9 St. Patrick’s Day Drink Recipes… Slainte!
St. Patrick’s Day of the Drink?
St. Patrick’s Day is well-known for parades, fun shenanigans and drinks, lots of drinks. A drink on St. Patrick’s Day is like chocolate on Valentine’s Day, they go hand in hand.
Break out the glasses, ice and stir sticks. From green fun and well-known classics to fantastic rainbow concoctions here are some great St. Patrick’s Day drink recipes and helpful tips to pour your own magical concoctions. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Slainte – Cheers!
1. Everybody’s Irish Cocktail
On St. Patrick’s Day everyone instantly becomes Irish and this cocktail proves it. As you raise your glass with this delicious green concoction share this old Irish toast with your friends ~ “May your home always be too small to hold all your friends!”
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Ingredients:
2 oz Irish whiskey
1 tsp Green Creme de Menthe
1 tsp Green Chartreuse
Instructions:
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice, shake and strain into a martini glass. The recipe normally calls for a green olive garnish but you can also use a lime or mint sprig. I personally like the latter two to garnish with but it is personal preference.
We cannot talk martinis without the must have tools to pour one…
I worked for years in the restaurant/bar industry and I have to say owning a cocktail shaker to mix and make all those yummy drinks, is equivalent to owning a nice set of knifes for cooking. It is an essential. I like this set because it not only has everything you need, but looks fabulous sitting on top of your “bar” too.
Alcochill 7pc Stainless Steel Cocktail Bar Tool Kit Set
2. A Pint of Guinness Please!
St. Patrick’s Day would not be complete without at least one pint of Guinness. Either pouring one, drinking one, or if you really don’t like them than making an appetizer or sauce with Guinness will work just as good.
I personally love Guinness. It is smooth, creamy and not bitter like many other dark beers or stouts.
When serving Guinness try to get the cans or bottles that say Draught on it. These will have what is referred to as a beer widget in it, a little ball that holds nitrogen so as to give the beer the foamy head it needs.
Guinness can be served chilled or at room temperature as long as it isn’t too warm out. When serving Guinness I love using these pint glasses, they are bigger than your typical ones. The shape of them just feels good in your hand and of course the Guinness logo is great when serving this delicious popular Irish beer. You just can’t go wrong with Guinness, even serving other drinks in glasses like these are sure to be noticed, after all presentation is when you can you be creative and enjoyed by all.
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3. Baby Guinness – An Irish Shooter
In my travels to Ireland I was introduced to the Baby Guinness. The owner of the pub in Cork, Ireland insisted on buying me and my travel companion a pint of Guinness along with what they call a Baby Guinness. It was the first time I had heard of them and they are delicious. What is even better is they are easy to make.
Ingredients:
A 3/4 shot of a Coffee Liquor
A 1/4 shot of Irish Cream
Instructions:
Add coffee liquor, pour Irish cream over spoon onto the coffee liquor for layered effect.
Ours were made with Tia Maria and Baileys; however, many use Kahlua or even Patron Cafe with Baileys or another brand of Irish Cream. It is perfect to present it along with a freshly poured Guinness.
Pouring like a pro and getting the layered effect can be done. It may take a few times but you can master it in no time with the right tool and know how.
A pouring spoon is essential to have among your bar supplies in order to get that layered effect you see in shot glasses. The trick is to pour the liquor you wish to layer slowly over the back of the spoon; however, do not pour it directly over it, tilt the spoon slightly so the liquor kind of slides down it to softly ‘land’ onto the top of the previous liquor.
You can create as many layers as you would like with this technique. If it doesn’t work the first time don’t give up, you will get the hang of it and be the life of the party. Warning, once you master this technique you may be asked to be the designated bartender for the night.
Known for their high quality bar products the Guinness pouring spoon is functional and classy. You can use a regular spoon however, they are a bit trickier until you really get it down. This is due to the fact that pouring spoons are wider, more round, and slightly “flatter”.
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4. Traditional Green Beer
Shhhh….I am here to tell you the secret to green beer, you ready? Green food coloring. Yup that’s it. Add a drop or two to the beer mug before pouring a light beer and you instantly have green beer, so easy and fun.
5. The Leprechaun
It goes without saying that Irish whiskey is a staple of St. Patrick’s day. In Gaelic times whiskey was also referred to as the ‘Water of Life’. Hmm, it can definitely bring a party to life. This recipe is simple and refreshing, a great cocktail to start the evening off with.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Irish Whiskey
Tonic Water
Lemon or Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions:
Pour the whiskey over ice cubes in a high ball glass, top with tonic water, add the wedge for garnish. You can easily make this cocktail green with a drop or two of green food coloring.
6. The Dancing Leprechaun
Keeping with the theme of Irish whiskey and leprechaun this is a tasty cocktail.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey
3/4 oz Drambuie
3/4 oz lemon juice
Ginger Ale
Twist of Lemon peel
Instructions:
Add all the ingredients into a shaker. Shake well, pour over ice into a highball glass. Garnish with a lemon or lime wedge.
7. An Irish Kiss
You Know You Want One 🙂
There are a few different drink recipes called an Irish Kiss, obviously popular and coveted. For a little variety this one has Champagne:
For the Champagne Lovers –
Ingredients –
4 oz Brut Champagne
1 oz Midori Melon Liqueur
Green Food Coloring
1/2 cup of sugar
Instructions –
First add a drop or two of the green food coloring to the sugar and mix well. Use a lime to rub around the rim of the glass, dip the glass into the green sugar. Pour the Midori first, top with the Champagne, this will not only mix the two but keep the bubbles of the Champagne. Doing it in the reverse manner, you risk losing the bubbles and life of the Champagne. Garnish with a lime wedge.
8. The Double Rainbow
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I love the idea of adding the rainbow into your St. Patrick’s Day party. It is nice for adding a splash of color other than green.
Ingredients:
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce St. Germain elderflower liqueur
4 or so ounces of soda water
4 dashes of grapefruit bitters (Fee Brothers brand)
lemon peel for garnish
Instructions:
Add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker, shake it for good measure. Pour over your colored iced cubes. Add a lemon peel for garnish.
Make rainbow ice by adding food coloring to an ice-cube tray, filling with water and freezing. Or have fun with these super cool (no pun intended) rainbow LED ice cubes.
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9. Rainbow Delight
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Jello shots are always fun at parties and perfect if you want to include the rainbow theme into your St. Patrick’s party. They do require being pre-made but are easy and can include pretty much any kind of liquor.
Pick different Jello flavors based on personal preference and colors of the rainbow. These can also be great as a non-alcoholic just add juice instead of liquor.
Ingredients:
1 package Jello of choice
1 cup hot water
1 cup choice of liquor or juice
Instructions:
Mix the package and hot water, add cup of liquor or juice pour into 2oz. molds or cups. Let Jello set.
When serving them arrange them on the tray in the color order of a rainbow and viola you have an instant splash of color and the delight of a rainbow at your party.
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Do you have a favorite St. Patrick’s Day drink recipe? If so, please share in the comments below 🙂
