St. Patrick’s Day has a way of bringing everyone together around good drinks and even better company. Green decorations are fun, but what really gets people excited is a cocktail worth talking about.
Crisp flavors, festive colors, and a little creativity go a long way on this holiday. These cocktails work for casual get‑togethers and full‑on celebrations alike. Scroll through the article to find the drinks that deserve a spot at your St. Patrick’s Day party.
Irish Coffee
Irish Coffee offers a delightful blend of rich flavors. This classic combines hot coffee with Irish whiskey, sugar, and cream. It’s perfect for warming up on a chilly St. Patrick’s Day.
To make Irish Coffee:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup hot brewed coffee
- 1 ½ oz Irish whiskey
- 1-2 tsp brown sugar
- Heavy cream, lightly whipped
Instructions:
- Brew a cup of hot coffee and fill a warm glass.
- Stir in brown sugar until dissolved.
- Add Irish whiskey and stir to mix.
- Gently top with whipped cream by pouring over the back of a spoon.
Savor each sip. The cream softens the whiskey’s boldness while adding a velvety texture. Irish Coffee is a straightforward yet satisfying drink you can easily make at home. Enjoy the harmonious blend of flavors during your St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
Shamrock Shake Cocktail
The Shamrock Shake Cocktail blends creamy sweetness with a touch of mint for a refreshing drink. This vibrant green cocktail is perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. It’s simple to make at home and delights both the eyes and the taste buds.
Ingredients:
- 3 ounces of Shamrock Shake
- 1 ounce of Tito’s vodka
- 1 ounce of Baileys Irish Cream
- 1/2 ounce of creme de menthe
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a blender.
- Blend on high for 2-3 minutes until smooth.
- Pour into a chilled glass.
- Garnish with whipped cream and a cherry if desired.
This cocktail combines well-known Irish flavors and is a crowd-pleaser. Enjoy this minty treat as part of your festive celebration.
Guinness Stout
Guinness Stout provides a rich, dark beer base for many St. Patrick’s Day cocktails. Its deep roasted malt flavor combines well with various ingredients, making it versatile for creative drink recipes.
Guinness Black Russian
Enjoy a twist on the classic Black Russian with Guinness.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz coffee liqueur
- 2 oz Guinness Stout
Instructions:
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Add vodka and coffee liqueur.
- Top with Guinness and stir gently.
Guinness Bloody Mary
Try a savory Guinness version of the classic Bloody Mary.
Ingredients:
- 3 oz tomato juice
- 2 oz Guinness Stout
- 2 dashes hot sauce
- ¼ oz lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Combine tomato juice, hot sauce, and lemon juice in a shaker.
- Shake well and pour over ice.
- Top with Guinness, stir, and serve.
Irish Guinness Float
This dessert cocktail pairs creamy sweetness with Guinness.
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
- 2 oz Irish cream liqueur
- 6 oz Guinness Stout
Instructions:
- Add a scoop of ice cream to a glass.
- Pour Irish cream over the ice cream.
- Top with Guinness and enjoy this delightful treat.
Irish Mule
An Irish Mule is a delightful cocktail perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Simple to make, it blends refreshing flavors of ginger and lime with the richness of Irish whiskey.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Irish whiskey
- 4 oz ginger beer
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- Lime wedge for garnish
- Mint sprig for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Fill a copper mug or a tall glass with ice.
- Pour the Irish whiskey over the ice.
- Add the freshly squeezed lime juice.
- Top with ginger beer, stirring gently.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and mint sprig.
Serve immediately and enjoy the quintessential festive drink. The combination of the spicy ginger beer with smooth whiskey creates a balanced flavor. Perfect for any gathering, the Irish Mule embodies the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day.
Baileys Irish Cream Cocktail
Baileys Irish Cream adds a smooth, rich flavor to cocktails. It’s perfect for any celebration, especially St. Patrick’s Day. Below are a few classic and creative ways to enjoy this indulgent liqueur.
Irish Cream Milkshake
Combine Irish cream with ice cream for a decadent treat.
Ingredients:
- 4 oz Baileys Irish Cream
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream, sprinkles, and cherry (optional)
Instructions:
- Blend Baileys and ice cream until smooth.
- Pour into a glass.
- Top with whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry, if desired.
Mudslide
This cocktail is rich and satisfying.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Baileys Irish Cream
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz coffee liqueur
- Ice
Instructions:
- Fill a shaker with Baileys, vodka, and coffee liqueur.
- Add ice and shake well.
- Strain into a glass filled with ice.
Minty Martini
A refreshing choice for St. Patrick’s Day.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Baileys Irish Cream
- 1.5 oz creme de menthe
- Ice
Instructions:
- Combine Baileys and creme de menthe in a shaker with ice.
- Shake until chilled.
- Strain into a martini glass.
