Quick Jump Menu

Thanks to our

Sponsors & Partners.

Many warm thanks to our Sponsors and Media Partners for their ongoing generosity. If you are in the Licensing Trade, get more information about their products and service by contacting them through their links below.
For information on how you can sponsor the Bar of the Year Awards, contact:
Trish Murphy, Sales and Sponsorship Director, Licensing World
Phone: 0868379246 or
Email trish.murphy@ashvillemediagroup.com

2025 Tasting Village

Welcoming Our

Headline Sponsor.

Square Ireland

Headline Sponsor for Bar of the Year Awards 2026

Whether you’re a small business or enterprise, Square makes accepting card payments as fast, painless and secure as possible, with no extra fees, and no tricks. Just payment processing you can depend on so that you never miss a sale.
From taking in-person, online, and mobile payments with secure point-of-sale software and sleek card readers and registers, to managing inventory, staff, and customer relationships in one place, Square puts the point of commerce at the center of your operations.

To celebrate our sponsorship of The Square Bar of the Year Awards, we would like to offer you this exclusive promo: 1 free Square Register, 2 free Square Terminals, €20k in free processing.

Click here to check it out.

Our Category

Sponsors.

Aperol Spritz

Proudly Sponsoring Bar Manager of the Year

Aperol is an Italian aperitif, renowned for its unmistakeable vibrant orange hue and distinctive bittersweet flavour.

Created in 1919 in Padua, Italy, by the Barbieri brothers, Aperol has become a symbol of the Italian aperitivo culture, encouraging socialising and relaxation.

With a unique blend of herbs, roots, and citrus, Aperol offers a refreshing taste that is lower in alcohol compared to many spirits, making it an ideal choice for light sipping.

The brand gained global popularity with the rise of the Aperol Spritz, a cocktail combining Aperol, Prosecco, and a splash of soda, served over ice with an orange slice. This lively drink encapsulates the essence of Italian summer and conviviality. Today, Aperol continues to be celebrated worldwide, embodying a spirit of togetherness and joyful moments, making it a staple in bars and homes alike, and appealing to both connoisseurs and casual drinkers.

Bunzl McLaughlin

Proudly Sponsoring Gastro Bar of the Year

Bunzl McLaughlin is the leading supplier to catering and hospitality businesses across Ireland, providing access to a vast array of over 100,000 products sourced from top manufacturers worldwide. Our comprehensive product range encompasses everything from crockery, cutlery and glassware to kitchen utensils and equipment catering to the diverse needs of businesses, whether they are small cafes or large restaurants.

We are dedicated to delivering superior quality products and exceptional customer service, understanding the distinct requirements of the catering and hospitality industry. Our goal is to be the most sustainable supplier in Ireland and a trusted partner for businesses seeking to enhance their offerings.At Bunzl McLaughlin, we are more than just a supplier; we are committed to being your collaborator in creating unforgettable dining experiences. We recognise the significance of crafting a dining environment that is both aesthetically pleasing and practical, and our products reflect our commitment to excellence and sustainable goals.

Experience the unparalleled difference that Bunzl McLaughlin brings to the table and transform every occasion into a truly special experience.

Classic Drinks

Proudly Sponsoring Best Wine Bar

For over 20 years Classic Drinks have been driven by a desire to pair great wine with top-class service for our customers. We are dedicated to supporting our customers in the hospitality sector whose passion for great service is recognised throughout the world

Coca-Cola

Proudly Sponsoring Bar Food of the Year

Coca-Cola is immensely proud to sponsor the Irish Bar of the Year Awards, celebrating the exceptional quality and creativity of Ireland’s hospitality industry. With a rich heritage in fostering community spirit and bringing people together, Coca-Cola recognizes the pivotal role that bars and venues play in today’s society, and aims to continue supporting our partners across the industry to continue delivering exceptional quality and refreshment to consumers.

