There’s more to St. Patrick’s Day than Guinness and shots of Bushmills Irish Whiskey. While tried-and-true staples are always an
option this March 17, why not add some pizzazz to your night with some delicious glowing green cocktails? From the Drunk-Punch Love to the Truffle Shuffle, these delectable beverages are sure to get the night going.
History lesson:
As we say goodbye to winter, St. Patrick’s Day is a welcome sign of spring. The holiday is celebrated worldwide by the Irish and non-Irish alike to honor the life of Saint Patrick, who worked to bring Christianity to the Irish people. Legend has it that he used the shamrock to teach of the Holy Trinity.
In the early 17th century, the St. Patrick holiday became a day of feasting within the Roman Catholic Church. Beginning in the Middle Ages, Irish Catholics would close shop and attend church to honor the patron saint. The day of celebration falls within Lent, the 40-day period from Ash Wednesday to the day before Easter when Catholics give up their vices as penance. The feast of Saint Patrick was a one day reprieve, when Irishmen were excused from Lent and able to down a pint or two in celebration.
Today, the Irish holiday has spread in popularity across the world and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City is the largest of its kind, drawing two million spectators and 150,000 marchers.
So, get green and glowing, ladies and gentlemen – it’s time to celebrate!
Stock up on …
1. Vermouth
This fortified wine is not Irish, but does serve as a great base for any martini-style drink. You can find sweetened Vermouth, but the most popular is dry, or unsweetened, which has a bitter taste and balances fruity or sugary flavors.
2. Crème de
menthe
A particularly sweet, mint-flavored liqueur that’s great for the bright green drinks boasted on St. Patrick’s Day. The liqueur can be overpowering in flavor, so steer clear if you’re not into peppermint. Upside: fresh breath after a night of drinking.
3. Irish
whiskey
The principle difference between Irish whiskey and other whiskys is the letter “e.” Irish and American distilleries added the extra vowel to distinguish the Irish version of the spirit as higher quality. Perhaps that’s debatable, but the deliciousness of a good Irish coffee is not.
Extras
Garnishes to consider:
Maraschino cherries
Limes
Lemons
Fresh berries
Mint leaves
Shaved ice
Sugar crystals to rim the glass
Simple syrup (see below)
Ice it up
The shape of your ice matters. Cubes have a larger surface area and melt slower, preserving the flavor of the drink longer before it’s too watered down. Cubes are hard to blend, though, so if you’re going for anything blended, choose cracked or shaved ice, which can be bought by the bag. If you’re throwing a party, don’t forget to stock up.
Simple syrup
A staple in any bar, a sugar/water syrup can save a drink gone wrong or help tone down a drink that’s a little on the strong side. To make your own, boil down 2 parts sugar, 1 part water. Once the sugar is dissolved completely, remove from heat, cool, and bottle. Use a dash or two to sweeten up a drink.
Don’t let it curdle
Drinks with cream can become troublesome if the wrong cream is used or it’s not mixed properly. When making a cream-based drink, like White Russians, make sure to add cream last and always try to use the heaviest cream available. Milk is not a good substitute. Unless you’re going for the cement mixer effect, don’t mix cream with citrus.
Irish Pride
3 oz Crème de menthe
3 oz Amaretto almond liqueur
2 oz lemon juice
Layer in a highball glass and mix.
Astroturf
1 oz Crème de menthe
1 oz Crème de cacao
6 oz milk
3 tsp chocolate syrup
Mix Crème de menthe, Crème de cacao and milk in a glass. When ready to serve, squirt in chocolate syrup and stir.
Truffle Shuffle
1 oz cherry liqueur
1 oz Crème de cacao
1 oz Crème de menthe
Drunk Punch Love
1 gal limeade (frozen and prepared or bottled)
2 liters Sprite
3 cups dark rum
Lime sherbet
Pineapple juice or other
citrus to taste
Mix all ingredients in a large pitcher or cooler, top with scoops of the lime sherbet or top each glass with a scoop.
Minty-Merry Berry Punch
White cranberry juice
Raspberry vodka
Blueberry vodka
Ginger ale
Mint leaves (or a mint
liquor if you want)
Green food coloring
Ice
Crush the mint and ice together, then add all ingredients to a large pitcher or cooler. Add green food coloring a few drops at a time and stir until desired color is reached.
Ninja Turtle
1 oz Gin
2 oz Blue Curacoa
Top Orange juice
Add Blue Curacoa and gin over ice in a tall glass. Splash orange juice on top, give it a quick stir, and enjoy.
Cold Shower
1 part Crème de menthe – green
1 part gin
3 parts club soda
Stir it all together and serve in
a tall glass over ice.
Green Haze
1 oz Gin
1 oz Crème de menthe – green
Splash Pineapple juice
Shake the Gin and Crème de menthe over ice and pour into a martini glass. Top with pineapple and garnish.
Hot cocktails
Hard to order in a bar, but a great homemade treat for a relaxing evening. The base for warm drinks is usually coffee, hot chocolate or tea. If you’re planning to skip the hangover that many will have the morning after St. Patrick’s Day, or just getting over a cold, try a hot tea with whisky or hot cocoa with a splash of peppermint schnapps. It’ll warm you up, soothe a sore throat or put you right to sleep.
Irish Coffee
1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey
1/2 oz Irish cream
1 tsp brown sugar
6 oz hot coffee
Whipped cream
Mix coffee, whiskey, brown sugar and Irish cream in a mug. Top with whipped cream.
Irish Eyes
1 part Irish whiskey
1/4 parts Crème de menthe, green
1 part Irish cream
This is a layered drink, so be careful. First, pour Irish cream into the bottom of the shot class. Layer Crème de menthe next and top with whiskey. Two ways to drink: shoot it, or stick a straw straight down and suck.
?Layering tip: hold a spoon upside down on the inside of the glass with the tip touching the edge of the glass right above the last layer. Slowly pour your next layer over the spoon, raise the spoon slowly if necessary. Always start with the most dense ingredients and top with the least dense.
Green Kiss
1 oz Crème de menthe
2 oz Irish whiskey
1 oz dry vermouth
Shake with ice and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with a slice of lime or cherry. Optional: rim the glass in sugar for a sweet surprise in every sip.