Once Upon a Paris Bar

A riff on the classic Sidecar, the Once Upon a Paris Bar cocktail is the brainchild of Oisin Kelly, bar manager at The Sidecar in Dublin’s Westbury Hotel. Kelly uses the traditional base ingredients of a sidecar, a citrus-rich cocktail made with orange liqueur and freshly squeezed lemon juice, but adds an extra kick with the addition of Irish whiskey. In this case, Roe & Co whiskey is used for its distinct combination of flavors, including soft spice, hints of vanilla, and honey, which balance out the other ingredients without overpowering — a difficult feat for an Irish whiskey. 

The Grand Marnier, lemon juice, and sugar rim make up the classic ingredients of a sidecar, but instead of Cognac, the Irish whiskey gives the drink a bit more body and warmth. The addition of pear juice and simple syrup cuts the acidity that’s so prevalent in a Sidecar, making this take more balanced and well-rounded but still with a nice touch of sour. Pear also brings a subtle earthy flavor which marries with the notes of soft baking spice prevalent in the deftly crafted Irish whiskey. 

Kelly’s addition of pear in the Once Upon a Paris Bar also a nod to the story behind Roe & Co, the Irish whiskey of choice for the cocktail. Roe & Co is a contemporary blend of Irish whiskey that draws inspiration from and pays homage to the legacy of George Roe, who was a leader in Dublin’s whiskey industry until his distillery closed in the late 1920s. Two relics of that original distillery remain: a windmill tower and a pear tree, which still flowers to this day. 

At the bar, the cocktail is served with a bee pollen rim that adds a nice pop of color and texture. But if you’re making it at home, feel free to skip the rim — the honey simple syrup adds that sweeter note that you’re looking for. We’d advise against a sugar rim in its place because it leans a bit too sweet and you wouldn’t want to overpower the cocktail itself.