‘Park life’ at the Imperial. Something to sing about!

press release

‘Park life’ at the Imperial

 

Park Life? Savage Garden? The Imperial Hotel is crowdsourcing song suggestions for a playlist to match the green outdoor vibe of their South Mall parklet

The Grande Dame of the Mall. Looking Well. Looking Swell

New outdoor dining space on Pembroke Street and continued refurbishments at Cork City’s most historic hotel

 

The Imperial Hotel is calling on Cork to help them compile the ultimate playlist for their eco-friendly parklet on the South Mall. They are looking for feelgood music with a ‘park’, ‘green’, ‘garden’ ‘natural’ theme that will give people a boost as they enjoy takeout burritos and other treats from the hotel’s Lafayette restaurant, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city at the unique outdoor seated area!  

 

You can make your playlist suggestions on the Imperial’s social media and the top 10 entries will win complimentary burritos for two!

 

The pretty parklet, which is positioned just outside the main entrance of the ‘Grande Dame of Cork’ as the hotel is known, was created in January with support from Cork City Council, Benchspace Cork and the Cork Zero Waste group.  It is now a project of passion for the Imperial ‘family’, who are growing locally sourced pollinator-friendly plants and herbs there, as part of their sustainability ethos and to bring a gorgeous splash of natural colour, texture and scent to the South Mall. 

Parklet Pranksters. 

Parklet seeks playlist suggestions! Launching a search for song suggestions for a playlist themed around their South Mall Parklet. Members of the Imperial Hotel Team took time out to enjoy the outdoor green space listening to music, wearing shades and enjoying some delicious food as a fun take on the 3 Wise Monkeys. Pictured L-R Reece Love Assistant F&B Operations Manager, Roisín Flynn Business Development Manager, Jazz Glennon Marketing Manager and Sanja Orlovic Assistant House Manager of the luxury boutique Imperial Hotel, Cork

 

There is also a newly added bike rack to facilitate cycle access, which is very convenient for anyone popping out for lunch! 

 

General Manager of the luxury boutique Imperial Hotel, Bastien Peyraud said, “The idea is to curate a playlist for visitors stemmed from the sensory experience of this miniature urban greenspace - the aromatic plants, community atmosphere, and tasty food are the perfect stimulation of the senses”. 

 

Once the playlist is compiled it will be available publicly on spotify, so anyone with headphones can listen in on their personal device, ensuring that there is no noise pollution for other visitors. 

 

The Imperial Parklet is part of the Re-imagining Cork City Programme that aims to make Cork’s urban landscape more about the people. The Parklet is currently one of the few places in Cork that customers can sit and enjoy takeaway beverages, breakfast and lunch.  It’s also a handy waiting point for the Imperial’s click and collect afternoon tea and a spot of urban respite for people on the South Mall.

Speaking about the Parklet and the planned pedestrianisation of Pembroke Street, Bastien said, “Outdoor dining has never been more important and we are delighted to have our eco- friendly little Parklet complete with its Hanako flowers from West Cork, and soon our new venue Sketch will be accessible from Pembroke Street, a street which I’m sure will bustling shortly as there is so much variety on the street from the Imperial, to Maynes and Orso.”  

 

Bastien continued “The Imperial is affectionately known as the Grande Dame of Cork because of our unique 200 years of history at the heart of the city.  The Imperial family can’t wait to reopen fully in the coming weeks to showcase our restyle and renovation work, designed by Allen Flynn CEO of the Flynn Hotel Collection, which kept us busy while working behind closed doors.”

 

If you would like to contribute a song suggestion for the ‘Parklet Playlist’ tag @theimperialhotelcork on social media from today [25 May 2021], and you will automatically be in with a chance to win burritos for two at the parklet.

 

For more see www.imperialhotelcork.com #ImperialMoments #GrandeDameofCork #ParkletPlaylist

Never Say No To Rosé. Bouquet drenched in Sunshine. Aromas of the Garrigue. Suave and Gourmet.

Once In Provence

O'Briens Rosé Summer Offer. All Summer!

Once in Provence - well I was there just the once - I thought I should get a bottle of rosé for a fish meal back at the gite that summer’s evening. 

It was mid-afternoon and I was visiting Roussillon, the reddest town in France. Red, not because of its politics, but because of the red/yellow/orange colour of its buildings, most constructed from the local ochre stone - you could see, from the town, the bright slashes of a quarry in the area.

As you might expect, the young man in the wine shop had quite a selection. After a chat, he offered the bottle that his family favoured and it turned out very well indeed. Just before we drove out of the carpark, I took a photo of the newly acquired rosé lying on the local soil.

