How are you celebrating this St. Patrick's day?
Your answer should be with Saint Patrick's day cocktails! Take, for instance, the Irish old-fashioned. You only need Irish whiskey, a sugar cube, bitters, orange peels, and water. Shake a few dashes of bitters onto the sugar cube, and add a bit of water to make it dissolve. Then add in at least 3 ounces of whiskey. Top it off with ice and a zesty orange peel, and enjoy!
What other St. Patrick's day cocktails should you know about? Read on to find out!
Irish Shot
Have you heard of the Irish shot? The popular St. Patrick's day cocktail first began in the late 1970s.
What began as a favorite in Irish pubs quickly took off in other bars around the United States. This drink is a variety of the ever-popular boilermaker. It involves taking a shot of whiskey and dropping it into a beer. In this case, you could use a green beer!
First, you'll need beer, Irish cream, and Irish whiskey. The key to creating the perfect Irish shot is to have equal parts whiskey and Irish cream.
You'll pour the whiskey and Irish cream into the shot glass. Start with the cream, and then slowly add the whiskey.
Next, fill a beer glass halfway up with your favorite brew. Then when you and your friends are ready to celebrate, prepare for the drop!
Drop the shot glass into the beer, and drink up! This is a cocktail that's best enjoyed quickly.
Irish cream and acidic beer aren't ingredients you want hanging out together for long. The drink will curdle if you don't drink the Irish shot immediately. But if you drink up, you'll have a delightful flavor experience.
St. Patrick's Day Whiskey Sour
A whiskey sour is a perfect addition to any St. Patrick's day party. First, gather your favorite bourbon. Next, prepare 1 ounce of lemon juice, 1 ounce of simple syrup, and 1 egg white. If you want a garnish, lemon peel works perfectly, or you can use a brandied cherry.
Add all of the ingredients together and begin a wet shake. A wet shake involves using tin and ice.
Continue shaking until everything is nice and chill. Remove all the ice and shake again; this will be a dry shake.
The dry shake serves to emulsify the drink. Finally, double strain over ice and into a glass. This drink is best served on the rocks.
If you want the drink to have the perfect texture, try adding an egg white. Technically a whiskey sour with an egg white is a Boston sour, but you can call your cocktail whatever you like.
Eggs work as an emulsifier. If you're vegan, try using a vegan chickpea brine. The cocktail will have the perfect froth and structure, which pairs perfectly with the citrus sour.
Irish Derby
This St. Patrick's day, treat yourself and your friends to an Irish derby! You'll need your favorite Irish whiskey, sweet vermouth, Cointreau, and freshly squeezed lime juice. You can use these tips to pick the perfect lime for your cocktails.
Don't forget the bitters and a lime twist garnish. You'll only need half an ounce of the vermouth, Cointreau, and lime juice.
The whiskey can be 2 ounces or more, depending on how strong you'd like the mix. Mix the whiskey, Cointreau, lime juice, and vermouth in a cocktail shaker.
Add in 2 dashes of bitters. Fill the shaker with ice ad keep shaking for half a minute. Strain the mixture into a cold cocktail glass, preferably tall. Finally, garnish the cocktail with a fresh lime twist.
Midori Sour
If you've never had a Midori sour; you are in for a delightful surprise. The Midori is the perfect St. Patrick's day drink because it's festive and green. The cocktail has a popular bright green color and a zesty bite.
You'll need 1 ounce of Midori, 1 ounce of vodka, 1 ounce of lime juice, 3 ounces of soda water, and a lemon wedge. Add the vodka and Midori together, along with the lime juice.
Use a highball glass and only fill it halfway. Now, stir everything for half a minute.
When you're ready, add a splash of soda water, and fill the glass with ice. Add the lemon wedge garnish and serve your delicious St. Patrick's day drink!
Bitter Irishman
Impress guests with this floral cocktail that's both spicy and rich. The citrus punch is refreshing, and whiskey provides the perfect bitterness.
You'll need 1 ounce of Irish whiskey, 1 ounce of lemon juice, and cherries. We also suggest making special syrup for this drink (directions below).
Combine the lemon juice, syrup, and whiskey in a shaker. The shaker should be nearly full of ice.
Shake for at least one minute and then strain into a cocktail glass. For the best experience, use a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a big red cherry, and enjoy!
Special Syrup Ingredients
Making syrup for your cocktail is easier than you think. Use 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water.
Heat ingredients in a small saucepan using medium heat. Stir until the sugar completely dissolves and cool before using.
Green Gin and Juice
Put a green spin on gin and juice with a green gin and juice! It's one of our favorite Saint Patrick's day cocktails.
Grab 2 ounces of gin, 5 ounces of green juice, 2 teaspoons of agave syrup, 1 cup of ice, and sliced cucumber. Add the green juice, gin, agave, and ice to a shaker.
Shake until everything is nice and chill. Pour into your favorite serving glass and garnish with a fresh cucumber slice. Your green gin and juice will look and taste like a celebration.
Classic Green Beer
Nothing says St. Patrick's day like a mug full of green beer! If you've never had it, don't worry!
This cocktail is simple and fast to make. The green beer uses beer and food coloring. But we have a few tips to help make this classic even better.
