made even more palatable than the original by splitting the orange brandy liqueur and sweet vermouth. If you already enjoy whiskey classics, you’ll probably like the Dubliner quite a bit too.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in the publication Liquor.com.