Dave Mulligan

Panellist

A native Dubliner, Dave Mulligan has worked in and managed multiple venues in Dublin, London, New York and France as well as stints in South America, Switzerland and India, gaining over 20 years’ experience working in and around the service and drinks industry.

In 2011 Dave joined London's thriving cocktail scene where ironically his attention was brought back to Ireland’s native white spirit, Poitín, which was banned in Ireland in 1661 and only legalised in 1997. Inspired by the history and driven by its future potential, he opened the world’s first Poitín focused venue Shebeen in London, and quickly went on to establish himself as an ambassador for the emerging category.

In 2017 Dave’s focus turned back to Dublin where he opened an underground pop up in the city, serving cocktails made with Poitín. The success of this venture convinced him of the appetite and curiosity for Poitín on home soil, encouraging him to return to his native Dublin and look for a location to open his own bar. BAR1661, named for the year Poitín was banned in Ireland, opened its doors in April 2019, reclaiming the story of Poitín from the underground and creating a permanent home for Ireland’s original native spirit. 

BAR 1661 brings together the niche with the revered, the emerging with the established, and the traditional with the innovative. Irish to the core, BAR 1661 boasts the world’s largest selection of Poitín, as well as a lovingly selected collection of vintage and premium Irish whiskeys, gins and even Irish wine. Working with the best small and independent producers on the island of Ireland, BAR 1661 mixes and pairs with an all-Irish selection including bitters, sea salts and botanicals, while working with seasonal foragers and the city’s local grocers. In 2022 BAR 1661 won Ireland’s Bar of the Year.

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