Five St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails You’ll Love (Even if You’re Not Irish)

St. Patrick’s Day will soon be here, and you don’t need to be Irish to join in the fun. If you want to miss the mayhem and madness of the St. Patty’s Day bar scene, but still want to celebrate all things Irish, then a little soirée is exactly what you need. But what about refreshments for the evening? Don’t worry — with this nifty list of festive cocktails, you’ll have your guests feeling like a lively bunch of leprechauns!

Emerald Isle

The Emerald Isle is a refreshing gin-based cocktail with a retro flare. Pour 1 oz of gin, 1 teaspoon of green crème de menthe and 2 dashes of bitters into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes, shake well, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Green, minty, delicious — your guests will thank you.

Irish Ale

Irish whiskey is a staple on St. Patrick’s Day. One of the best ways to enjoy it is in Irish ale. Grab a highball glass and pour 2 oz of Irish whiskey into it. Next, squeeze two lime wedges into the whiskey. Fill the glass with ice, top it with ginger beer, and give it a stir. Refreshing, spicy, decidedly Irish — you can’t go wrong with a nice tall Irish ale.

Thirsty for more Gaelic charm? Why not fly to Ireland with these super cheap flights!

Irish Eyes

Another Irish whiskey-based delight, an Irish eyes cocktail can really liven up a St. Patrick’s soirée. Combine 1 oz. Irish whiskey, ¼ oz green crème de menthe, and 2 oz cream into a cocktail shaker with ice, shake it up, and strain it into an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry or hazelnuts. Creamy, delicious, strikingly green — all eyes will be on this winning cocktail.

Irish Coffee

A classic dessert cocktail, you can’t go wrong with an Irish coffee. Pour hot, black coffee into a glass mug, and stir in 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and 1.5 oz of Irish whiskey. Top it off with whipped heavy cream. An Irish coffee makes for a sweet way to end the evening.

Irish Cream

Irish cream is a delightful dessert liquor — Irish whiskey, cream, sugar with hints of vanilla, and almond — that’s served chilled or at room temperature (we prefer it chilled). Of course, you can buy Irish cream (such as the popular brand Baileys), but why not really impress your guests and make it yourself? Here’s an easy recipe you should try.

Got any other ideas for intoxicatingly Irish evening? Share your recipes with us in the comments.