Edward Dillon

Proudly Sponsoring Cocktail Bartender of the Year

Established in 1867, Edward Dillon & Co. Ltd is Ireland’s leading distributor of premium spirits, champagnes, and wines. Owned by globally renowned companies Moët Hennessy, Bacardi-Martini, and Brown-Forman, we proudly bring an exceptional portfolio of iconic and trusted brands to the Irish bar industry. These include Hennessy, Bacardi, Jack Daniel’s, Bombay Sapphire and Moët & Chandon, among others.

For over 150 years, we have worked alongside bars and venues across Ireland, offering not just premium products but also tailored support and expertise. Our goal is to help our partners adapt to the evolving needs of their customers, ensuring they can deliver unique and memorable experiences.

As a supporter of the 2026 Bar of the Year Awards, Edward Dillon & Co. Ltd is proud to recognise and celebrate the professionalism, creativity, and commitment that continue to define Ireland’s bar industry.

Excel Recruitment

Proudly Sponsoring Visitor Attraction of the Year

Excel Recruitment is an award-winning, industry-leading recruitment agency with a database of over 2,600 clients, 150,000 candidates, and a temporary workforce exceeding 9,000. Supported by a team of over 100 expert recruiters across five office locations in Dublin, Kildare, Cork, Galway, and Belfast, Excel has rapidly become Ireland’s largest hospitality recruitment firm. We specialise in both temporary and permanent placements, recruiting chefs, bar staff, and waiting staff across the island of Ireland. Our team of highly skilled consultants have a wealth of experience from years of working in a variety of diverse hospitality professions.

All of our recruiters come from the industries in which they specialise, and we conduct a number of hospitality upskilling courses which are available through our sister companies Future Proof Training, the Irish Bar Academy and the Irish Barista Academy. These programs provide in-depth, industry-leading training developed from decades of real-world expertise. Our professional services team can hire and train your staff to the highest standards, ensuring they align with the needs and style of your establishment. At Excel Recruitment, our success reflects the quality, adaptability, and dedication of our people. As your trusted recruitment partner, our role is to help you excel.

London Essence

Proudly Sponsoring 5 Star Hotel Bar of the Year

Introducing the London Essence Company, a collection of exquisite mixers from distilled botanical essences.
At the London Essence Company, we continue a tradition established towards the end of the 19th century. Inspired by our predecessors, we are specialists in the art and alchemy of taste. Distilling the true flavour of fine fruits and botanicals, we carefully calibrate mixers of rare quality. Each contains a distilled botanical essence delivering aromatic signature notes. Acknowledging our secondary, supporting role, we aim to flatter the all-important spirit. To celebrate the complexity of premium spirits, our range of mixers is designed to bring out the best in particular gins, vodkas and dark spirits. In this way, we spark the sense of occasion when spirits and mixers – and people – come together.
We select the finest botanicals and gently distill them to capture their true essence, and so create drinks with the purest flavours. This enables us to craft an elegant collection, always light in sugar and low in calories, enabling premium spirits to shine through. A breadth of range designed with champagne style bubbles, to entice the palate and deliver versatility in drinks creation.

Luxardo

Proudly Sponsoring Innovative Bar of the Year

Few names in the world of spirits carry the heritage and prestige of Luxardo. Founded in 1821, the brand has been crafting artisanal liqueurs and preserved cherries for over two centuries. Still family-owned and now based in Torreglia, Italy, Luxardo is globally revered for its unwavering dedication to traditional methods, quality ingredients, and distinctive flavour.

Their iconic Maraschino liqueur helped define classic cocktails, while the legendary Luxardo Maraschino Cherries have become the gold standard garnish for bartenders worldwide.

Luxardo isn’t just a brand – it’s a piece of cocktail history. Stocking Luxardo behind your bar signals quality, authenticity, and an appreciation for craftsmanship. Whether you’re refining your Old Fashioneds, Aviation cocktails, or desserts, Luxardo delivers exceptional flavour and a touch of timeless class.