The local soil adds colour to this rosé

One begins drinking with the eyes, they say down there, the beauty enhanced by the glass. That bouquet drenched in sunshine. Aromatic notes of the hot and dry garrigue (herbs, spices, fruit). The taste suave and gourmet. They can really sell wine in these parts! 

Perhaps the best sell of all comes from an unexpected quarter: from the monks of Via Caritatas. They have produced a rosé that “addresses itself to the soul… Silence is the only thing that suits.” Check it all out here on this short video from the winery. Thanks to their Gabriel Teissier, I have tasted their beautiful Lux red but not that tempting rosé Lux de Cælo!

Came across quite a lot of rosé that Provence trip, including some at the famous Tavel (on the Rhone). Mostly though we bought and drank the pink from the ladies of Mas de la Dame (spoken of by Nostradamus, painted by Van Gogh, its wines recommended by Mary Dowey, three legends there!). 

The Mas rosé was popular in the restaurants around Arles (our base) and the vineyard itself was in easy reach and so we called and bought wine at the farm in Les Baux de Provence, a charming medieval village perched atop a rocky outcrop near where Anne Poniatowski and Caroline Missoffe, the current “dames”, continue to make excellent wines (not available in Ireland as far as I know).

Chateau Gairoird Organic Rose Côtes de Provence (AP) 2020, 13%, €14.21 (18.95)

This organic rosé from Provence has a very pale salmon colour. Quite aromatic with, for me, strawberry leading the charge, also notes of grapefruit and white peach. Strawberry also on the full flavoured palate, good balance too. Plus a decently long finish. Perhaps this is more suited to table rather than aperitif duty with a veal blanquette, cheeses, crab fritters, tuna tartare, grilled salmon, linguine with tomato and olive sauce, among the dishes suggested. Serve at 12 degrees.

Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah are among the grapes used in this blend. This Côtes de Provence rosé is all about the blend and up to 10 other varieties (including Rolle and Tibouren and mostly in tiny proprortions) may go into this wine.

O’Brien’s tell us the Pierrefeu family has owned this estate since 1824 and have farmed it organically for the last ten years. The estate has a maritime climate and benefits from a sea breeze every day which keeps the grapes healthy and disease free without the need for spraying, this is a deliciously elegant textbook Provence. The terroir is classic Provence with free-draining, chalky-clay soil dotted with galets and, with wonderful echoes of Jean de Florette, the Château has its own ‘source’.

While this rosé from Provence has nothing much more by way of colour than a blush hue, a recent edition of Wine Enthusiast reports, that in recent vintages the local rosé in Provence has “gotten exactly what it needed: more color.” 

Gérard Bertrand Côte des Roses Languedoc 2020 13.5%, €14.21 (18.95)

The "sculptured" base of the Bertrand.

Another impressive bottle from the Languedoc. There’s a rose on the neck (top) and the bottom has been “sculpted” into a rose shape (above).

Glass closure

So how does the wine shape up? Quite well actually as you’d expect from Gérard Bertrand who played rugby well and now makes wines well. The colour is a soft pale rose, with a hint of grey. Aromas are delicate, of red summer fruit (strawberry and cherry) and blossom too. With its generous rounded mouthfeel, the freshness and fruitiness on the palate, it is all the better to match your grilled white meat, white fish or Mediterranean style summer salads or just as an aperitif as you and your friend shoot the breeze and smell the back garden roses.

This blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault, certainly looks, and tastes, well enough to give as a gift when calling to a friend and don’t forget to get one for yourself as well. 

Summer Long Rosé Offers at O'Briens Wine

Revino PostCard Organic Pinot Grigio 2020 Veneto €11.96

Delheim Pinotage 2020 Stellenbosch €10.46

Petit Bourgeois Pinot Noir 2019/20 €11.96 Loire Valley

Langlois Rosé D’Anjou 2020 €11.96 Loire Valley

Pasqua 11 Minutes 2020 €14.21 Veneto

Laurent Miquel Les Auzines Alaina €12.71 Languedoc Roussillon

MiMi en Provence Grande Réserve 2020 €14.96 Côtes de Provence

Gérard Bertrand Côte des Roses 2020 €14.21 Languedoc Roussillon

Famille Bougrier 2020 €10.46 Loire Valley

Domaine L’Ostal 2020 €11.96 Languedoc Roussillon

Château de Gairoird 2020 €14.21 Côtes de Provence

Rós Rosé 2020 €12.71 Navarra

Passe Colline Rosé Ventoux 2020 €11.21 Rhone

See previous post on the Alaina and L'Ostal here.

press release

Reclaim Your Edge!

