Bartender Cal Byrne, (Diageo World Class Ireland) created a cocktail by infusing natural dyes used in Irish wool sweaters.
Cal Byrne (@tabinootoko), a 27-year-old Dublin-based bartender, mixes cocktails at the Blind Pig, a speakeasy-style bar in Dublin. For his entry in World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2021, he provided an unusual proposal: infusing a cocktail with natural dyes used in Irish wool sweaters.
Byrne chose the novel ingredients as a way to highlight his project to connect traditional artists and artisans whose livelihoods have been affected during the pandemic.
As a nod to her initiative, she will represent Ireland in the final with a sweater made by her friend, Co Donegal knitwear designer Aisling McCallion.
And the natural flower-based ingredients used to dye the wool have inspired a cocktail she will present to the judges.
“I found out that all the materials that the dyers in Ireland used are edible and quite nice, so I made a drink to go with the sweater that is made with the ingredients used to dye the sweaters, so I’m quite happy with that. I think it’s quite fun,” he said.
Don’t drink and drive. Enjoy responsibly.