Your Go-To Guide for the Best St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails

One of the most fun, green, and booziest holidays is approaching in a few weeks, and it’s important to have some fun cocktail recipes under your belt to help celebrate. St. Patrick’s Day is an Irish-American celebration like no other, and even though celebrating may look a little different this year, it doesn’t mean you can’t flex your creative muscles and experiment with new cocktails!

If you’re looking for a new concoction to try this year, look no further. We’ve compiled our favorite St. Patrick’s day cocktail recipes, as well as some tips that will help you find your pot of gold at the end of the boozy rainbow!

Preparation and General Tips

Like any recipe or cocktail creation you’re making, it’s all about being prepared and getting the ingredients you need. Of course, the essential alcohols, like whiskey and vodka, are the most important since you need these building blocks to create the perfect drink. For this occasion, prepare yourself with extra items like green food dye and any decorative additions (sprinkles, toppings, etc) that you can use to spice up your masterpiece. Plus, since you will be making and trying so many new cocktails, it will be easier than you think to run out of the supplies you need. Luckily, on-demand alcohol delivery can save the day this St. Patrick’s Day if you forget any elements of your cocktail recipe.

A few more ideas to consider while you prep your cocktails are festive names and how you can get creative with the glasses you serve your cocktails in. Do you have a favorite green mug to put your drink in? Or even a certain pint glass straight from Ireland? These small, yet significant, details can make the experience that much more fun!

Green Beer

Whether you’re Irish or not, beer has undoubtedly been a staple in St. Patrick’s Day culture since the beginning of time. Whether you’re drinking an Irish classic like a Guinness or Murphy’s, or a more new-school beer like Corona or Budweiser, you can still make it festive by adding some food coloring. What started as an American tradition, green beer has grown to become a worldwide symbol of the holiday itself.

Believe it or not, creating Green Beer is as simple as dropping a splash of green food coloring in your pint glass before pouring in your beer of choice. Make sure you drizzle the food color in before the beer and not vice versa. You want to avoid the dye clumping up in the liquid of the beer. Remember to use a clear glass as well so you can make sure everyone is able to see your beautiful green beer, at least until you drink it all anyway!!

Irish Coffee

Full of caffeine, an Irish coffee cocktail is the perfect mix of energy and taste to kick off your St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Bonus, it’s quite simple to make! Start by warming up the glass. You can do this by either putting warm water in a glass just long enough to warm it, or by sticking a glass in the microwave for a few seconds.

Next, add coffee and a hint of cinnamon, then toss in your Irish whiskey of choice.. If you are having trouble choosing a whiskey to mix with your coffee, choose a suggested pairing based on your taste preferences. Last but not least, garnish the top! Add a layer of whipped cream around the rim of the glass and if you really want to get fancy, add some chocolate shavings. This garnish totally completes the look and feel of an Irish Coffee.

Boozy Shamrock Shake

The infamous Mcdonald’s Shamrock Shake is an American classic every time March rolls around, but have you ever tried out its boozy companion? While this concoction is more like a dessert than a drink, this minty milkshake/alcohol crossover can be the perfect recipe for a St. Patrick’s Day party or even a cozy night-in watching movie.

Like the previous recipes, this is equally as simple! Start by blending together the ingredients which are vanilla ice cream, creme de menthe, vodka, Irish cream liqueur, and vanilla extract. Ensure all ingredients are mixed well, then top it off with a layer of whipped cream, and for the extra sweet surprise, a cherry on top!

Irish Mudslide

If you’re a frequent cocktail maker, you may be familiar with a mudslide, but few are akin with an Irish twist that can fit St. Patrick’s Day perfectly. For an Irish Mudslide, you’ll need these ingredients: Bailey’s Irish Cream, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Kahlua, Half and Half, and whipped cream.

Step one is to combine these ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Next strain into a glass and garnish! Whipped cream and green festive sprinkles are ideal to complete the holiday look, but feel free to get as creative as you want with it! This whiskey version of a drink that is typically vodka-based, is the perfect twist on a classic.

As the 17th approaches, keep our cocktail ideas in mind as you begin to plan your celebration. Do you have a favorite drink you make every year? Let us know in the comments!