Irish Whiskey Cocktails to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day

St. Paddy’s Day every year is about the parade and the pub crawls, downing Irish beer, and donning as much green as you possibly may. This year the parades are called off and most pubs are still closed down. As you celebrate the most drunken holiday of the year, switch up your green beer for one of these refreshing St.Paddy ’s-themed themed cocktails, inspired by traditions and made with award-winning Irish whiskeys.

Shamrock Sour

Recipe by Pizzazzerie

There is no dearth of fine Irish whiskies so we picked out an excellent one for this cocktail. A twist on the classic Whiskey Sour, this Shamrock Sour made with Bushmills Black Bush Whiskey is a great recipe to try. With its green hue, It fits perfectly with your St. Patrick’s Day-themed decoration and celebrations.

The Bushmills Black Bush Whiskey was awarded 97 points at the 2020 USA Spirits Ratings, with the titles of Whiskey of the Year and Best in Show by Country. Drink on its own or mixed into Shamrock Sour.

shamrock_sour_cocktail

Shamrock Sour, source: website

Ingredients:
— 2 tablespoons lime juice
— ½ tablespoon lemon juice
— ¼ cup simple syrup
— 2 ounces Irish Whiskey (we like Bushmills Black Bush)
— 1 tiny drop of green food coloring
— lime wedges for garnish

1. Combine ingredients and shake well; strain over ice.
2. Garnish with a lime wedge and a shamrock stirrer.

(To avoid your drink becoming too green, you can dab a wooden skewer into the green food coloring and then stir that into your drink to better control the amount of color.)

Golden Irish Mule

Recipe by Lovely Indeed

This cocktail replaces the four-leaf lucky clover with something even better - an edible gold leaf. Made with West Cork Bourbon Cask Irish Whiskey and a layer of edible gold leaf, the Golden Irish Mule is your own pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

golden_irish_mule

Golden Irish Mule, source: website

Ingredients:
— 1-ounce Irish whiskey (Try West Cork Bourbon Cask Irish Whiskey, 87 points, Bartender’s Spirits Awards)
— Ginger beer
— Limes
— Edible gold leaf
— Silicone ice cube trays

1. Start by making your golden ice cubes. For larger ice cube trays, place one sheet of gold at the bottom of each mold and gently fill it with water. For smaller trays, fill with water first and place the gold sheets on top of the water so that the gold grabs on. Place trays in the freezer until thoroughly frozen.
2. Once frozen, add a few golden ice cubes to a rocks glass.
3. Over the ice, pour Irish whiskey.
4. Fill with ginger beer and squeeze in half a lime.
5. Garnish with a lime wedge. As the ice melts, expect to see lots of golden flecks floating around in your cocktail!

Proper Pickleback

Recipe by Proper Whisky

This shot is definitely not for the weak-hearted, so to keep the Irish spirit alive St. Patty’s Day is the perfect day you knock one back! Made with Bartender’s Spirits Award’s gold-medalist Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey, one shot of the Pickleback packs as much punch as a Conor McGregor left hook.

pickleback_shot_whisky_conor_mcgregor

Pickleback shot, source: website

Ingredients:
— 1 oz Proper No. Twelve Whiskey
— 1 oz pickle juice
— Pickle slice

1. Pour one shot of Proper No. Twelve Whiskey
2. Pour one shot of pickle juice
3. Garnish pickle juice shot with a pickle slice

Fuzzy Leprechaun

Recipe by Tammilee Tips

While Irish whiskeys are the theme for today’s cocktail list to honor the Feast of Saint Patrick, this cocktail with vodka doesn’t fall far behind from being Irish. Try out this Leprechaun-themed flavorful cocktail made with the Denver Distillery Vodka, an 89 point vodka from the USA Spirits Ratings.

fuzzy_leprechaun_cocktail

Fuzzy Leprechaun, source: website

Ingredients:
— Peach Schnapps
— Blue Curacao
— Vodka (Try Denver Distillery Vodka)
— Orange Juice
— Pineapple Juice
— Orange and cherry

1. Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake.
2. Strain into glass and garnish with orange and cherry

The Irish Showdown

Recipe by The Sexton

Tropical flavors of pineapple blend with spices like cardamom to create this beautiful concoction, with Bartender’s Spirits Awards’ silver-medalist whisky — The Sexton Single Malt Irish Whisky.

irish_showdown_cocktail_sexton_whisky

The Irish Showdown, source: website

Ingredients:
— 1.5 oz The Sexton Single Malt Irish Whiskey
— 0.5 oz cane sugar
— 0.5 oz pineapple juice
— 0.5 oz lime juice
— 2 dashes of cardamom bitters

1. Combine ingredients in a mixing glass and shake.
2. Strain into Double Old-Fashioned Glass over fresh ice.
3. Garnish with pineapple slice & nutmeg.

Guinness Dark & Stormy

Recipe by Brit+Co

The Guinness cannot be skipped on today! If you prefer to give the dark stout a miss, this blueberry-Guinness cocktail has the pizzazz to make you want to go for seconds.

guinness_dark_and_stormy_cocktail_guinness_beer

Guinness Dark & Stormy, source: website

Ingredients:
— For the blueberry syrup
— 3 1/2 ounces fresh blueberries
— 2 ounces Demerara sugar
— 3 ounces water

For one cocktail
— Guinness Draught, chilled
— Ginger beer, chilled
— 2 ounces blueberry syrup (or less, to your taste)
— 2 ounces dark rum (try Amrut Old Port Rum, 89 points, Bartender’s Spirits Awards)
— Juice of a medium lime
— Blueberries and lime slices to decorate

1. Put the blueberries, sugar, and water in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and then lightly crush the blueberries. Cook until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Strain the blueberry syrup into a clean jar — it can be kept in the fridge for up to a week and used in cocktails or to drizzle over desserts or waffles.
3. Squeeze the lime juice into a clean jar or large glass.
4. Add two ounces of blueberry syrup, or add less if you prefer a tangier cocktail.
5. Add the rum and stir.
6. Pour into a tall glass filled with ice. Marvel at the vibrant color…
7. Add the Guinness, filling about halfway up.
8. Top with the chilled ginger beer. Stir well and decorate with lime slices and blueberries threaded onto cocktail sticks.

Jameson Ginger & Lime

Recipe by Jameson Whiskey

St.Paddy’s day wouldn’t be complete without a shot of Jameson, and what better way to drink the Irish Whiskey than in a cocktail made and recommended by the brand itself.

James Ginger & Lime, source: website

Ingredients:
— 50ml of Jameson Irish Whiskey
— Schweppes Ginger Ale
— A large wedge of lime

1. Fill a highball glass with ice
2. Pour in a shot of Jameson
3. Top up the glass with a good quality bottled ginger ale
4. Stir briefly to mix
5. Take a large wedge of lime, give it a squeeze and drop it into the glass
6. Roughly 1 part Jameson to 3 parts ginger ale, all parts refreshing

Irish Manhattan

Recipe by Walsh Whisky

With 91 points scored at the USA Spirits Ratings, The Irishman Founder's Reserve is a great base for many a cocktail, but on St.Paddy’s day, the Irish Manhattan makes for the perfect nightcap.

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