City-Coastal Connections – Limerick Strand re-opens with super summer exclusive offers

 

After five months of lockdown, it’s time to re-discover your passion, reclaim your freedom and restore your edge and take a trip to Limerick Strand Hotel who are very excited to be re-opening on Wednesday, June 2^nd.

If you fancy staying by the edge, then Limerick is the perfect base to explore the beauty of the region, plus the hotel is beautifully perched overlooking the majestic River Shannon, blessed with superb facilities, warm and attentive staff plus award winning food, making it the perfect place for an urban escape or an ideal base for exploring the incredible surrounds of the Wild Atlantic Way . 

“We are so excited to re-open (again!) and are thrilled to unveil our €400k new look River Bar & Restaurant to our customers. Last year we launched our new contemporary bedrooms, suites and corridors and after the past few years of renovations and product enhancements, The Limerick Strand has never looked so good and we cannot wait to show her off” said Stephen O’ Connor, General Manager.

King John's Castle

To celebrate the re-opening they have some incredible offers available to book online with discounts including Stay Longer for Less with10% off a 2 night stay, 15 % off 3 nights and 20% off 4 nights and with room rates starting from €161 per room per night, you can enjoy a few days exploring the city and region, re-connecting with friends and family.

Make the most of the obligatory Irish summer staycation 2021 and benefit by staying in the gateway city to the wild Atlantic way.  With some of the best surfing in the country only an hours’ drive away, and the iconic Cliffs of Moher too, there’s no better base than Limerick Strand for those longing for the some Vitamin Sea!. Take advantage of a combined city/coastal break enjoying some super Local Attractions Discounts including King John’s Castle and The Hunt Museum and for those looking to venture a little further discounts for Killaloe River Cruises, Scattery Island, Burren Smoke House and Bunratty Castle to name just a few, have been organised for Limerick Strand hotel guests.

Family rooms are available from €185 per night (sleeps 2 adults and 2 kids under 12 yrs.) with their “Explore a Little More” 3 night package this summer with exclusive hotel guest discounts at some of Limerick City and Wild Atlantic Way visitor attractions, breakfast both mornings for all the family, children under 12 years dine for FREE! (Free main course with every adult’s main course purchased) a welcome "Little Explorers" pack for each child on arrival and a packed family lunch on a day of choice to take on your adventure.  Guests can also enjoy late check out on departure day so you can all enjoy a dip in the swimming pool before you head home.

The “Explore a little More” two-night package is also available to couples and groups and available from €189 per person sharing to include, pre-dinner glass of prosecco, 3 course dinner in the new River Bar & Restaurant, 15% off Niall Colgan Hairdressing, 10% off Namaste Skin Clinic & Urban Day Spa plus the Local Attraction discounts.    All hotel guests have complimentary access to Energize Health Centre, including a 20-metre swimming pool, sauna and jacuzzi.

Hotel guests can easily explore Limerick city on foot or hire a bike and take advantage of the green spaces along the Shannon riverbank or go further afield and explore the beautiful wooden trails and parks which include Curraghchase Forest Park, Ballyhoura Mountain Trails & Limerick Greenway. Limerick Strand offers a complimentary range of walking, running and cycling map routes for hotel guests and are happy to provide suggested driving itineraries if guests fancy venturing a little further for a day trip as Limerick is the gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way.  Also, they are at hand to organise a round of golf at nearby Dromoland and Castletroy golf courses, should you fancy hitting the greens. For the energetic, why not grab a kayak and see Limerick from the water with Nevsail

The city is packed with historic places of interest, activities, cultural hot spots and great food stops including the famous Milk Market.   However, the city won’t be ‘packed’ so you will feel comfortable strolling and exploring this summer. Even better, why not order a bespoke Limerick produce inspired Picnic Basket to go? Using the best of local supplier produce, the team has created a selection of freshly cut sandwiches, the Strand’s award-winning scones and a miniature Dessert selection all washed down with a bottle of Attyflin Estate Apple Juice. Priced at €20 per person and €12.50 per child it is a keenly priced treat.

To make a reservation call 061 421800 or hello@strandlimerick.ie for more details please visit www.strandlimerick.ie. 

