The Dead Rabbit

As has become customary over the past three years, we’re taking a good look at The Dead Rabbit we know and love before it’s all change for Jingle Jangle. We’re closed today as our elves descend, armed with baubles, tinsel, bows, candy canes, and a tree or two. Our third year of over-the-top Irish celebrations promises to be bigger, better, and tastier than ever, with a menu of fourteen festive cocktails, seasonal food specials, and celebrations in three locations - here on Water Street, as well as the Rooftop at Pier 17, and The Dead Rabbit Austin. We’ve a very special musical guest joining us from 7pm tomorrow, and Ryan McMullan performing on Wednesday. So, here we are before our holiday transformation, and we’ll see you on the other side, Santa hats and Mince Pies in tow.

And that’s a wrap – for now. This was our second year working with Output Belfast, and this time, we partnered with Hotbox Entertainment, who do incredible work running education and creative facilities supporting hip-hop, drill, R&B, and rap artists in Belfast. At the Duke of York, we welcomed Juntzu, Littleman, Filmore, and Olive Hatake, performing in a jam-packed room with McConnell’s Irish Whiskey cocktails all around. The next day, our Director of Irish Music, Liam Craig, hopped on stage at the NI Music Prize to award JC Stewart for single of the year - and we filmed a That’s Deadly session with him too, which we’ll share with you soon. We’re proud to fly the flag for Irish musicians in New York and Austin, but also back home, helping to give emerging artists the tools they need to succeed - and succeed, they will.

Wherever we are - New York, Austin, or at one of our upcoming locations, we’ve always got our eyes on home. We’ve team members who work from Ireland - our Director of Irish Music, Director of Irish Whiskey, and collaborators, too. Being Irish isn’t just a part of our ethos - it’s who we are. We were in Belfast earlier this week for Output, the city’s music conference and showcase, and we were on stage at the NI Music Awards, too - but we missed the Christmas Light Switch On by just a few days. This time of year, Belfast, in the cold and the rain, might seem hardy to some - and it is. Tough and resilient, warm and welcoming, filled with grit, great humor, and generosity - and with the Christmas lights now switched on, Belfast is glowing - literally. People traveled from miles away for yesterday’s event, and organizers expect over 1,000,000 visitors to the Continental Christmas Market, with over 100 vendors from 30 countries, over the next few weeks. The holidays are when we miss home the most - so if you’re in our fine city, count yourself lucky. And if it’s your home, too, well, then you’re the luckiest of them all. Nollaig Shona Dhuit, Béal Feirste.

When Willie Nelson invites you round to make some drinks, there’s only one answer - absolutely, when do you want us? Last week, The Dead Rabbit TX popped up at Luck Reunion for Look West, celebrating Western cinema, culture, and the career of legendary screenwriter Bill Wittliff. The weekend featured film screenings, chuckwagon dining, live music under the hill country stars, and cocktails created by yours truly. Brittany and Preston were on the bar, with a menu featuring our house Usquaebach, Slane Soda, and Old Chap, all made with Slane Irish Whiskey. And although we didn’t spot Willie himself, we’ve all the more reason to return.

The MICHELIN Guide came to Texas for the first time ever last night, recognizing a total of 117 outstanding Texas eateries, including 15 Michelin-Starred venues, 45 Bib Gourmands, and 57 Recommended Restaurants. Newly-minted One Star locations include restaurants in four Texan cities - Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. We’re delighted for everyone recognized, but we’re particularly pleased for the Austin restaurants featured - our heartfelt congratulations go to Barley Swine, Craft Omakase, Hestia, InterStellar BBQ, la Barbecue, Leroy and Lewis Barbecue, and Olamaie on their new One Star status (dishes pictured here), and to Briscuits, Cuantos Tacos, Dai Due, Distant Relatives, Emmer & Rye, Franklin BBQ, Kemuri Tat-suya, KG BBQ, La Santa Barbacha, Micklethwait Craft Meats, Nixta Taqueria, Odd Duck, Ramen del Barrio, and Veracruz Fonda & Bar for their Bib Gourmands. Texas has always been a world-acclaimed destination for BBQ and Tex-Mex, but this new list boasts a total of 26 cuisines, embodying the diversity and creativity that makes this city great and, as always, just the right amount of weird.

