St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails

St. Patrick’s Day is considered an occasion for drinking and merriment - and you don’t have to venture to the Emerald Isle to celebrate. Whether you’re born with the luck of the Irish or simply want to take part in the festivities, you need an appropriate Irish beverage. 

 

While green beer may be the most common drink hoisted on this holiday, plenty of other festive and delicious options are available. Try one of these cocktails to wet your whistle. Sláinte!

 

Black Velvet

What’s a St. Patrick’s Day celebration without a pint of Guinness? Embrace the traditions of Ireland while taking your pint of Guinness into elegant territory with this simple and satisfying highball.

 

Ingredients

• Guinness, chilled

• Champagne or sparkling wine, chilled

 

Directions

1. Fill a highball glass halfway with chilled Guinness.

2. Top with chilled champagne, pouring it over the back of a spoon to layer over the beer.

 

Irish Old Fashioned

This cocktail is more than a classic Old Fashioned made with Irish whiskey in place of the usual bourbon. Instead of using simple syrup, adding Benedictine - a herbal liqueur - compliments the sweetness of the Irish whiskey while adding a botanical depth. 

 

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Jameson Black Barrel Irish whiskey

• ¾ ounce Benedictine

• 2 dashes Angostura bitters

• 2 dashes orange bitters

• Garnish: orange twist

 

Directions

1. Add the whiskey, Benedictine, and both bitters to a mixing glass with ice; stir until well-chilled.

2. Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.

3. Garnish with an orange twist.

 

Dubliner

A cocktail variation born in the late 90s New York bar scene, the Dubliner quickly became a modern classic - thanks to mixology icon Gary “Gaz” Regan. Much like its city’s namesake, the Dubliner is both simple at heart and inspired in flavor.

 

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Irish whiskey

• ½ ounce Grand Marnier

• ½ ounce sweet vermouth

• 3 dashes orange bitters

• Garnish: 1 green maraschino cherry

 

Directions

1. Add whiskey, Grand Marnier, sweet vermouth, and orange bitters into a mixing glass with ice; stir until well-chilled.

2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

3. Garnish with a green maraschino cherry.

 

Luck of the Irish

This Irish twist on the Bijou gin cocktail combines equal parts of single malt Irish whiskey, green Chartreuse, and sweet vermouth. The resemblance to the jewel-named pre-Prohibition classic puts the “emerald” in Emerald Isle. 

 

Ingredients

• 1 ounce single malt Irish whiskey

• 1 ounce sweet vermouth

• 1 ounce green Chartreuse

 

Directions

1. Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice; stir until well-chilled.

2. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.

 

Irish Affogato

Turn your traditional Irish Coffee into a dessert; combine the flavors of a St. Patrick’s Day staple with an Italian dessert to create this new classic cocktail. Think of it as making an ice cream float but with adult ingredients. To make it boozier, add another shot of whiskey or top with whipped cream for a sweeter finish.

 

Ingredients

• ¾ ounce Irish whiskey

• ½ ounce Irish cream

• 1 scoop coffee ice cream

• 1-½ ounces cold-brew coffee (bottled or brew your own)

• Garnish: whipped cream, chocolate shavings

 

Directions

1. Add Irish whiskey, Irish cream, coffee ice cream, and cold-brew coffee into a coffee mug.

2. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

 

Universal Fine Wine & Spirits specializes in rare liquors, handcrafted wines, and craft beers and provides exceptional pricing on everyday staples. Our staff has over thirty years of combined beverage industry experience and can help you find the perfect beverage for St. Patrick’s Day festivities. So stop by our store, call us at 727-937-8330, or visit our website to learn more.

 

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Sources

https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/g3299/cheers-to-st-patricks-day/

https://www.liquor.com/slideshows/st-patricks-day-cocktails/ 

https://www.thespruceeats.com/st-patricks-day-cocktails-759889