Wet Your Whistle
When Four Seasons Dublin opened in 2001, the designers wanted the hotel to reflect the historical Ballsbridge neighborhood, just a mile from Dublin’s famous shopping district. The Hotel's exterior is reminiscent of the Victorian and Georgian style of the nearby homes, while the interior restaurant and café are elegant, yet casual and informal--just the kind of places local residents, Irish vacationers and international guests feel at home. The Bar at Four Seasons Dublin also serves splendidly in this capacity, functioning as a local watering hole as well as a venue known for its unprecedented collection of premium Irish and International Whiskies.
On staff at The Bar is whiskey sommelier Kobus Van Zyl, who's been with the establishment almost as long it's been open. He oversees our whiskey collection - 130 different labels and 70 different expressions - one of the largest and most exclusive in the country. Not only is Kobus one of Ireland's pre-eminent whiskey connoisseurs, he's also an Irish Whiskey-tasting champion, holding the title from 2005-2007. From Kentucky to Scotland, he has travelled to distilleries the world over and can determine the name, age, country of origin, alcohol strength, distillery and price of every spirit from Lagavulin to Laphroaig. Kobus recommends the Knappogue Castle Reserve 1951 and Midleton 25 Year Old Pure Pot, two big hearted whiskies that are the finest examples of Irish whiskey from yesteryear.
After a tasting of a few blends and it comes time to ask for your single malt, don't be surprised when you receive a double old-fashioned glass with an "ice-ball", a smooth sphere that fits perfectly inside. Our mixologists have found that using one large piece of ice with a smaller overall surface area than several pieces of ice, the ball melts slower and keeps the whiskey cooler, and less diluted, for longer.
So visit Dublin for the culture, the music and the sights, and come to The Bar for a journey through the history of Ireland's whiskey making, truly one of Ireland's great cultural traditions. Enjoy and Sláinte!