2 night breaks from €161 per room per night

 with10% off a 2 night stay,

15 % off 3 nights and 20% off 4 nights  

Cheers on Beer, Wine and Spirits. With Blackwater Distillery, BeoirFest, White Hag, Waterford Distillery, Bibendum, Bottega, Wines of the World, St Mel's, Celtic Whiskey

Cheers on Beer, Wine and Spirits. With Blackwater Distillery, BeoirFest, White Hag, Waterford Distillery, Bibendum, Bottega, Wines of the World, St Mel's, Celtic Whiskey, O'Briens Wine, The Corkscrew, Shelbourne Bar, BeerCloud and Kinsale Mead.

#210530 Update #1

From your drinks blogger @corkbilly . Enjoy responsibly.

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Are you in the gin club? Blackwater Have A Stunning June Offer.

Our June #BlackwaterTasters box is a World Gin Day Special. Introducing two Irish firsts - Wexford Blackcurrant Gin and Lavender & Pink Peppercorn Gin.

Love gin? Then you will not want to miss out on this summery box of joy. Available now in very limited quantities.

Check it out here

#DrinkResponsibly

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BeoirFest Saturday Special

This week we have 3 equally fascinating brewers, but ones that focus on a different style. Nevel Wild Ales and Butchers Tears are both from The Netherlands, while Land and Labour is from Ireland.

Each are completely different but at the same time have a similar ethos.

• Land and Labour are the pioneers of spontaneous fermentation in Ireland
• Butchers Tears are based in the heart of Amsterdam but focus on traditional ales, brewing with an old strain of English yeast they have been re-pitching for a decade.
• Nevel are located in Nijmegen and create beers using wild yeast and ingredients foraged from a local forest.

Each make truly unique beers and having all 3 of them together should make for a really fascinating chat. Your link to it is below.

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The White Hag Has Daddy's Present Covered For You!

If dads are good at anything, its minimum effort with 'maximum' return - that’s what this box will get you. With one click, we’ll help make your dad feel special when he opens this epic beer filled box alongside a beautifully handwritten card, just write your card message in the comment box at checkout, and our team with put their penmanship to work! We’ve two box options: The 'I Like You' Dad Box: Beers & personalised, handwritten card. The 'I Love You' Dad Box: Beers, handwritten card & presents. Orders will start to leave on Wednesday 16 June to ensure all boxes arrive ahead of Father's Day on Sunday 20 June. Click the link below to find out more and to preorder The Dad Box now.

The Dad Box Pre-order *********

THE ART OF THE CUVÉE

Our lodestar & a key milestone on our journey, The Cuvée – released this autumn – will be the definitive Waterford Whisky.    We needed to find someone who could interpret a rather unusual concept that underpinned a special whisky: starting with component Waterford single malts – each with its own terroir-defined flavour character, each one a standalone Waterford single malt in its own right, each with its own flavour definition. Then assembling them together, to build layer upon layer of flavour, of terroirs – so that the the whole would become greater than simply the sum of its parts. It was important that the label on the bottle communicated the madness, the eccentricity, the colour, the vibrancy, the multifaceted, multi-layered feel of a unique spirit itself. To be full of the life that we believe is brought about by laying individual Single Farm Origins together. We needed an artwork unlike any other – for a whisky unlike any other. And that's where one of Ireland's leading visual artists, Leah Hewson, came in.

READ MORE *********

Bubbles & Gee Gees. The Bottega Prosecco Bar at Bath Racecourse.
Ireland next?

BOTTEGA OPENS TWO PROSECCO BARS AT UK RACECOURSES OF BATH & WINDSOR

Bottega resumes with renewed enthusiasm the Prosecco Bar project and announces two

prestigious openings in May at the English racecourses of Bath and Windsor. These are two

Bottega Terrazza Bar & Restaurant, as they are elegant outdoor spaces where you can watch the

horse races and sip a glass of Prosecco, accompanying it with a selection of tasty Italian dishes.

They are complemented by the Bottega Garden Bars, which are more agile structures, limited to

drinks.

The two openings are of great value, as after a stall of over a year, they are the first since the start

of the pandemic.

In detail, Bottega has defined a commercial agreement with the British group Arc (Arena Racing

Company) for the introduction of its restaurant format at Bath, Windsor and, with a pop-up formula

linked to specific events, for other racecourses in England.

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Wines of the World

Just released, check out well respected wine authority VinePair's latest podcast featuring Sarah Jessica Parker talking about all things Invivo X SJP!     SJP speaks to host Adam Teeter about everything from tasting that very first bottle after blending to future visions for the brand. Check out this cheeky little snippet here: "Would it still be that magical experience, that liquid gold that we felt we had arrived at? I didn’t want to open it because I didn’t want to be disappointed. I can’t even tell you how exciting I was when I chilled it and then opened it. I was actually all by myself. There was a little bit of heaven that came out of that bottle."  Click the link below to listen now!

