West Cork men's cocktail bar makes a splash at awards

FOUR West Cork men are the dream team behind a winning formula at Hotel Isaacs at McCurtain Street in Cork – an establishment that has just won the title of Best Overall Cocktail Bar in Ireland for the second year running.

The hotel is owned by Richard Evans, who has a home in Glandore, and it is managed by Arthur Little from Schull. 

But there is also Bryan McCarthy, from Glandore, working as executive chef in the kitchen, and Carl D’Alton, who is from Kinsale, working as the assistant bar manager. 

At the Irish Craft Cocktail Awards ceremony, last Sunday, Carl was presented with the Best Bartender award, and Cask took home the Outstanding Cocktail Menu Award.

The hotel’s restaurant Greenes is also a multi-award-winning establishment – the most recent award being Hotel Restaurant of the Year for Munster.

Arthur Little told The Southern Star that it’s bar manager, Andy Ferreira, who heads up the award-winning team at Cask.

 And said: ‘He, more than anyone, is thrilled that Cask took five awards, including the highest honour on the night, and Best Bar Team.’

Arthur said that since opening the bar in 2017, Cask has performed ‘at the highest level but always remains faithful to serving cocktails that are individually designed, seasonally inspired, and include some of West Cork’s finest foraged ingredients’.

He added: ‘We are all about serving spectacular taste in a glass.’