Mr. J

With a resume that spans some of the best cocktail institutions in Ireland, Ariel Sanecki has earned the reputation as a leading mixologist in the country. His approach to cocktails is more about the entire presentation, rather than just the ingredients in the glass. While working as the head mixologist at Adare Manor, a five-star luxury resort on the outskirts of Limerick, he overhauled the drinks program from top to bottom. From working with an artisan to create custom glassware to delving into the history of each ingredient and cocktail, Sanecki strives to create the perfect cocktail through every lens of the experience. Now, he’s bringing his inventive approach to a new cocktail haven in Killarney, at a historic restaurant and bar called Hilliard’s, where his focus on masterful concoctions is bound to draw attention. 

The Mr. J is the perfect example of Sanecki’s approach to craft drinks. There’s a story to tell with every sip, with flavors that present an idyllic marriage. Filled with notes that highlight the best of fall flavors, this cocktail is both bold and smooth and an easy sipper. So if you’re looking for a cocktail with depth, then this is the one for you. 

Both warming and complex, the Mr. J offers a range of ingredients that make this perfectly balanced drink one to add to your repertoire. The port-finished Scotch and chocolate bitters set a subtle base sweetness and give the cocktail a robust body. The Benedictine, a slightly sweet herbal liqueur, has a unique flavor of honey and holiday spices, which firmly cements this as an autumnal tipple. It’s then capped off with a rich finish from the coffee beans that give the drink a nice kick on the palate and a pleasant, warming bitterness. To finish everything off, this drink is garnished with a generous piece of orange peel, the flavors and aroma of which complement the bitter notes in the chocolate and coffee as well as the sweetness from the Scotch and liqueur.  

Overall, this cocktail treads the line between an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan in the best possible sense but has a distinct and luxurious character all its own.