Beer stocks must go up on St. Patrick’s day weekend. It’s a given that the sales are astronomically high, when every bar, nightclub, and even house party seems to down green-colored beer by the barrel. But what about the drinkers who don’t care so much for beer? There are plenty of Irish-loving souls who have every desire to celebrate the wearin’ o’ the green, but would rather drink something sophisticated and delicious.
With those folks in mind, here are five suggestions for festive cocktails that aren’t just tasty; they’re also decidedly Irish. Whether you mix them up for your own private party, or sidle up to the bar and order one from your favorite drink slinger, you’re sure to find a favorite. Be sure to toast St. Patrick with everyone.
Irish Coffee
If you can’t get through the day without a coffee shop latte or two, the Irish coffee is the libation for you. Every bartender has their own variation, but the classic recipe calls for strong, hot coffee, sugar, whiskey, and a layer of heavy cream. If you’re making your own, you can experiment with your own proportions, or even add flavored whipped cream or sprinkles on top. Just be sure and do one thing without fail: make sure the whiskey is Irish.
Baileys on the Rocks
The taste of Baileys Irish Cream combines two great Irish traditions: dairy farming and whiskey distilling. The result is creamy and sweet, but with a whiskey kick you can definitely feel. Dozens of cocktails use Bailey’s as an ingredient in some elaborately American-style drink concoctions, but this is St. Patrick’s Day. Keep it simple, and keep it Irish, by having (or serving) Bailey’s Irish Cream in its pure form, over ice.
Emerald Isle
While gin makes for a somewhat less traditionally Irish drink, why should the beer swillers be the only ones to have drinks that are green? The Emerald Isle is a lovely color as well as a lovely cocktail, and it should please those who like to drink Martinis and Cosmopolitans.
Emerald Isle Recipe
1 jigger gin
1 teaspoon green Creme de Menthe
1-3 dashes bitters
Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a Martini glass.
Wild Irish Rose
If you only know Wild Irish Rose as a cheap liquor store wine, don’t admit it on St. Patrick’s Day! The name also belongs to a classic cocktail that is as far from the hobo-preferred rotgut as a soy burger is from filet mignon. Again, choose a good Irish whiskey (like Jameson or Bushmills), and you’ll taste the results.
Wild Irish Rose Recipe
2 oz Irish whiskey
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz grenadine
2 oz soda
Pour all ingredients over ice into a rocks glass and stir.
St. Patty’s Girl
The least “real” Irish drink on the list, the St. Patty’s girl is very much an American invention. It is, however, a frothy, sweet concoction that will please those who want a dessert-like cocktail. You’ll still get credit for the fact that it contains two Irish ingredients: Bailey’s and Irish whiskey. To make the drink, mix one shot of Baileys, one shot of whiskey, one shot of coffee or chocolate liqueur, and one shot of espresso in a blender. The result is a creamy blend that combines the best of the States and the Island in one.
There’s no reason to succumb to the green beer on St. Patrick’s Day, no matter how popular it may be. In fact, the beer usually tinted green at most bars is about as Irish as baseball. Enjoy sipping on one of these cold cocktails that pays homage to St. Patrick’s native land. Who’s the most Irish now?
You are!