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 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
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
Recipes by Zach Tropf (@jericho6)
Vancouver • Surrey • Burnaby • Coquitlam • Langley
Richmond • Delta • White Rock • New Westminster • Ladner
