Monks are behind the history of many of the world’s greatest drinks. Now their figure has inspired Cork City’s latest bar opening, Monk, located on North Mall. The venue is a spin-off of Franciscan Well Brewpub and the result of a year of work to develop a new concept in which state of the art mixology and craft beer enhance each other.
The team behind Monk has crafted a variety of innovative tipples that are set to challenge tastes and perceptions of traditional cocktail norms.
Franciscan Well is one of Ireland’s first modern craft brewery, standing since 1998, and the character of a Franciscan monk has always served as inspiration, in fact their first brew was named Friar Weiss. This cocktail bar is not the first encounter the brewery has had with spirits as they’ve also teamed up with Jameson to launch Caskmates, an Irish whiskey that spend time in barrels which were previously used to age stout.
The date 1219 is highlighted on Monk, as it’s the year in which a Franciscan Friary was founded on the site the brewpub stands today. It all comes full circle, almost a thousand years later, as the Monk bar continues the tradition with an impressive array of liquid creations, on the site of the Franciscan Friary that started it all.
Their cocktail menu is filled with signature creations which combine premium spirits, liqueurs and homemade syrups and other concoctions.
For example, the Monk Old Fashioned is made with Jameson Black Barrel, Shandon Stout, chocolate and orange reduction and Monk orange bitters; if you’re fancying something a bit more experimental, try their 1219 made with Jameson Caskmates I.P.A edition, Chieftan I.P.A, blackberry shrub and Monk sour apple cordial.
More information: monkbar.ie