MeeT our Brilliant Bar Manager Tom!

Meet 1620’s bar Manager Tom Shanley, Tom is 6”4’ (in flats!) and has been developing his skills in the hospitality trade for over 10  years, before joining the team at Bar 1620 this summer.
   

Tom’s favourite cocktail to drink is the iconic Moscow Mule, consisting of vodka, lime juice and ginger beer served in a hammered metal mug and is believed to have originated in the USA during 1940s.  (Vodka wasn't a popular alcohol in America and was generally joked about being a Russian drink. John G. Martin, an alcohol seller,  took a leap of faith and bought a vodka brand in the States but no-one would drink it. One day, while Martin was loitering around upset about his inability to sell the drink, he went up to a bartender at the L.A. bar Cock 'n' Bull and talked to the owner Jack Morgan who faced a similar problem of not being able to sell even a single ginger beer. They decided to come together and mix the two drinks. They then decided on the name Moscow Mule, Moscow because of Americans tendency to associate vodka with Russia, and Mule was added to the name because the ginger beer gave it a real “kick”! They marketed the drink, sales soared, and from then onwards, vodka was accepted as a drink in America.)
   
Tom’s favourite drink to mix up at Bar 1620 is one of their signature cocktails ‘Creature from the Black Lagoon’ - Jamesons Whiskey, Absolute Vodka, Triple Sec, Lamb’s Navy Rum, Plymouth Gin, Olmecca Tequila, Martini Extra Dry, Orange Juice, Lime Juice, topped with Coke and served in a teapot for 1...or tea for 2 if you like to share!  Just delicious!
   
Tom loves being part of Dartmouth’s volunteer crew for the RNLI Lifeboat, (he’s been seen running from Bar 1620 to a shout along the river embankment, suited & booted, on more than one occasion & fined by his crew accordingly ;-)
   
His favourite thing about living in Dartmouth is being by the water and of course the stunning Dartmouth scenery.  He never tires of it... why would he, it’s one of the most beautiful towns in the world (not that we are biased!)
   
Tom’s favourite creature in the bar is Sid the green parrot 🦜

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