St. Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious holiday that commemorates the life and contributions of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday is celebrated on March 17th, which is the traditional day of his death.
The holiday is celebrated in many ways, including parades, religious services, and traditional Irish food and drink.
Many people of Irish descent and Irish heritage celebrate the holiday as a way to honor their heritage and culture. It’s also a way to recognize the contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants to the countries they settled in.
In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday and a day of celebration and national pride. It is a day of festivals, parades, and traditional Irish music, dance, and food. In Ireland, most schools, public buildings, and businesses are closed on St. Patrick’s Day, and many towns and cities organize parades and other events.
For many people, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day is a way to connect with their heritage and culture, and to remember and honor the contributions of the Irish people to the world. Even if you’re not of Irish descent, you can still celebrate the holiday by learning about Irish culture, trying traditional Irish foods and drinks, and participating in local events.
Here are a few popular cocktail options to serve on St. Patrick’s Day:
- Irish Coffee: A warm and comforting mix of coffee, Irish whiskey, and sugar, topped with whipped cream.
- Irish Whiskey Sour: A classic sour cocktail made with Irish whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Irish Car Bomb: A controversial shot made with Irish whiskey and Irish cream, dropped into a glass of Guinness.
- The Leprechaun: A sweet and creamy cocktail made with Irish cream and crème de menthe.
- The Black and Tan: A layered beer cocktail made with Guinness and a pale ale or lager.
- The Shamrock: A green-colored cocktail made with Irish whiskey, lime juice, and green creme de menthe.
Irish Coffee
Irish Coffee is a warm and comforting drink made with coffee, Irish whiskey, and sugar, topped with whipped cream. Here’s a simple recipe you can use to make Irish Coffee at home:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup hot coffee
- 1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey
- 1 tsp brown sugar (or to taste)
- Whipped cream
Instructions:
- Heat a heatproof glass or mug by filling it with hot water and then emptying it.
- Pour the hot coffee into the glass or mug.
- Add the Irish whiskey and brown sugar to the coffee, and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
- Float a layer of whipped cream on top of the coffee.
- Serve the Irish Coffee warm and enjoy!
Note: You can adjust the amount of whiskey and sugar to your liking, and for a different taste you could use a flavored coffee like hazelnut or vanilla. Also, if you don’t have whipped cream you can use whipped cream from a can, or you can make your own by whipping heavy cream with a little sugar and vanilla extract.
Irish Whiskey Sour
The Irish Whiskey Sour is a classic sour cocktail made with Irish whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Here’s a simple recipe you can use to make an Irish Whiskey Sour at home:
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Irish whiskey
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup (or to taste)
- Ice
- Lemon wheel or cherry for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a shaker with ice.
- Add the Irish whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup to the shaker.
- Shake well for about 10-15 seconds.
- Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel or cherry.
- Enjoy your Irish Whiskey Sour!
Note: You can adjust the amount of simple syrup to taste, depending on how sweet or sour you like your cocktails. Some people also like to add an egg white to give the drink a richer texture and a foamy head. If you choose to add the egg white, shake the ingredients with the ice for a longer time.
Irish Car Bomb
As I mentioned earlier, the Irish Car Bomb is considered a controversial and offensive drink due to its name which refers to the IRA car bombings that occurred during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 pint of Guinness
- 1/2 shot of Irish cream liqueur (Bailey’s)
- 1/2 shot of Irish whiskey (Jameson)
Instructions:
- Fill a pint glass 2/3 full with Guinness.
- In a shot glass, combine the Irish cream liqueur and Irish whiskey.
- Carefully drop the shot glass into the pint glass filled with Guinness.
- Drink quickly before the cream curdles.
The Leprechaun
The Leprechaun is a sweet and creamy cocktail made with Irish cream and crème de menthe. Here’s a simple recipe you can use to make a Leprechaun at home:
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz Irish cream liqueur (Bailey’s)
- 1/2 oz green crème de menthe
- Ice
Instructions:
- Fill a shaker with ice.
- Add the Irish cream liqueur and crème de menthe to the shaker.
- Shake well for about 10-15 seconds.
- Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice.
- Enjoy your Leprechaun cocktail!
Note: You can adjust the amount of ingredients to your liking. Some people like to use more or less of one ingredient depending on the desired taste.
The Black and Tan
The Black and Tan is a layered beer cocktail made with Guinness and a pale ale or lager. Here’s a simple recipe you can use to make a Black and Tan at home:
Ingredients:
- Guinness
- Pale ale or lager
Instructions:
- Fill a pint glass 1/3 of the way with the pale ale or lager.
- Slowly pour the Guinness over the back of a spoon, so that it is poured over the top of the pale ale or lager. The Guinness should sit on top of the beer, creating a layered effect.
- Enjoy the Black and Tan.
Note: To get the perfect layer, it’s important to pour the Guinness very slowly and at a slight angle, over the back of a spoon placed just above the surface of the pale ale or lager. Pouring too quickly or directly into the glass will cause the beers to mix together.
The Shamrock
The Shamrock is a green-colored cocktail made with Irish whiskey, lime juice, and green creme de menthe. Here’s a simple recipe you can use to make a Shamrock at home:
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Irish whiskey
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1/2 oz green creme de menthe
- Ice
- Lime wheel or mint sprig for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a shaker with ice.
- Add the Irish whiskey, lime juice, and green creme de menthe to the shaker.
- Shake well for about 10-15 seconds.
- Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a lime wheel or mint sprig.
- Enjoy your Shamrock cocktail!
Note: You can adjust the amount of ingredients to your liking. Some people like to use more or less of one ingredient depending on the desired taste. Also, the green creme de menthe is the one that gives the drink it’s green color, if you would like a more green color you could add a drop of green food coloring.
