St. Patrick’s Day is one of the best holidays for celebrating, hanging out with your friends and enjoying a few drinks.
Ireland is famous for beer and whiskey. Beer is good and whiskey can be great in cocktails if made correctly with the right mixers. Live it up this March 17 and honor the Irish by trying these St. Patrick’s-themed drinks.
Guinness
One of the first things to come to many peoples’ minds when they think of St. Patrick’s Day, this classic beer is a testament to the brewing skills of the Irish. Founded in Dublin, the beer’s dark color comes from roasted barley, which also provides the unique flavor. Though many assume dark beers are heavy and extremely bitter, this is not the case with Guinness. It’s hard to describe, but it is lighter than most dark beers and definitely a must for the holiday as it is the top-selling alcoholic drink in Ireland.
Whiskey
Also founded in Dublin, Jameson Irish Whiskey is the best-selling whiskey in the world. There are many ways to drink it, but to get the full effect, try it without a mixer first. You can drink it straight up with a water chase, or pour it over ice. On the rocks lets the water dilute the whiskey a bit, making it not as harsh on the first sips. This is an easy and elegant way to enjoy Jameson. Other popular Irish whiskeys include Bushmills and Tullamore Dew.
Green Dublin Apple Cocktail
For those who aren’t a fan of beer or straight whiskey, there is another way to enjoy the holiday: mixed drinks. The Green Dublin Apple Cocktail is made with 2 ounces whiskey, 1 ounce sour apple schnapps and 2 ounces white cranberry juice. Because I didn’t have schnapps and couldn’t find white cranberry juice, I substituted pear liqueur and white grape juice. Perhaps that was where I went wrong. This drink was strong and the whiskey did not mesh well with the grape juice. Following the actual recipe should result in a great-tasting drink, so try it out.
Irish Blond
Much better than the Green Dublin, this cocktail is made with 2 ounces whiskey, 3/4 ounce orange curacao, 1/4 ounce Fino sherry and a dash of bitters. Naturally these ingredients were hard to find, and the nice guy at the liquor store on West 29th Avenue and Willamette Street helped me think of substitutions. Instead of orange curacao, I used Grand Marnier, an orange liqueur, and instead of sherry, I used a white wine. This drink was entirely alcohol, and you could tell. The orange flavor gave a nice contrast with the wine and whiskey, but it was not a drink that reminded me of Ireland.
Irish Buck
By far my favorite, the Irish Buck was 1 1/2 ounces whiskey, 1/4 ounce lime juice and 2 ounces ginger ale. I didn’t expect lime juice and whiskey to go well together, but with the ginger ale, it was a sweet drink with a crisp kick. The fizzy cocktail was not only enjoyable, but something to treat yourself to on a nice day. It’s a basic recipe and the only drink I made myself more than once.
Sparkling Shamrock
This was the most complicated drink to make, but the second best on the list. I made a few substitutions, as this recipe called for Grey Goose and Elderflower liqueur. Mine was 2 ounces vodka, 1 ounce juiced cucumber, 1 ounce pear liqueur, 2 ounces lemonade, muddled mint leaves and cucumber. The best word to describe the Sparkling Shamrock is “different.” It’s not a typical drink; the cucumber adds an extra element that is completely unexpected. If you’re wondering how to juice a cucumber, I just squeezed it, but that also made the seeds go in the drink. Strain it through a shaker and then pour it in the drink. Though it has no Irish alcohol, the garnishes add a green aspect that makes it right at home on St. Patrick’s Day. It would be the perfect drink for summer, sitting on a porch in a rocking chair and gazing at the Irish landscape.
Shamrock Shaker
Lastly, we have a delicious concoction made of milk, Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlua and Amaretto. As a non-coffee drinker, I was nervous about this one, but it barely tastes of coffee. In fact, it’s more like chocolate milk with a hint of Ireland. This would be a great nightcap or a classy way to impress your friends.
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