LISTEN HERE

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St Mel's Have A Competition For You!

As it looks like this Covid cloud is lifting and better times are on the horizon, ourselves and our good friends in Lough Ree Distillery are humbled by the continued support and loyalty from all our customers.

As a huge Thank You, we have joined forces to bring you a fantastic

competition. One lucky person will win :

A home bar.

Klarstein 5 litre Mini-Keg Dispenser

A 5 Litre Mini-Keg of St. Mel’s beer of your choice.

6 Bottles of Lough Ree Distillery’s Multi Award winning Sling Shot Gin.

Six Gin Glasses

To Enter Please:

Please like this post

Make sure you are following us St. Mel's Brewing Company

Click on this link to enter

https://www.lrd.ie/win/

Competition closes at midnight on Friday 26th June

Over 18’s only

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Celtic Whiskey Wine Offer

I am delighted to announce that we are hosting a virtual tasting with Equipo Navazos on the 23rd of June. Tickets for the event are €50.00 and include a sample of
La Bota 93 Manzanilla, La Bota 91 Fino Macharnudo, La Bota 90 Manzanilla Pasada Capataz Cabo, La Bota 74 Oloroso, La Bota 95 Amontillado, and La Bota 92 Palo Cortado Pata de Gallina. There will be an ambassador from Equipo Navasos there on the night to take through the sherry and will make for a fantastic evening! Click on the image above to find out more!

This week's offer features a wine from our new range of Chiantis from Bibbiano. The Chianti Classico from 2018 shows incredible typicity and makes a fantastic pairing for traditional Italian dishes. Check it out here. The full range is available from our website. - Colin.

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O'Briens Wine: Bordeaux En Primeur 2020

Our Bordeaux En Primeur 2020 offering presents the opportunity to purchase wine whilst it is still maturing in barrel at the Châteaux in France. There is a chance the value of these wines may increase in the future and purchasing at a fixed price now often represents the best value for these fine wines. The wines will arrive in Dublin in the spring of 2023.  More detail here.

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Teelings Celebrate

Book here

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Some Big Californian Names Just Dropped

at The Corkscrew

If you've found yourself dreaming of driving down Highway 101, past oak-studded hillsides, green valleys and rugged coastal cliffs, you're not alone. Although we have an excuse to be daydreaming about California as our new wines have just arrived and they've given us a burst of that Friday feeling.

These wines are made by legends, our new selection boasts a new label from California’s most influential and innovative winemaker Dave Phinney and some from his Orin Swift label which contributed towards his global fame. There's some iconic wines from the critically acclaimed Jayson Pahlmeyer and we also have Aaron Piotter’s untamed Zinfandel which was inspired by the "Bear Flag Revolt”. More info here

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The Shelbourne Bar

Father’s Day is coming up on the 20th of June and The Shelbourne Bar Cork have you sorted with our brand new Father’s Day Irish Whiskey Gift Box, The Man at Ease.

This exclusive Gift Box includes 50mls samples of WD O'Connell Bill Phil, Fercullen 14 Year Old Single Malt, Roe and Co Cask Strength 13 year old & Midleton Very Rare 2021.

More info and order here

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BeerCloud have The Deadly Dad Box

On June 20th, we will be celebrating the SUPERDADS in our lives. 

What can be a better gift than our brand new Deadly Dad Box! To celebrate it's launch, we are offering an EARLYBIRD DISCOUNT for all those who want to save themselves the last minute scramble to find a gift. Get this box for just €40.00  €35.00 (ex.shipping)*

The Box features 9 craft beers from 9 different amazing Irish craft breweries consisting of popular craft beer styles such as IPAs, Lagers, Saisons, Stouts and more, 1 Dead Centre Brewing Half Pint Tankard Glass, 2 pairs of Karrimor socks, 1 bag of O'Donnells Cheese & Onion Crisps and a Happy Father's Day insert!

It's Deadly....and it'll definitely make your dad feel loved. Order here

*Offer Valid till 31st May 23:59 hours. No coupon code required.

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Kinsale Mead Invite

One very special announcement. You can join us for a free event exclusively for our valued subscribers on Saturday 29th May at 8pm Irish time, online and live from the meadery.

Join us from the comfort of your own home as we guide you virtually around the meadery in Kinsale from the tanks and barrels and into the meadery oak bar. Unlike our paid tasting events, this online tasting is open to anyone around the world. Tell your friends!

More info and booking here

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