Dromoland Castle. Getty

The team at Dromoland Castle recently revealed a unique tarot-inspired cocktail menu and we have three of their new recipes for you to try.

With origins dating back centuries, Dromoland Castle is an absolutely stunning hotel in County Clare. Its luxurious decor, gorgeous views and wonderful staff make it unlike many other places around the world, which is why it has always been so popular with international visitors, including Nelson Mandela, The Beatles, Johnny Cash and many more. 

The staff truly make a difference at Dromoland Castle, creating a special experience each time you visit. It's no surprise that the bar staff are some of the most creative in the country, especially considering the Castle's new Tarot Card menu.

Read more: Warm Irish whiskey punch – the perfect welcome home for Thanksgiving

The Hanged Man cocktail from Dromoland Castle.

The Tarot Card Menu

Created by the hotel's bartenders, these innovative cocktails are inspired by classic cards that you might find in any tarot deck, like the magician or the fool, but are created using a range of local and handmade ingredients, resulting in uniquely delicious cocktails. 

The menu is presented in a special box, with the hand-decorated cards listing the ingredients used in each drink. At first, only one deck was created to keep as a menu in the bar, but it was so popular that guests began to ask whether they could buy the menu, so it is now available for purchase in the hotel.

These delicious cocktails are truly something special, so in case you can't make it to Clare, we have three recipes for you to try in the comfort of your very own home. Check them out below!

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The Magician

Serves 1

  • 1 sherry glass of Sharish Blue Gin
  • 15ml Noilly Prat
  • 15ml elderflower cordial
  • 5 dashes rhubarb bitters
  • 1⁄2 lemon
  • 1 bottle Fever-Tree Tonic
  • 2 pieces of lavender and one slice of dried lemon for garnish

Method:

  1. Add the cordial to a whiskey glass and swirl to coat, then pour into a cocktail shaker. 
  2. Pour the gin into a sherry glass. Place an old-fashioned glass over the top of the sherry glass, then invert so that the sherry glass is now upside down in the old-fashioned glass, holding the gin.
  3. Add the Noilly Prat, bitters and lemon juice to the shaker and shake to combine. Pour the mix into the old-fashioned glass around the sherry glass and top up with the fever tree tonic.
  4. To serve, garnish with the lavender and dried lemon, then lift the sherry glass to release the gin and make the cocktail change color. 

The Magician cocktail.

Death

Serves 1

  • 50ml Jameson Black Barrel
  • 25ml Kahlua
  • 35ml cherry purée
  • 10ml balsamic vinegar reduction
  • 15ml chocolate cookie syrup
  • 1/4 bar spoon of powdered black food coloring
  • A rose petal and blackberries to garnish

Method:

  1. Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker, shake vigorously and double strain into a wine glass.
  2. Top up with some ice and garnish with the rose petal and blackberry to serve. 

The Death cocktail from Dromoland Castle.

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The Sun

  • 50ml Shortcross Gin
  • 10ml Campari
  • 40ml orange juice
  • 35ml mango purée
  • 1/4 lemon
  • 5 basil leaves
  • 3.5 egg whites
  • Dried lemon and physalises to garnish

Method:

  1. Pour all the ingredients, except the garnish into a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously and double strain into a wine glass. Garnish with the dried lemon and physalis to serve. 

The Sun cocktail.

Read more: How Irish food may have played a role in one of the first Thanksgivings

* Originally published on Food & Wine Ireland.