Two of our bar tenders at The Sun Tavern, Ciaran and Tommy pursued the great opportunity to create a beer through collaborating with the Camden Town Brewery.

The boys got to produce two kegs of their creation ‘Mendoza Pale Ale’, one of which they kept to flow through The Sun Tavern’s taps, whilst the other stayed at Camden Town Brewery to be put on draught there. 

Everyone who tried the Mendoza pale ale said they loved it.

This was much to the relief of Ciaran and Tommy who feared that their beer baby might have been too hoppy. The boys also had the great idea of donating all proceeds from the beer to The Pirate Castle.

The Pirate Castle; a none-profit outdoor activities organisation that solely relies upon donations and grants to fund the amazing work they do for kids on the Regents Canal by the Camden Lock.

The parade continued with Andy sorting out a limo to take the crew to Discount Suit Company for cocktails, before heading onto The Sun Tavern to drink the Mendoza ale!

For Discount Suit Company’s Guest Cocktail May edition, we introduced the UK winner of the Bacardi Legacy Competition; Ally Martin’s Young Cuban.

Continuing our featuring of this year’s UK Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition finalists, we are pleased to present Ally Martin, (Peg + Patriot) and his winning entry: Young Cuban. Ally was one of two bartenders selected to move forward to the UK Finals later this month.

When asked about the inspiration behind his drink, Ally told us…

“the drink pays tribute to our bar tending community and the cocktail culture which has exploded in the last 15 years.  It’s all about staying in touch with our heritage and the people that kick-started the cocktail revolution so that we can continue to modernise, redefine and push boundaries as an industry and as a community. It all stemmed from the way that Bacardi have always stayed true to their heritage. But all the while they have consistently tried to modernise and redefine themselves as a brand, as a rum and as a family.  I saw this as a characteristic which was widespread within the bar community itself”.

It all stemmed from the way that Bacardi have always stayed true to their heritage.

Recipe:

Bacardi Superior, Lemon Juice, Orgeat, Fino Sherry, Sprigs of dill

Shake the ingredients with ice and double strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a sprig of dill.

Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, “the Day of the Festival of Patrick”), is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

For our first St. Patrick’s Day at The Sun Tavern, we had a smashing night, not a Guinness in sight.

Our bar manager Ciaran, got his father Brendon Duffy to come all the way from Galway on the west coast of Ireland to cook and serve free traditional Irish food all day fresh from our kitchen.

He said he didn’t trust British ham for his delicious boiled bacon and cabbage and Irish stew, so he brought an entire ham over in a suitcase! The food went down a treat, eating whilst listening to the traditional Irish fiddle band busting a gut in the corner was really something else.

There was also a guest St. Patrick’s Day drinks menu featuring mixed drinks like the One Irishman, Two Irishman and Three Irishman. Drinks on the menu only consisted of proper Irish spirits like Teeling’s Irish Whiskey and Poitín. There was also an Irish Boiler Maker consisting of Half pint of your choice with a shot of Teeling’s Poitín.

All in all it was an authentic Irish celebration of the man who drove all the snakes out of Ireland.

The Discount Suit Company received a surfeit of kind words on Difford’s Guide. This was greatly appreciated, here are some snippets…

“Discount Suit Company is a name on everyone’s lips. The subterranean venue near Liverpool Street has hit the ultimate balance between being chic, cool and yet unpretentious and relaxed”

Jane Ryan, Difford’s Guide.

“A new edition to the scene in east London that’s been making its presence known, this time near the famous Petticoat Lane… Despite the discrete entrance and intimate nature of this subterranean bar off Petticoat Lane, Discount Suit Company is not a speakeasy. Why? Because the name is emblazoned on the building. Twice.

It’s just a small underground bar, in no way trying to secrete itself…”

“This bar is owned, run and was built by bar tenders… The one page cocktail list boasts six very tasty ‘house’ creations (be sure to try the Goldfish Bathtub) and a spattering of classics but it also states, “we don’t just do ‘off the peg’ please ask your bartender for a cocktail tailored to your exact tastes.” They also offer a brilliant Neal’s Yard cheese board. 4.5/5”

Simon Difford, Difford’s Guide.

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