Green Beer
Green beer is a popular choice for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. It offers a festive twist to the usual brew. If you’re looking to make your own, the process is simple.
You can create green beer at home with just a few ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Light Beer: Choose a pale lager for the best results.
- Green Food Coloring: A few drops will suffice.
Instructions:
- Pour the light beer into a clear glass.
- Add 1-3 drops of green food coloring.
- Stir gently to mix.
Serve your green beer right away. It’s best enjoyed fresh. This drink is great for adding color to your celebration and pairing it with Irish-style dishes.
Emerald Isle
The Emerald Isle cocktail is a refreshing choice for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration. This drink combines gin and green crème de menthe with a touch of bitters for a minty and slightly bitter flavor.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 teaspoon green crème de menthe
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
Instructions:
- Pour the gin into a mixing glass.
- Add the green crème de menthe.
- Add the bitters and mix well.
- Stir with ice until chilled.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Irish Whiskey Sour
The Irish Whiskey Sour is a classic cocktail. This drink is perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Its balance of sweet and sour flavors is delightful.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Irish whiskey
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.75 oz simple syrup
- Ice
- Lemon slice or cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Add Irish whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice.
- Shake well for about 10-15 seconds until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a lemon slice or cherry.
Black And Tan
The Black and Tan cocktail is a classic drink with rich history. It combines ale and stout, usually Bass Ale and Guinness. This creates a visually striking layered effect.
Ingredients
- Bass Ale: 8 oz
- Guinness Stout: 8 oz
Instructions
- Begin by filling a pint glass halfway with Bass Ale.
- Use a spoon to slowly pour Guinness Stout over the back of the spoon. This lets the stout float on top.
- Serve immediately. Watch the layers settle perfectly.
Lucky Leprechaun
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a Lucky Leprechaun cocktail. It’s a festive mix that stands out in any gathering. Bright and colorful, it’s sure to impress your friends.
Here’s how you can make a Lucky Leprechaun:
Ingredients:
- 1/3 shot Tia Maria
- 1/3 shot orange liqueur
- 1/3 shot Guinness
- Gold sprinkles for rim decoration (optional)
Instructions:
- Add Tia Maria to a shot glass.
- Carefully layer orange liqueur on top of the Tia Maria.
- Float Guinness on top.
- Optionally, dip the rim of the glass in gold sprinkles for a festive touch.
This layered shot combines the flavors of coffee, citrus, and stout. Each layer adds a unique touch, and the gold sprinkles bring a sparkle.
Irish Car Bomb
The Irish Car Bomb is a drink combining flavors of Irish whiskey, Irish cream, and stout. It’s popular on St. Patrick’s Day.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 pint of Guinness stout
- 1/2 shot of Baileys Irish cream
- 1/2 shot of Jameson Irish whiskey
Instructions:
- Fill a pint glass 3/4 full with Guinness.
- Pour Baileys into a shot glass.
- Layer Jameson on top of Baileys with a spoon.
- Drop the shot glass into the pint and drink immediately.
This combination creates a unique taste. The stout offers deep, roasted flavors. The Irish cream adds sweetness. The whiskey provides smoothness. Drink responsibly and enjoy.
Mint Irish Milkshake
For a delightful St. Patrick’s Day treat, try a Mint Irish Milkshake. This festive drink blends the flavors of mint and Irish cream. It’s perfect for celebrating the occasion with friends or on your own.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Baileys Original Irish Cream
- 0.5 cup milk
- 2 scoops mint chocolate chip ice cream
- Chocolate sauce
- Chopped nuts
Instructions:
- Blend Baileys, milk, and ice cream until smooth.
- Add more ice cream if desired.
- Swirl chocolate sauce inside a glass.
- Pour in the shake.
- Top with whipped cream and chopped nuts.
Enjoy your Mint Irish Milkshake with a cherry or mint leaf garnish.
Green Apple Martini
The Green Apple Martini is a vibrant choice for St. Patrick’s Day. The striking green color is sure to catch the eye.
To create this cocktail, start with these ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz vodka
- 1 oz sour apple schnapps
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
Instructions:
- Fill a shaker with ice.
- Add vodka, sour apple schnapps, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake well until chilled.
- Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with a thin apple slice. Each sip offers a balance of tart and sweet flavors. Enjoy this refreshing drink responsibly.
Irish Maid
The Irish Maid is a delightful cocktail that pairs beautifully with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. This drink combines Irish whiskey with subtle notes of citrus and floral flavors. Its fresh taste makes it perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Irish whiskey
- 0.5 oz elderflower liqueur
- 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- 2 cucumber slices
Instructions:
- Muddle cucumber slices in a shaker until they release their juice.
- Add Irish whiskey, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain into an ice-filled glass.
- Garnish with a cucumber slice.
