The gregarious Mr Oisín Davis knows a thing or two about Irish whiskey. As founder of Great Irish Beverages, enthusiastic drinks scribe, festival regular and co-host of the Beár Bia podcast, he’s spent years celebrating and promoting Irish made drinks. Now he’s moving the lens from the glass to the plate and persuading home cooks, bakers and bartenders alike to see it as an essential, everyday kitchen staple.
Hot off the presses, his engaging new publication, The Irish Whiskey Cookbook: 50 Recipes to Cook, Sip and Savour, sets out to show the world just how incredibly versatile one of the country’s oldest spirits can be.
Buckle up for a delicious deep-dive into its many culinary possibilities, as the Irish whiskey aficionado expertly demonstrates that beyond making an ideal companion for sipping, the legendary Irish spirit also brings heat, sweetness, spice, and depth to everything from savoury sauces and glazes, to delicious desserts and cocktails.
Leafing through the book uncovers a treasure trove of recipes for a variety of savoury dishes, with a drop of the cratur enlivening everything from Baked Ham with Pear and Whiskey Glaze to Chicken Hot Wings, Whiskey-Soy Scallops and Cashel Blue Salad.
Meanwhile cooks blessed with a sweet tooth are sure to enjoy such gems as Chocolate Whiskey Mousse, Strawberry Whiskey Shortbread Cheesecake and Whiskey Sour Sorbet.
In addition to the book’s host of beautifully presented recipes – ranging from those dating back to the 19th-century to others born from his own more modern kitchen experiments – Davis makes a compelling case for considering a bottle of uisce beatha a quintessential part of the kitchen press.
As an added bonus, each recipe comes with a suggested Glendalough Distillery pairing, creating a series of stunning food-and-drink experiences guaranteed to keep whiskey lovers happily ensconced in the kitchen for hours.
Speaking about his homage to the spirit, Davis says, “Cooking with Irish whiskey is nothing new. There are recipes here that have been around since the 19th century and others that were born out of my own curious whiskey experiments. But by bringing them together in the one publication and by suggesting whiskey pairings for each dish, I’m keen to show everyone from at home cooks to the thousands of Irish bar owners dotted around the planet how we can celebrate and elevate the Irish water of life.”
We’ll eat and drink to that!
Words: Martina Murray
Photographs: Ruth Calder Potts
Beautifully produced by publishers Nine Bean Rows, The Irish Whiskey Cookbook: 50 Recipes to Cook, Sip and Savour by Oisín Davis is available now. €20/£17.50