Luxardo is now exclusively stocked at Musgrave MarketPlace

Maker's Mark

Proudly Sponsoring Cocktail Bar of the Year

This one changed the way we think of bourbon, all because one man changed the way he thought about making it. Bill Samuels, Sr., simply wanted a whisky he would enjoy drinking. Never bitter or sharp, Maker’s Mark® is made with soft red winter wheat, instead of the usual rye, for a one-of-a-kind, full-flavored bourbon that’s easy to drink. To ensure consistency, we rotate every barrel by hand and age our bourbon to taste, not time. Each and every bottle of Maker’s® is still hand-dipped in our signature red wax at our distillery in Loretto, Ky., just like Bill, Sr., would have wanted.

Musgrave Marketplace

Proudly Sponsoring Innovative Bar of the Year

The Musgrave MarketPlace On-Trade beverage team was formed in 2021 in response to customer demand for a one-stop-shop for all their On-Trade needs.  The company has invested in additional resources across the business to service On-Trade customers.  From Beer, Premium Spirits, and an exclusive On Trade Wine range, to Soft Drinks, Equipment, and Snacks; we are making business easier by having everything in one place. Offering support on industry trends like cocktails and premiumisation, as well as advice and expertise, our highly experienced team has over 300 years combined experience in the on-trade.

The company has invested in new trucks and recruited drivers across its nationwide branch network to form part of the dedicated team to service on-trade customers. For their convenience, Musgrave MarketPlace customers can also shop via click and collect or get a top up shop using their account in their local Musgrave MarketPlace branch, which is open 7 days a week.

One of the teams’ areas of expertise is Wine, with Wine Specialist Conor O’Brien on hand to support customers. The team are passionate about working with customers, and we will work closely with you to create a tailored solution to grow your wine business, and can provide one-on-one wine tasting sessions, wine menu development and training for staff.

Peroni

Proudly Sponsoring Best Designed Bar / Inside Space

PERONI NASTRO AZZURRO – DRAUGHT

Brewed in Italy to the original recipe since 1963; Peroni Nastro Azzurro Italian beer delivers a crisp and refreshing taste with a delicate balance of bitterness and light citrus notes. Our exclusively grown Nostrano dell’Isola maize gives Peroni Nastro Azzurro beer its uplifting and unique taste, with a quick and dry finish. Peroni Nastro Azzurro can be enjoyed at all occasions and social moments where beer lovers are seeking a refreshing tasting premium Italian beer. Feel the invigoration of authentic Italian craftmanship, passion and flair. Best served chilled.

Taste Profile: Crisp taste with a slightly hoppy, subtle citrus aromatic notes. Light body with a clean and fast finish.

ABV: 5.0%Ingredients: Water, barley malt, Italian maize, hops, natural flavours.

PERONI NASTRO AZZURRO 0.0% BOTTLED

Searching for an alcohol free beer ? Check out Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Alcohol Free Beer.

Brewed in Italy, with the same passion and flair, this superb beer offers the same superior taste experience of the original Peroni Nastro Azzurro – delivering a crisp and refreshing Italian taste, now as an option with zero alcohol. 92% of people who trialled Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% beer thought the taste matched that of Peroni Nastro Azzurro – thanks to the hard work, dedication, and craft of our brewing team at Birra Peroni in Rome. New technology allows the same signature recipe as Peroni Nastro Azzurro to be used – including the famous Nostrano dell‘Isola maize – grown exclusively for Peroni Nastro Azzurro in the north of Italy. And only after the characteristic aroma and taste profile is fully developed, is the alcohol gently removed to deliver the crisp and refreshing Italian taste.

Poachers

Proudly Sponsoring Hotel Bar of the Year

Poachers Drinks is Irelands only premium drinks and luxury soda company. Founded in 2017, Poachers entire range is made, mixed and bottled in Country Waterford, Ireland.

Our flavour focused, all natural drinks are inspired by a simple love of Irish ingredients and the culture and people that produce them. They are created from a desire to blend and incorporate unique Irish ingredients into our favourite long drinks and cocktails in a sustainable way.

Our modern Irish collection is made with imagination, skill and finesse, always drawing on our love for nature and the land.  And always with a little fun.

