Words: Shamim de Brún
Little &GREEN, the canned poitín cocktails that the guys at BAR 1661 created, are handing out free cans of poitín from 12:00 – 17:00.
A Little &GREEN vending machine will be outside 1661 for the day. You won’t be able to miss it anyway because, according to the staff, they have “branded up a full-size vending machine.” If you’re familiar with Little &GREEN, you’ll know their branding is Cosmo and Wanda level bright.
The campaign is aptly called ’NO LUCKS GIVEN’. Made with two of Ireland’s leading poitín brands, Mad March Hare and Bán, the Little&GREEN range includes two sparkling flavoured cocktails. They contain no artificial sweeteners and are vegan and gluten-free, with an ABV of five per cent.
Sneaky Orchard is a Collins-style drink. It tastes like ‘a harvest festival of ripe pear, crisp apple, and elderflower’. Shady Bramble is inspired by Ireland’s deep, dense hedgerows and bursts with wild juicy blackberry, raspberry, and violet flavours.
Mad March Hare is an award-winning Irish Poitín from Intrepid Spirits, the best-selling poitín brand in the United States. Embracing the resilience and Celtic character of the Irish hare. This iconic but endangered native has inhabited the Irish countryside since the last ice age, adapting and fighting to survive; much like poitín makers. Mad March Hare uses only locally sourced malted barley. It is triple distilled in small copper pot stills in West Cork.
Bán, founded in 2012, was a pioneering brand of the current poitín revival. Created by the owner of BAR 1661 and poitín aficionado Dave Mulligan. It has gone on to become a bartender favourite throughout Ireland. Produced with The Echlinville Distillery using a grain-to-glass approach which saw the brand crowned ‘Ireland’s Best Poitín” three years running.
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