You walk into the Merchant Hotel in Belfast, take a seat at the bar, and order a cocktail that costs more than your last holiday. No, this isn’t a joke—this is the Midleton Forêt de Tronçais cocktail, a €1,200 drink that is as posh as it sounds. The question is—what exactly makes it worth the price of a second-hand car? Let’s dive in.
What’s in This Wallet-Busting Wonder?
If you’re expecting gold flakes and unicorn tears, think again. This cocktail is all about rare Irish whiskey—specifically, Midleton Forêt de Tronçais, a ridiculously fancy whiskey that comes from the masters at Midleton Distillery. A bottle of this stuff will set you back about €4,800, so a single measure in your glass is already worth more than your monthly grocery bill.
But the Merchant’s mixologists didn’t stop there. To balance out the whiskey’s rich, oaky magic, they added:
- Antica Formula Vermouth – a top-tier Italian classic
- Dubonnet – a fortified wine with a royal reputation (literally, it was Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite)
The result? A boozy, velvety dream in a glass, designed to make you feel an old-money vibe, if only for a few sips.
Who’s Behind This Madness?
The brains behind this creation are Aaron Dugan (the Merchant Hotel’s general manager) and Emily Doherty. Their goal? To create a “once-in-a-lifetime” drinking experience—because let’s be honest, most of us aren’t exactly throwing down €1,200 on cocktails every weekend.
And if you’re in the mood to splash out even more, the Merchant’s new cocktail menu has an entire “ultra-premium” selection, featuring other rare whiskey-based drinks. Prices start at €942 (bargain?), and you’ll find gems from Midleton, Macallan, and Michter’s.
The Merchant’s History with Crazy Expensive Cocktails
Believe it or not, this isn’t the Merchant Hotel’s first rodeo when it comes to ridiculously-priced drinks. Back in 2007, they landed in the Guinness Book of Records for the world’s most expensive cocktail—a £750 Mai Tai. It held the record for a while, but these days, there are drinks in Dubai that cost more than a house deposit, so they had to step up their game.
Should You Try It?
Look, if you have €1,200 lying around, love whiskey, and want a story that will outshine anything your friends have ever posted on Instagram, then sure—go for it. But if spending that kind of money on a drink makes your bank account cry, maybe just grab a regular whiskey and admire this one from afar.
Either way, the Merchant Hotel remains THE place in Belfast for a bit of fancy cocktail action, whether you’re a millionaire or just someone who appreciates a well-made Old Fashioned.
So, what do you think? Are you tempted to try the €1,200 cocktail experience, or are you happy sipping your Guinness and calling it a day?
