The official relaunch of the Bartenders’ Association of Ireland (BAI) took place this week, with bartenders and mixologists from across the country gathering at Bar 1661, in Dublin, to register and celebrate the occasion.
The new iteration of the BAI, which existed before ceasing operations in recent years, until now, will aim to elevate the profession and provide ongoing support to its members. The association will organise networking and training events throughout the year.
“The relaunch of this association marks a major milestone for bartenders across the country,” said Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI), which is the founding organisation behind the BAI. “We’re not only creating a platform for networking and development, but also ensuring that Ireland is represented on the world stage.”
The BAI has partnered with the cocktail competition of the Irish Restaurant Awards, which attracted over 700 applicants this year. This partnership aims to ensure that Ireland’s bartenders have a strong platform on which showcase their skills and gain industry recognition.
A key motivation behind the association’s formation is to enable Ireland’s cocktail mixologists to compete once again in the International Bartenders’ Association’s World Cocktail Championship. Ireland has been absent from the competition in recent years, due to the lack of a relevant national body, but the BAI aims to restore a connection to the international stage.
“With the resurgence of Irish cocktail culture, there has never been a better time for the Bartenders’ Association of Ireland to be relaunched,” said Cummins. “Through our partnership with the Irish Restaurant Awards’ cocktail competition, we’re fostering an environment where talent is recognised and rewarded.”
He added, “We’re looking forward to seeing Ireland’s best bartenders competing internationally again.”
