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| Bar training area |
I have always been fond
of a well-mixed cocktail and was keen to find out more about making them.
Luckily the Dublin Bar Academy runs a 2-day intensive course where
participants can learn all about the history of cocktail making and can master
the science of mixology.
Various drink mixing
techniques are covered during the two days and students are also shown how to
select the correct glassware and how to garnish cocktails. On completion of the
course, participants receive a Dublin Bar Academy certificate and a useful
manual containing information about all the topics covered during the two days.
Recipes are also included. Previous students have used the course as a
springboard to start their cocktail making careers here in Ireland and abroad.
Although the course is
primarily aimed at those already working in the bar industry, enthusiastic
amateurs or those just wanting to develop new skills are also welcomed. The
course seemed right up my street so I enrolled and headed up to Dublin for the
weekend eager to learn more about the alchemy behind cocktail making!
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| Classroom |
The Dublin Bar Academy
was set up in 2012 by Richard Linden and Ronan Rogerson and is a
branch of the European Bar School. Originally from Sweden, Richard has worked
in a number of different countries including five years in the 5 star Chewton
Glen Resort in the United Kingdom which regularly appears on lists of the
world’s top hotels. Here he honed his bar tending and cocktail making skills.
Back on these shores, Richard has worked under Francis Brennan in The Park
Hotel in Kenmare and was also Restaurant& Bar Manager in the Michelin
starred Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore, County Waterford. In addition to his
interest in the Dublin Bar Academy, Ronan owns and runs the popular Drury
Buildings in Dublin and was at one time Bar Manager at the Morgan Hotel which
is renowned for the cocktails it serves.
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| Old Fashioned |
Although originally
located on Francis Street, Dublin 8, the Dublin Bar Academy recently moved into
lovely new premises in Smithfield. The building is large and spacious and is
reminiscent of a New York loft. The main bar area is decorated with a large
colourful mural by the Dublin street artist Fink and it is here that students
eventually get to work at their own bar station. There is also an opportunity
to practice cocktail flairing which, for the uninitiated, is the performance
end of cocktail making involving juggling bottles etc. Richard and Ronan also
hope to set up their own micro-brewery in the building in the coming months.
The first morning was
spent in a classroom off the main bar area learning all about how alcoholic
drinks are produced. Richard explained the differences between the various
spirits and explored the distilling techniques involved in making them. I found
this fascinating and very informative. We were all encouraged to ask questions
and there was a lively atmosphere in the classroom.
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| Cosmopolitan |
Richard then gave us a
practical demonstration showing us the different ways to mix cocktails and why
certain glassware is chosen. We also learnt how to create simple garnishes to
finish off our cocktails and we discovered why ice and the shape of it is so
important. At this stage I was realising that cocktail making is not a mere
frippery but rather, that it is something taken very seriously. I was hooked!
Richard knows his stuff and explained everything simply, in easy-to- understand
terminology and answered all the questions we threw at him. He then showed us
how to make some classic cocktails and made it seem like something each of us
could easily achieve.
It was then time for us
to get behind the bar and try mixing up some cocktails. This was great fun and
although we were all a little awkward at first we soon got the hang of it. I
loved every moment. Each bar station was set up with dummy drinks and mixers so
that we could get used to the principle involved without wasting expensive alcohol.
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| Bar Station |
The first day then
finished with a tasting session which, needless to say we all enjoyed. I loved
the Dark & Stormy made using dark rum, lime juice and topped up with
fiery ginger beer and was also rather taken with the Cosmopolitan which
many people will be familiar with as it was the drink of choice for the girls
in the popular Sex in the City
television series. Made with lemon vodka, Cointreau fresh lime juice and
cranberry juice this was a lovely and refreshing. My favourite drink of the day
was definitely the Old Fashioned, a boozy concoction made with bourbon,
sugar syrup and angostura bitters. It was seriously good.
On the second day of the
course, Richard showed us how to prepare a number of different cocktails at the
one time and again we all got the opportunity to practice for ourselves. The reality
is that when you are working in a busy bar you would regularly have to prepare
a number of drinks at the one time so this was very useful. We also got the
chance to practice some cocktail flairing with Richard’s assistant Callum. This
was tremendous fun, and much harder to do than it looks. Thankfully unbreakable
bottles are used as we were all flinging them around the place.
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| Espresso Martini |
The day finished off with
a more detailed tasting session where we got the chance to sample a range of
cocktails including a Mai Tai, Vodka Martinis, Manhattans and
Espresso Martinis to name just a few. My favourite of the day was the Negroni
made with gin, Campari and sweet vermouth.
The 2 day course cost
€249 which for an incredibly enjoyable two days where we all learnt so much
about making cocktails was very good value. I would highly recommend it for
anyone working in the bar trade or anyone who wants to learn more about making cocktails.
Dublin Bar Academy
141 North King Street
Dublin 7
Telephone: 0858673296
This article originally appeared in TheTaste.ie
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