The Poachers 200ml glass bottle range includes: Classic Irish Tonic, Light Tonic with Irish Rosemary, Wild Tonic with Irish Elderflower, Citrus Tonic with Irish Rosemary, Ginger Beer with Irish Chilli and Ginger Ale with Irish Apple. And new to the range are our delicious new luxury sodas including: Grapefruit Soda with Achill Island Sea Salt and Lemon Soda with farm grown mint.

Bíodh oíche iontach againn uilig ag Poachers Drinks.  Sláinte.

Red Bull

Proudly Sponsoring Late Bar / Nightclub of the Year

Red Bull vitalises body and mind and is appreciated worldwide by top athletes, students, and people in highly demanding professions, as well as during long drives. It has also become a defining presence in the nightlife scene, synonymous with energy, sociability, and late-night occasions.
It’s expanding range of editions and beyond the ordinary marketing strategy means Red Bull continues to wing its way into Irish consumers’ hearts and minds. Red Bull Zero, Sugarfree, Pink (Forest Fruits) and Winter (Fuji Apple Ginger) serve the no sugar category trend, Peach, Tropical and Watermelon provide wiiings for taste.

Giving wings to people and ideas, Red Bull supports Irish athletes including hockey goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran, surfer Conor Maguire, drifter Conor Shanahan, swimmer Daniel Wiffen, mountain bikers Greg Callaghan and Ronan Dunne and gymnast Rhys McLeneghan.

Visit www.redbull.ie for inspiring content and follow @RedBullIre on Instagram and TikTok to stay up to date with the latest action and events.

Roe & Co

Proudly Sponsoring Whiskey Bar of the Year

Roe & Co is a premium Blended Irish Whiskey, named in honour of George Roe, a true pioneer of Irish Whiskey. Refined, elegant, and with remarkable depth, a masterful blend of rich malt whiskey and the smoothest of grain whiskey aged in bourbon casks

Schweppes

Proudly Sponsoring City Bar of the Year

Schweppes was founded in 1783 by Jacob Schweppes. He invented the first ever
process of capturing bubbles, and from this carbonation system, Schweppes Soda water was born – the world’s first ever soft drink.

Thanks to Jacob we have been enjoying the superior taste of Schweppes mixers for over 200 years and is the No1 branded mixer in Ireland enjoyed with and without alcohol.
With consumers increasingly looking for flavoured mixer options, which deliver on taste and fizz, Schweppes has the perfect range to meet this demand. The Schweppes 200ml range is available in Tonic Water, Slimline Tonic Water, Elderflower Slimline Tonic Water, Soda Water, Pink Grapefruit Soda Water, Ginger Ale and Lemonade. We will also add a delicious new flavour to the Schweppes 200ml range in May; Tropical Soda, a blend of exotic flavours including Dragon fruit, Guava, Blackcurrant and Hibiscus.

Sky Business

Proudly Sponsoring Best Place to Watch the Match

Sky Business is the B2B division of Sky, one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies and part of Comcast Corporation.

We provide reliable connectivity solutions and unmissable live sport and entertainment to businesses of all sizes and sectors. As a trusted partner, Sky Business helps organisations stay connected, secure and ready for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.

Sullivan's Brewing Company

Proudly Sponsoring Tourist Bar of the Year

Founded in 1702 in Kilkenny and at its height in the late 1800’s Sullivan’s was exporting to USA, Australia, and across Europe. Having fallen on troubled times in 1918 due to a sizeable lost horse bet in Douville France, the brewery & trademarks were acquired by James Smithwick in 1919, the brand being dormant ever since.

Truehawk Media

Truehawk Media are the innovative and trustworthy solution for media intelligence. With our years of experience, operational expertise and a peerless wealth of knowledge of what matters to the Irish market, our service empowers clients to make the right decisions.

Our dedicated team has a proven track record of delivering accurate, reliable, timely and consistent media monitoring content and media analysis. We have an integrated client platform that combines print, online, broadcast and social media in an effective manner and serves our clients with unrivalled information and insights.