St. Patrick's Day is this coming Sunday. Corn beef....check, cabbage.....check, red potatoes......check - now what to drink?
Here are some ideas for your celebration:
Emerald Isle
Go
green with your martini, just hold the vermouth and replace it with
some crème de menthe. You’ll have the Irish spirit in no time. While
aromatic bitters are customary, mint bitters are an equally nice
compliment.
Ingredients:
1 oz gin
1 tsp green crème de menthe
2 quick dashes of bitters
1 mint leave
Everybody’s Irish
Everybody *is*
Irish, at least on St. Patrick’s Day. Pour the irish whiskey, crème de
menthe, and Chartreuse with ice cubes and blend to get this very green
cocktail. If an olive isn’t your thing, use a fresh sprig of mint
instead.
Ingredients:
2 oz Irish whiskey
1 oz green crème de menthe
1 oz green Chartreuse
cocktail olive for garnish
Irish Car Bomb
A
true classic, this list is incomplete without the infamous drink. Even
though it’s not exactly one of the few cocktails enjoyed back in the
homeland. Fill a shot glass with Irish creme and Jameson, drop it into
the Guinness, and slam the drink down.
Ingredients:
3/4 pint Guinness Stout
1/2 shot Irish Creme
1/2 shot Jameson Irish whiskey
The Dancing Leprechaun
On St. Patrick’s Day anything Irish goes, especially Irish Whiskey
mixtures. To make the leprechaun dance, combine all the listed
ingredients in a shaker with ice, then strain into a highball glass with
ice cubes. Finally, add garnish with a twist of lemon.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey
3/4 oz Drambuie
3/4 oz lemon juice
Ginger Ale
Twist of Lemon peel
The Midori June Bug
This
delicious concoction is made by blending all ingredients in a shaker
and pouring over ice. It may be a bit girly for some, but at least its
green and it’s a bit different than the norm.
Ingredients:
1 oz Midori® melon liqueur
3/4 oz coconut rum
3/4 oz banana liqueur
1 oz sweet and sour mix
1 oz pineapple juice
Dublin Handshake
St. Patrick’s Day is about fun and drunken friendship, so why not
give peace a chance? Trade in that Irish Car Bomb for a Dublin
Handshake, another Irish favorite. Just combine all ingredients in a
shaker with ice, shake well, and strain in to a rocks glass with ice.
Ingredients:
1/2 oz Baileys Irish cream
1/2 oz Irish whiskey
3/4 oz Sloe gin
Nutty Irishman
While
a true Irishman rarely forgoes the comforts of whiskey and beer, an
exception can be made for Baileys. In shooter form, mix half shots of
Baileys Irish Cream and Frangelico. Or instead mix one ounce of each of
the liqueurs and enjoy it on the rocks. Either is perfect for any day of
the year. A St. Patrick’s Day variation adds a shot of green Crème de
Menthe for green color and a minty taste.
Ingredients:
1/2 shot Baileys Irish Cream
1/2 shot Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur
Irish Dream
May
you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live. Blend
all the listed ingredients with ice until smooth, and serve in a frosted
pilsner glass. Optional topping of whipped cream and chocolate
sprinkles.
Ingredients:
1/2 oz Irish Cream
1/2 oz Hazelnut Liqueur
3/4 oz Brown Creme de Cacao
1 scoop Vanilla Ice Cream
Irish Cactus
Love St. Patrick’s Day but still want a touch of tequila? The Irish
Cactus brings a taste from south of the border by mixing tequila and
Irish cream liqueur. It is simple to make and is served on the rocks.
Ingredients:
2 oz Irish cream liqueur
1 oz tequila
Irish Trashcan Punch
It’s
not really Irish, but it is green and it will kick your you know what.
Simply mix all the ingredients together in a big punch bowl (or trash
can if you so choose) and serve.
Ingredients:
2 big jugs of green Hawaiian Punch
1L vodka
1L Everclear
Irish Trash Can
The
above drink is not to be confused with this one. Fill a Collins glass
full of ice, then add all liquors and stir. Finally, add a full can of
Red Bull on top (as pictured to the right). The Red Bull will float at
first, then slowly go down. Watch as your drink slowly turns green.
Ingredients:
1/2 oz gin
1/2 oz light rum
1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz peach schnapps
1/2 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
1/2 oz triple sec
1 can Red Bull® energy drink
Irish Eyes
If you’ve developed a crème de menthe habit from all the green-tinted
pomp of this holiday, just add Irish whiskey, heavy cream, and ice to
it for this creamy lowball that is similar to a White Russian. Great for
the song “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”. Garnish with a maraschino
cherry.