First, choose the right type of beer. You can use an Irish beer, but you don't have to. Other great brews include Duvel Belgian Golden Ale or Bosteels Tripel Karmeliet.
After finding the perfect beer, prepare your food coloring. You won't need a lot, just a few drops, to get a nice green color. Finally, make your green beer sophisticated with a lime wedge garnish and maybe a lemon garnish too.
Irish Mule
If the thought of ginger beer makes your tastebuds smile, you'll love the Irish mule. It's a blend of lime, ginger beer, and vodka.
You can also use Irish whiskey if you prefer. Some even add in a bit of mint to help bring out the lime and ginger.
The Irish mule is the perfect drink when you're entertaining. Everyone can easily make their own cocktail, and it's the type of drink most people like.
All you need is 1 ounce of lime juice, 3 ounces of Irish whiskey or vodka, 4 ounces of ginger beer, and 1 cup of ice. If you want, you can add mint for flavor and a mint sprig for garnish.
Use a tumbler glass, and fill it up with ice. Pour in 2 ounces of liquor.
Add in the lime juice and ginger beer. Mix everything. Add the mint sprig, and your Irish mule is ready to serve!
Hot Toddy
Make a simple and cozy St Patrick's Day cocktail, the hot toddy. The hot toddy is easy to put together and delightful to experience. This drink is light and not too sweet.
All you'll need is whiskey or bourbon, honey, hot water, and lemon. For more flavor, play around with whole cloves and fresh ginger.
You can even try using maple syrup instead of honey to give the drink an extra layer of richness. Here are a few tips for picking high-grade maple syrup.
The strongest flavor and a hot toddy are going to be the alcohol. The bourbon or risk will pair perfectly with the honey and lemon. The cocktail won't be too heavy, but it will be substantial.
Even though it's not traditional, you can use scotch or aged instead of bourbon if you like. Simply place your water in a mug and microwave for 1 minute.
Mix the whiskey, lemon, honey, and juice. Add in a cinnamon stick and lemon ledge. Enjoy your cozy warm St Patrick's Day night!
Traditional Mint Julip
When you serve classic mint juleps at your St Patrick's Day party, pair with Southern food! These classic drinks go great with deviled eggs and fried chicken.
You can even serve a classic mint julep with a delicious apple pie. This is one of the best drinks to get the party going.
All you need is four sprigs of fresh mint, 1 oz of simple syrup, 3 oz of bourbon, and a cup of crushed ice. Add the bourbon to the glass and add the crushed ice. Stir well and add in the mint sprigs, and drink immediately.
Grasshopper
The grasshopper is one of the best St Patrick's Day drinks for after dinner. This sweet drink is special and memorable.
Blend one and a half ounces of green creme de meth and 2 oz of white creme de cacao. Shake until the tin is completely chilled.
Strain into your favorite cocktail glass and enjoy! Make the drink extra special by adding a unique garnish.
You can add dehydrated fruit, like dry kiwis. You could also garnish with cocktail limes.
Spicy Jalapeno Margarita
Did we say jalapeno margarita? Yes, we did!
A spicy jalapeno margarita is a perfect way to celebrate St Patrick's day. For this recipe, you'll want to infuse the tequila with the jalapenos. Allow the tequila and jalapenos to sit together for at least 24 hours.
For the spiciest Margaritas, use 3 oz of jalapeno tequila, 3 oz of orange liqueur, and 2 oz of lime juice. You'll also want at least half an ounce of simple syrup or agave to make things sweet. Finally, garnish this cocktail with jalapeno and lime slices.
Irish Lady
If you've never had an Irish lady cocktail, make this St Patrick's Day the first time you try one! You'll need two ounces of Irish whiskey, half an ounce of triple sec, 1 oz of lemon juice, one egg white, and 1 oz of simple syrup.
Combine all ingredients and a cup of ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a separate cup. Empty the ice and replace the mixture in the cocktail shaker.
Shake again to make a nice thick foam. Strain into coupe glasses, garnish with lemon and enjoy.
Irish Coffee
Start your Saint Patrick's day off right with a delicious Irish coffee. This cozy sweet drink is the best way to acknowledge the holiday. All you need is one cup of heavy cold cream, four tablespoons of Irish cream, half a cup of Irish whiskey, and hot coffee.
We suggest using four cups of black coffee for the best mix. Dark roasts are great for Irish coffee, but blonde might be more your style. You can check out these tips to find the perfect coffee strength for your palate.
To sweeten things up a bit, consider adding five tablespoons of brown sugar. Using an electric mixer, combine the heavy cream and the Irish cream.
Wait until everything is stiff and fluffy. Add two tablespoons of whiskey, one tablespoon of brown sugar, and one and a half cups of coffee.
Top with a delicious layer of Bailey's whipped cream. Drink the coffee through the cream and enjoy every sip.
Explore New Saint Patrick's Day Cocktails
Now that you know about the best Saint Patrick's Day cocktails, it's time to start mixing! Pick one of the delicious cocktails from this article and give it a try.
Feel free to be creative with the ingredients and switch things up as you see fit. Let your inner bartender out as you explore different drink combinations and flavors. Just make sure that you're using quality liquor.
You can find all the wine and spirits on the Liquorama website. And you can have everything conveniently shipped right to your door. Check out our wide selection to find what you need today.