Dubliner
Irish whiskey, sweet vermouth, Grand Marnier and orange bitters, stirred. Gary Regan's Irish Manhattan — soft, orange-scented, and the best thing to do with a good Irish whiskey on a cold night.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Chill a coupe.
Add the whiskey, sweet vermouth, Grand Marnier and orange bitters to a mixing glass.
Fill with ice and stir for 25 seconds.
Strain into the chilled coupe and drop in a cherry.
A thoughtful finish
- A pot-still Irish whiskey (Redbreast, Powers John's Lane) gives it weight.
- Half an ounce each of vermouth and Grand Marnier; more and it goes sweet.
- Try it on a big rock with an orange twist for a longer drink.
Common mistakes
- A cheap, thin blend, which disappears behind the modifiers.
- Shaking.
- Red-dyed cherries; use a Luxardo or Amarena.
A few good questions.
What does a Dubliner taste like?
A soft Manhattan with orange — honeyed Irish whiskey, a little vermouth richness and a cognac-orange finish.
Who created it?
Gary Regan, for The Joy of Mixology, 2003.
Can I use Cointreau?
Yes; lighter and sweeter. Grand Marnier's cognac base is what fits the whiskey.
Is it an Irish Manhattan?
Essentially — the vermouth is reduced and the bitters are orange, but that is the family.
Variations
Where it comes from
c. 2000 · New York · Gary Regan
Gary Regan, the English-born New York bartender and writer, built the Dubliner for his 2003 book The Joy of Mixology as an Irish answer to the Manhattan: Irish whiskey with sweet vermouth, a little Grand Marnier and orange bitters, stirred, with a cherry. Irish whiskey is softer and fruitier than rye, so the Manhattan’s bitters give way to orange and the vermouth is pulled back; the Grand Marnier adds a cognac-orange richness that suits the grain. It became a St. Patrick’s Day standard for bars that wanted something better than green beer and has stayed in the Irish-whiskey repertoire since.
Sources
- Gary Regan, The Joy of Mixology, 2003 (book)
- Difford's Guide, Dubliner, 2010 (reference)
- Liquor.com, Dubliner, 2019 (reference)
Strength. About 1.82 US standard drinks at an estimated 30.1% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
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