St Patrick’s Day cocktail recipes

St Patrick’s Day is a celebration of Irish culture, and the most important ingredient is alcohol. So, if you’ve already had too much Guinness this week, never fear, for I’m here to help ensure you don’t stray from the true meaning of St Patrick’s Day.

Coffee is a good start to the day. To improve it, make it an Irish coffee. Heaven knows you’ll need the caffeine kick for the long day of celebrations ahead. This staple drink can be made with hot water, Irish whiskey (Jameson is a good option), heavy cream, light brown sugar, and brewed coffee. Pour the ingredients into a mug, stirring in the sugar to dissolve it, then whisk the cream to thicken to start your day right.

If you find that you drank those a bit too quickly, there’s no shame in taking a break to enjoy a refreshing mocktail

How could any Irish cocktail list not include something green? A Shamrockarita is an Irish twist on the classic margarita. A classic margarita consists of three parts tequila, two parts triple sec, and one part lime juice. Swap out some of the triple sec for sour apple liqueur, add lime and sugar, or sea salt to the rim of the glass, and you’ve created a cocktail that fits the theme for St Patrick’s Day. Now, if you want to impress someone with this cocktail and just so happen to have a small shamrock-shaped cookie cutter lying around in your cupboard (who doesn’t), you can cut a shamrock shape from an apple slice to garnish the side of the glass.

If you find that you drank those a bit too quickly, there’s no shame in taking a break to enjoy a refreshing mocktail. The pot of gold mocktail will ensure you find some extra luck during this celebration. This drink varies widely, but for a deliciously fruity taste shake together orange juice, lime juice, pineapple juice, ginger beer, and Angostura bitters. Although Angostura bitters technically contain alcohol, the amount used in this drink is so small that a recipe made with vanilla extract contains more alcohol. However, if you prefer to avoid it, this mocktail will still work well without the bitters. To achieve a velvety texture, add egg white and powdered sugar. Don’t forget to ensure the drink lives up to its name by adding a rainbow belt to the rim of the glass.

Since a pot of gold contains more than just a few ingredients (after all, pots of gold are hard to come by), I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to keep your mocktail simple with a leprechaun  spritzer. To prepare this, mix apple juice with sparkling water and add a squeeze of lime. If you’d like to make it a bit more impressive, add some green glitter to the drink (edible, ideally).

Don’t settle for ice cream for dessert – keep the craic going with more alcohol!

The Irish flag shot will ensure a vibrant return to alcohol. Make this, and you’ll be seeing orange, white, and green in no time – literally. The crème de menthe, Baileys, and Grand Marnier will create a layered effect to imitate the Irish flag. After pouring the crème de menthe into a shot glass, be sure to float the Baileys and Grand Marnier on top of one another to achieve the desired layered effect. Floating is a supposedly simple bartending technique that involves slowly pouring the liqueurs into the shot glass over the back of a spoon.

Are you as lazy as me after all those drinks? If you are, make a green beer by adding food colouring – no one will question it on St Patrick’s Day.

Don’t settle for ice cream for dessert – keep the craic going with more alcohol! A nutty Irishman is sure to satisfy your craving, made with Baileys, hazelnut liqueur, and crushed almonds. If you’re still feeling up to it after all that alcohol, prepare the Irish whipped cream with even more Baileys, powdered sugar, and whipped cream. Add hazelnuts for garnish, and this will be a perfect after-dinner cocktail.

Fancy a warm drink before bed? The only proper way to end a true Irish celebration is with a hot whiskey (or three). Using a whiskey of your choice, combine hot water, honey, and fresh lemon juice.

Ultimately, with these recipes at your disposal, you have every reason to be happily stumbling into bed at the end of the day. Do Ireland proud and prepare a few of these cocktails.