Hosting a holiday party, Secret Santa exchange, office get-together, or family feast? Our 204 East Sixth Street outpost boasts 5,000 sq. ft of space, all dedicated to celebrating the modern Irish maker. We’ve plenty of space for groups of all sizes, including the bar - for those who like to chat with the bartender and sit front and center. We’ve booths, a little more private but still in the middle of the action, and we’ve ample space for standing, leaning, and dancing, too. Bookable areas include Mary’s Corner, a window-side snug for up to 15 guests; the front or back of the Taproom for 30 people; the entire Taproom for up to 80 guests; the Cafe for 60 people; or the whole venue for 250 guests, with customizable food and drinks packages, and dedicated event managers on hand at every turn. Well, you weren’t thinking of celebrating without us, were you? https://lnkd.in/e2PqRipD

Last week, we launched our new Parlor menu. The result of many months of research and development, 13 brand new drinks have joined the list, including a Butternut Squash Margarita, Fig Newton Manhattan, and Coffee Date Sazerac. As always, house favorites remain, such as the Steakhouse Martini #2 - updated for Fall - La Condesa, Overboard, and En Route, with cocktails categorized by style, featuring both a ‘Tradition’ and ‘Tomorrow’ drink in each section. The design has changed too, making the menu easier than ever to navigate - though choosing just one cocktail might prove difficult. Well, then you ought to stay for a few - right?

Belfast, we’re coming home. Join us and Hotbox Entertainment, an East Belfast studio supporting local rap and R&B artists, on November 12th from 8pm at The Duke of York for a live music showcase, featuring four incredible emerging musicians as part of Output Belfast -?Ireland’s leading music conference. Following a day of sessions, workshops, masterclasses, panels and keynotes, guests are invited to enjoy live performances from 48 artists across the city, wandering freely between each venue. We’re hosting Juntzu, Littleman, Filmore, and Olive Hatake, with a McConnell’s Irish Whiskey cocktail on arrival - and all events are free to attend. And, there’s more. The NI Music Prize 2024 will be announced on November 13th, with Single of The Year sponsored by yours truly. Nominees include Chalk, Chubby Cat, exmagician, JC Stewart, KNEECAP, and Problem Patterns, with the award given by our very own Director of Irish Music, Liam Craig. Ireland is home to so many incredible musicians, and we’re proud to champion and support the talented artists of the Emerald Isle - in our hometown, no less.

Last week, we celebrated the second year of our Spirits & Souls event, a tribute to the ancient Irish tradition of Samhain, paired with some more contemporary American conventions, too. And over the weekend, we were joined by a very special guest, Diego Livera, for our first ever Diá de Muertos event, hosted in The Parlor. Diego worked with us between 2018 - 2021, and has remained a firm friend, making him the perfect partner to mark this iconic Mexican holiday, complete with Espolón Tequila cocktails, Cempasúchil Flowers, Calaveras de Azúcar, Papel Picado, and more. And as spooky season comes to a close - Jingle Jangle is fast approaching. So, it’s farewell to pumpkins, cobwebs, and the spirits of the otherworld, and hello to Mince Pies, sleigh bells, merriment, and mirth. Write your letter to Father Christmas, hang up your stocking, and be sure to mark your calendars for November 19th - Santa Claus is coming to town.

Earlier this year, we launched our Tradition Meet Tomorrow chef series in partnership with Mark Moriarty and Kerrygold USA. Our fourth event, hosted just yesterday, marked the final installment of 2024, as we welcomed Ciaran Sweeney of The Olde Glen Bar to celebrate Samhain. Ciaran’s menu included an inventive take on Cheese & Onion Tayto, featuring a?Potato Wafer with a Custard made out of Kerrygold Cheese, Pickled Onions, and a dusting of Chive Powder. Also on the menu was Scampi Fried Langoustine, Turf Smoked Salmon, Olde Glen Bar Colcannon, and a Barmbrack & Guinness Porridge, paired with cocktails created by The Parlor bar team. As has been the case with all of our guest chef events, Ciaran’s afternoon and evening sittings were fully booked, and the feedback so far has been phenomenal. So, will we be doing them again in 2025? Well, you’ll have to wait and see.