Yuletide Day 23
Yuletide Day 23: Corned Beef & Whiskey – A Delicious Duo
Today’s Yuletide special combines two things we love: our house-brined Corned Beef Sandwich and a Powers Irish Whiskey flight or Yuletide Sparkler—all for just $16! It’s the kind of pairing that celebrates both flavor and history, with a little holiday cheer mixed in.
Corned Beef: A Saints & Scholars Specialty
Corned beef has an intriguing history that bridges Irish and Irish-American culinary traditions. While corned beef isn’t a traditional dish in Ireland, it became a beloved staple among Irish immigrants in America. In Ireland, pork was the preferred protein, but in the U.S., beef was more affordable and accessible, allowing corned beef to rise to prominence in Irish-American cuisine.
At Saints & Scholars, we’ve embraced the spirit of that tradition—not to recreate a Reuben (which isn’t even Irish, with its debated American origins)—but to craft the most flavorful corned beef sandwich we can:
Locally Sourced Excellence: Grass-fed beef from Royal Ranch, brined in-house for 10 days with our custom spice blend.
Slow-Roasted Perfection: After brining, it’s slow-cooked for tenderness and shaved thin to create the perfect layers.
Bold, Flavorful Ingredients: Piled high on thick-cut sourdough from Macrina Bakery, topped with house-made pepperoncini kraut, melty Swiss cheese, and our signature aioli.
The result? A sandwich that brings hearty comfort, quality, and culinary craft together—a true pub favorite.
Powers Irish Whiskey: A Flight with History
No meal at Saints & Scholars is complete without the perfect pairing. Today’s Yuletide special features a Powers Irish Whiskey flight, and the story behind this iconic whiskey is just as fascinating as the flavors.
Your Flight Includes:
Powers Gold Label: Smooth, full-bodied, with notes of honey and spice.
Powers Three Swallow Release: Fruity and spicy, with hints of green apple and sherry sweetness.
Powers Rye: Bold and spicy, with notes of clove, nutmeg, and a creamy finish.
A Little Powers History
Pioneers of the Bottle: Founded in 1791 by Dublin innkeeper John Powers, Powers was one of the first distilleries in the world to bottle its own whiskey. This practice, marked by the creation of “Gold Label” Powers, ensured exceptional quality and consistency long before it became the industry standard.
Baby Powers: In 1889, Powers revolutionized whiskey accessibility with its iconic 71ml miniature bottles—affectionately called “Baby Powers.” Perfect for travel, these small flasks included their own miniature corkscrews for added convenience. Often considered a precursor to modern airline bottles, Baby Powers ensured whiskey could always be shared and enjoyed on the go.
The Three Swallows: Powers’ emblem of three swallows carries layers of meaning. The swallows, symbols of migration, mark the beginning of the Irish distillation season and represent the age, quality, and purity of Powers’ pot still products. This emblem also draws inspiration from the coachmen of John’s Lane, who carried just enough whiskey for three hearty swallows—one for each man—on long journeys. It was a tradition rooted in camaraderie and practicality, ensuring they stayed warm without losing focus on their duties..
A Connection to Irish Coffee: Powers Three Swallow Release is a pot still whiskey reflecting the style of whiskey likely used when Irish coffee was first served. Its robust, fruity, and spicy character, complemented by sherry sweetness, makes it one of the closest modern representations of this iconic pairing.
Breaking Tradition with Powers Rye: Powers Rye stands out as one of Ireland’s only 100% Irish-grown rye whiskeys. With bold spice, clove, and nutmeg notes, paired with a creamy finish, it offers a uniquely innovative twist on classic Irish whiskey-making traditions.
If you love learning about the history and craftsmanship behind Irish whiskey, sign up for our upcoming Irish Whiskey Blog. Dive into the stories behind Ireland’s most iconic whiskeys and discover the innovations driving the next generation of trendsetting spirits.
A Story for the Season
Of course, we couldn’t let Tiny Tadhg stay out of the action for long. Stay tuned this evening for a special post featuring our mischievous little elf, along with the announcement of last week’s riddle winners. Let’s just say Tiny Tadhg had quite the evening, and there was a fair amount of cleanup involved. Details to come!
Celebrate Today’s Special
Make today a delicious one with flavors steeped in history:
Corned Beef + Powers Flight (substitute Yuletide Sparkler or Fountain Drink) | $16
Yuletide Sparkler: A festive cocktail with Elderflower, brut champagne, and white cranberry juice.
With memorable meals, festive whiskey flights, and Tiny Tadhg’s antics keeping us on our toes, there’s always something to celebrate at Saints & Scholars.
Sláinte! 🍀🥪🥃
Holiday Hours & Events Reminder
As we head into the holidays, here’s a quick update on our hours and exciting events:
Monday, Dec 23 & Dec 30: Open 12 PM–9 PM
Christmas Eve: Open 9 AM–3 PM (Join us for brunch & live holiday music)
Christmas Day: Closed
New Year’s Eve: Open 12 PM–10 PM
Celebrate Irish New Year at 4 PM and New York New Year at 9 PM!
Nick Mardon will perform throughout the day.
Special NYE dinner, drink specials, and champagne toasts at each celebration (details coming soon!).
New Year’s Day: Open 10 AM–9 PM
Bloody Mary Bar: 10 AM–2 PM
Ladies’ Night: 6 PM–9 PM ($8 martinis & live music, theme TBD)
January 5th: Nollaig na mBan Afternoon Tea.