Ingredients:
1 oz Irish whiskey
1/4 oz green crème de menthe
2 oz cream
maraschino cherry
Irish Flag
Nothing
says St. Paddy’s day than actually drinking the Irish Flag. First, pour
the crème de menthe into a glass. Next, slowly pour the Bailey’s Irish
cream over the back of a spoon so that it floats on top of the Creme de
Menthe. Finally, slowly pour the Grand Marnier over the back of the
spoon so that it floats on top of the Bailey’s Irish creme and voilà !
Ingredients:
1/3 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream (Bailey’s)
1/3 oz green crème de menthe
1/3 oz Grand Marnier orange liqueur (some use Butterscotch Schnapps)
Irish Coffee
Another
traditional sipper, complete with a crown of whipped cream if desired.
It is a perfect drink for casual St. Patrick’s Day parties or as an
after dinner beverage following Irish Stew or Shepherd’s Pie.
Ingredients:
2 1/2 oz strong, hot coffee
1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey
1 tsp brown sugar
1 oz whipping cream (optional)
Irish Martini
If
your mama always told you not to drink on Sunday, she probably wasn’t
Irish. Uisce beatha, the Gaelic term for whiskey, literally translates
to “water of life,” a common euphemism for “holy water.” Take that
special ingredient of whiskey and add it to a typical martini, making it
an Irish version of an old favorite. You coat the chilled cocktail
glass with the Irish whiskey, then add in the typical vodka martini.
Ingredients:
2 oz vodka
1/2 oz dry vermouth
1/2 oz Irish whiskey
lemon twist for garnish
Shamrock Shaker
Looking
for something more? This alcoholic beverage combines Kahlua and
Amaretto liqueurs with milk. Shake the mixture vigorously and strain it
into a chilled cocktail glass. The green and gold powder is for
decoration.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz of Kahlua liqueur
2 1/2 oz of milk
1/2 oz of Amaretto liqueur
edible green and gold powder
Irish Kiss
Of
course, it doesn’t have to be all about beer. Korbel California
Champagne created its own cocktail, the Irish Kiss. To start, add two
drops of green food coloring to 1/2 cup of sugar and mix well. Rub a
champagne flute rim with lime and dip it in your green sugar
mixture. Fill with champagne and liqueur. You can use the lime for
garnish as well.
Ingredients:
4 oz Korbel California Brut Champagne
1 oz Midori Melon Liqueur
Green food coloring
1/2 cup of sugar
Irish Gold
Often
when we think of St. Patrick’s Day we want all things to be green, but
let’s not forget the importance of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Combine the the whiskey, schnapps, and juice in a Collins glass filled
with ice and top with ginger ale. Add a lime for garnish.
Ingredients:
2 oz Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
2 oz ginger ale
1 oz peach schnapps
splash of orange juice
lime wheel
Absinthe B-55
That’s right I’m bringing Absinthe into the mix. Did you know the United States
unbanned at least some Green Fairy products?
And it’s the right color for St. Paddy’s Day. Layer these shots in a
whiskey glass. Caution, sip slowly or you may end up licking the floor!
Ingredients:
1 shot Absinthe
1 shot coffee liqueur
1 shot Bailey’s Irish Cream
Irish Black Russian
The Black Russian is the White Russian’s dangerous older brother.
While the latter drink was made forever hip by its prominent role in the
Coen brothers’ slacker odyssey
The Big Lebowski,
the Black Russian carries no such hipster culture baggage. The Irish
takes that older brother and adds a twist. To equal parts Kahlua and
vodka, add cola and a float top with Guinness to add a head to the
drink.
Ingredients:
1 shot vodka
1 shot Kahlua coffee liqueur
1 squirt Coca-Cola
fill with Guinness stout
Irish Depth Charge
May
you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows you’re dead.
For one more killer drink, try the depth charge, Irish style. Pour a
double shot of vodka into a shot glass and press firmly to the bottom of
a pint glass. Fill the bottom with Bass Ale, and careful fill the top
with Guinness, creating a Black and Tan. Remove the double shot glass
from the drink and have at it.
Ingredients:
2 oz vodka
6 oz Guinness stout
6 oz Bass pale ale
And be sure to toast:
“Saint Patrick was a gentleman, who through strategy and stealth,
Drove all the snakes from Ireland, here’s a toasting to his health.
But not too many toastings, lest you lose yourself and then,
Forget the good Saint Patrick, and see all those snakes again.”