St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
St. Patrick’s Day is upon us and there are many ways to celebrate. Maybe you go out and drink a bunch o’ Guinness or have some green beer. Maybe you have some Irish whiskey.
These are all overdone cliched options. However if you are in the mood for some cocktails to help you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, you’ve come to the right place.
We will first focus on some cocktails with Irish Whiskey. Typically triple distilled, Irish whiskey has a smooth flavor that is easily accessible to even those less into whiskey. To learn more about this spirit, check out Irish Whiskey.
If you are somewhere cold or are looking for a warm drink to start your celebration, the Irish Coffee is a good choice. Simply add a nip or two of Irish Whiskey to your coffee, sweeten to taste and top with fresh whipped cream.
Looking for some classic cocktails with Irish whiskey to celebrate? Try the Tipperary:
2oz Irish Whiskey
.75oz Sweet Vermouth
.5oz Green Chartreuse
Lemon Twist
This one also features Green Chartreuse, which gives the cocktail a slight green iridescence.
Another tasty classic is called Brainstorm:
2oz Irish Whiskey
.5oz Dry Vermouth
.25oz Benedictine
Orange Twist
Light and smooth, this one is a bit drier with notes of honey sweetness thanks to the Benedictine.
Moving away from classics, there are a few new originals I enjoy. The first started out as a Brainstorm variation, with Domaine de Canton, but turned into something a little spicier. If this is your thing, give Maureen O’Hara a try:
1.5 Irish Whiskey
.75 Dry Vermouth
.75 Domaine de Canton
12 drops Bittermens Hellfire Habanero Shrub
8 drops Bittermens Hopped Grape-
fruit Bitters
Lemon Twist
If you are a fan of Cynar, try the European Alliance, which features ingredients from Ireland, France and Italy:
1.5 Irish Whiskey
.75 Domaine de Canton
.75 Cynar
Lemon Twist
Maybe you don’t like Irish whiskey, but are in the mood for something greenish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. While a simple pour of Green Chartreuse or absinthe might do the trick, there are some other cocktails that contain greenish spirits that you might enjoy. If you are looking for a refreshing gin based drink with a greenish hue, try the New Martinez:
1oz Gin
2oz Dolin Blanc
.25 Luxardo Maraschino
Green Chartreuse
Lemon twist
Along these lines, if you like martini’s and mint, try this classic, Prince Henry:
1.5oz Gin
1.5oz Dry vermouth
Dash Creme de menthe
Dash Orange bitters
Lemon twist
Prince Henry typically uses clear creme de menthe, but if you are in the mood for something more festive, try it with the green version.
If you are a fan of citrus in your cocktail, nothing beats the Corpse Reviver, no.2:
.75oz Gin
.75oz Cointreau
.75oz Lillet Blanc
.75oz Lemon Juice
Dash of Absinthe
Finally, if you are into champagne cocktails, I have two other greenish cocktails for you to try. The first is the classic, Death in the Afternoon, one of Hemingway’s favorites:
1oz Absinthe
Chilled Brut champagne
Lemon twist
The second champagne cocktail is a new original called Death in Voiron:
1oz Green Chartreuse
.5oz St. Germain
Chilled Brut champagne
Lemon twist
1 dropper Bittermens Boston Bittahs
There are plenty of other choices out there, but these are a few classics and new originals that are sure to taste great and be a little bit festive as well.
St. Patrick’s Day is more than just green beer. These are just a few of the many great cocktails that will help you celebrate without falling into the mundane.
The Straight Up 
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