Bartender Tony Barry from multi-award-winning Cask bar in Cork city is representing Ireland at the global finals of the prestigious Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktails Competition taking place in Mexico City’s Museo Numismatico Nacional from the 29th of April until the 1st of May.
A total of 34 countries are taking part in the three-day global finals starting on the 29th of April at which they will be judged by a number of international industry luminaries. The competitors will be whittled down to a final eight who will then compete in front of a live audience in the final round on the 1st of May when the overall winner will be announced.
Tony is participating with his Hug From Mary cocktail, which is a combination of Bacardi Reserva Ocho, Irish stout, coffee liqueur, PX sherry and Xocolatl mole bitters. Hug From Mary, which is currently available to try from the drinks’ list in Cask on MacCurtain Street, is Tony’s tribute to legendary Cork publican Mary O’Donovan of the Castle Inn on Cork’s South Main Street.
Explaining the story behind his original Hug From Mary cocktail, Tony Barry of Cask said, “ If any of you have a bartender friend in Cork, or happen to be a bartender in Cork, you will know that the first place you visit as soon as you set foot in the city is the Castle Inn for a pint of stout, more often than not poured by the grandmother of all Irish bartenders, Mary. This has become something of a ritual among the bartending community, and bartenders from all over the globe have darkened the doors of this traditional Irish bar to experience what a real Irish bar is like. Who better to dedicate a drink to than the woman who has been serving drinks to those who serve drinks for decades.”
A graduate of Bar Management from Cork Institute of Technology, Tony was crowned Irish champion of the Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktails Competition back in November last year at the Northern European final in Amsterdam, where he was one of three Irish bartenders competing for the Irish title.
At Cask, Tony is part of Ireland’s foremost team of bartenders at the top of their game for innovation in craft ‘farm to glass’ cocktails designed around locally produced and foraged, seasonal ingredients. The manager of Cask is cocktail master Andy Ferreira who is the reigning World Class Irish Bartender of the Year. Cask was awarded Cocktail Bar of the Year at the industry-leading Sky Bar of the Year Awards 2017 and Best Overall Cocktail Bar at the Irish Craft Cocktail Awards 2017. Cask also has an innovative, casual food menu designed by award-winning chef Bryan McCarthy that offers global-inspired small plates, tapas and street food.
Cask is located at number 48 MacCurtain Street in Cork city centre, next door to Hotel Isaacs Cork and Greenes Restaurant. Cask is open seven days, with the kitchen open Monday to Saturday from 5pm until 10pm and on Sunday from 1pm until 10pm.
The official website is www.caskcork.com
You can follow Cask on Facebook and Instagram @CaskCork and on Twitter @Cask_Cork for regular updates.
