Doyle Bar Debuts “Swing Set” Cocktail Menu This May
Washington, DC – This spring, Doyle Bar at The Dupont Circle Hotel (1500 New Hampshire Ave NW) invites guests into a world where influence is subtle, conversations carry weight, and history begins over a perfectly timed drink. Launching May 19, the new cocktail menu, Swing Set, is a transportive concept rooted in over 80 years of cultural memory in Washington, DC.
Debuting at a particularly meaningful moment, Swing Set arrives as the nation celebrates 250 years of American history. The menu reflects on the individuals, movements, and behind-the-scenes exchanges that have shaped the country’s trajectory, offering a timely tribute to the power of dialogue, influence, and civic life in Washington.
“Swing Set is about the moments that don’t make headlines but create them,” said Chrissy Sheffey, General Manager of Doyle Bar. “It’s a tribute to the energy of Washington, where a single conversation, a carefully placed seat, or one more round can shift everything.”
More than a menu, Swing Set is a narrative, an homage to the bar as a playground for ideas. Inspired by the unscripted moments between arrivals and departures, the collection channels the spirit of the politicians, artists, strategists, and social architects who once gathered in spaces like Doyle to exchange perspectives and quietly shape the world.
“With Swing Set, we wanted to create more than a cocktail menu, we wanted to capture the energy of a room where the right people, at the right time, can spark something bigger,” shares Sheffey. “Each drink is designed to feel intentional, layered, and a little unexpected, just like the conversations that have defined this city for decades. It’s about storytelling through flavor, but also about creating a space where guests feel part of something unfolding in real time.”
At the heart of the menu is a cast of cocktails, each inspired by influential figures and the roles they played behind the scenes:
Golden Keys: A refined, spirit-forward cocktail featuring Doyle Bar Single Barrel Filibuster Gin, St-Germain, Cocchi Americano, and a house-made golden apple foam, inspired by Michael High, Chef Concierge at The Dupont Circle Hotel and member of Les Clefs d’Or.
Spin Cycle: A vibrant blend of red wine, brandy, and citrus shrub, nodding to masterful reputation-shapers like crisis manager Judy Smith, where narratives are rewritten with precision.
The Cork: A tropical, effervescent riff on the Pornstar Martini with vodka, passionfruit, and prosecco, inspired by legendary lobbyist Tommy Corcoran and the art of quiet dealmaking.
Emerald Flame: A clarified gin martini infused with Barry’s Irish tea, honoring Irish actress and businesswoman Maureen O’Hara, who blazed a trail for women in entertainment.
Beautiful Bird: A floral, citrus-forward tequila cocktail infused with hibiscus, inspired by Lady Bird Johnson and her legacy of beauty-driven change.
101st: A lush, tropical rum cocktail with pandan and piña lemon balm, paying tribute to Clarence Mitchell Jr. and the power of persistence.
Banana Skirt: A decadent, layered cocktail with cognac, banana, and chocolate bitters inspired by Josephine Baker.
Another Round?: A bold, spirit-forward blend of Nikka Days Whisky, Amaro Nonino, Averna, and sweet vermouth with a Guinness lavender reduction and cherry saffron bitters, inspired by pioneering bartenders like RR Bowie and Cato Alexander who elevated their craft into an art form.
Bern the Wood: A smoked bourbon cocktail honoring investigative journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.
GoGo Swing: A lively bourbon and prosecco cocktail inspired by Chuck Brown, capturing the rhythm of DC’s signature sound.
Take the A: A non-alcoholic herbal spritz inspired by Duke Ellington, designed to linger as long as the music.
Silent Spring: A bright, botanical zero-proof cocktail inspired by Rachel Carson, reflecting the power of quiet influence.
Ranging from $15 to $22, the menu showcases advanced mixology techniques with house-made shrubs and syrups, plus sustainable cocktailing practices. Each of the 12 drinks is thoughtfully composed to reflect not only flavor, but the rhythm and intrigue of the room itself.
Swing Set debuts on May 19 at Doyle Bar, located at 1500 New Hampshire Ave NW in Washington, DC. Photos can be found HERE. Reservations and walk-ins are welcome.
About Doyle Bar
At Doyle Bar, the neighborhood gathers—diplomats, creatives, business leaders and hotel guests who’ve made the corner banquette their own. A sleek, magnetic and modern homage to 1950s to ‘60s cocktail culture, every gesture, every poured drink and every detail feels intentional, yet effortless. Designed by the award-winning Martin Brudnizki, the space is made for lingering—a place where moments unfold at their own pace amid plush seating and bold artwork. Cocktails here are an art form: precision in every stir, care in every pour. With warmth in its soul, Doyle is the kind of bar where you’re remembered. It’s a place that stays with you long after the last call.
About The Dupont Circle Hotel
Rooted in Irish heritage and shaped by the vibrant culture, creativity and community of Washington, DC, The Dupont Circle offers an experience that moves with cosmopolitan rhythm yet remains unmistakably local—giving guests an authentic taste of the capital. It’s a hotel for travelers who want to feel the city, not just see it. Just beyond our doors the city unfolds with world-class museums, renowned theaters and a culinary scene as diverse and dynamic as DC itself. Echoing Washington’s golden age of the 1950s and ‘60s, the hotel’s contemporary design nods to mid-century glamour—think ice-cold martinis and effortless sophistication. Inside, every comfort is thoughtfully curated, every detail intentionally designed, and every gesture infused with the warmth and generosity of our Irish spirit.
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