St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails
St. Patrick’s Day is almost here, and what better way to celebrate than with a festive cocktail? (You may have noticed this is our favorite way to celebrate most occasions. There’s no shame in our game.)Traditionally St. Patrick’s Day commemorates the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, but in the U.S. it’s evolved into more of a general celebration of Irish culture and an excuse to drink. The tradition of boozing it up on St. Patrick’s Day originated because Lenten restrictions on alcohol were lifted for the special occasion. Naturally, people took advantage of the temporary freedom to imbibe in the middle of Lent.
SWEET SIPPERS
A flavored martini is perfect for slow sipping throughout the evening. Start with your vodka of choice, and shake it over ice with creme de menthe, Midori, or green apple schnapps. (Definitely not all three!) If you feel like it needs a little toning down, add a complimentary juice to dilute it. White grape works well with apple, while pineapple plays nice with melon. Dip the rim in green sugar for an extra festive touch.
GO FOR AUTHENTICITY
Not a cocktail person? Opt for the most authentic of Irish libations, a good old fashioned Irish whiskey. No green food coloring required! Feel free to turn it into an Old Fashioned by adding sugar or simple syrup, bitters, and a cherry/orange garnish, or make yours a Manhattan by mixing with sweet vermouth and bitters.
If whiskey is a little strong for your tastes, go for a Guinness or Killian’s Irish Red. Both are a good way to get in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day without quite the punch of a neat whiskey.
TAKE IT UP A NOTCH
Elevate your green cocktail game with Chartreuse, a bitter, herbaceous French liqueur. It pairs well with gin or citrus flavors. Our favorite way to enjoy Chartreuse is an Emerald Isle martini, made with citrus vodka, muddled basil, chartreuse, and a twist of lime to garnish. A splash of Chartreuse also gives a festive touch to a glass of champagne, turning it a lovely pale verdant shade.
OLD STANDBY
No St. Patrick’s Day party would be complete without a good old fashioned green beer! This one’s pretty much a no-brainer. Squeeze a drop of green food coloring in any light-colored beer, stir lightly, and you’re good to go. Don’t go overboard on the food coloring or it will start to taste funny. Less is more!
CAFFEINATE, IRISH-STYLE
An Irish coffee is the perfect after-dinner drink to pair with dessert. Whiskey is the traditional choice to make it, but you can’t go wrong with sweet and creamy Bailey’s either. If you opt to have your Irish coffee with breakfast, we won’t tell on you. St. Patrick’s Day falls on a weekend this year anyway!
Now you’re ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style! Whichever green libation you choose, please be sure to enjoy them responsibly. Slàinte!