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St. Patrick's Day cocktails make Irishmen of us all

  • marknothaft
  • May 4
  • 2 min read

I sense a momentum change for St. Patrick's Day. I can feel it expanding, like Valentine's Day or Halloween, into a garish green blur of shamrocks, corned beef and "Kiss Me I'm Irish" T-shirts.

Retailers everywhere seemingly have been ramping up for weeks trying to capitalize on our affinity for little guys in green knickers and black boots. The good news is that this is one annual party truly worth embracing. The spirit and camaraderie of St. Patrick's Day - as known by the Gaelic term "craic" - stand at the core of most festivities. The phrase "Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day" speaks to this notion. It's a time when strangers say "hi," friends become family and we all share a pint in the process.


There are several top lounges across the East Valley that host St. Patrick's Day events. Rula Bula and Casey Moore's in Tempe, RT O'Sullivan's in Mesa and Fibber Magees in Chandler are good options. Rula Bula and Fibber Magees in particular have nice scotch and Irish whiskey lists that include names like Oban, Glenmorangie, Red Breast and Tullamore Dew. Other classic Irish elixirs to consider are Irish cream liqueur, fruity yet strong cider and the ubiquitous Guinness stout beer.

But if you're entertaining at home, perhaps planning to whip together a pot of corned beef and cabbage, buy a good bottle of higher-end Irish whiskey and mix a few of the St. Patrick's Day cocktails below. After a slug or two, everyone's eyes will be smiling.


BLARNEY STONE


  • 2 ounces Irish cream liqueur

  • 1 ounce crème de menthe

  • 1 ounce crème de cacao (chocolate)

  • 2 ounces half and half

  • Ice

  • Fresh mint leaves for garnish

Preparation: Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice and stir until very cold. Avoid bubbles and do not shake. Strain into old fashioned glass filled with ice and garnish with mint leaves.


Irish Coffee: A perfect brew to warm your St. Patrick's Day celebration.
Irish Coffee: A perfect brew to warm your St. Patrick's Day celebration.

CLASSIC IRISH COFFEE

  • 2 ounces Irish whiskey

  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar

  • 6 ounces hot coffee

  • Heavy cream (whipped optional)

Preparation: Combine whiskey, coffee and sugar into a coffee mug and stir until sugar is dissolved. Float cream on top.



BLACK AND TAN

  1. 1 cup Bass ale

  2. 1 cup Guinness stout

Preparation: Pour Bass in a pint-size glass and wait for bubbles to settle. Using an inverted soup spoon or tablespoon, slowly add Guinness stout so that the two beers do not mix. Creates one light and one dark layer. Substitute Harp Lager for Bass, follow the same process, and you’ve made a Half and Half.



SHILLELAGH (IRISH FIGHTING STICK)

  • 2 ounces Irish whiskey

  • 1 ounce gin

  • 1 ounce rum

  • 1 ounce lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon bar sugar (or confectioners’ sugar)

  • 1/4 cup fresh peaches, diced

  • 1/4 cup fresh raspberriesIce

  • Raspberries for garnish

Preparation: Combine spirits, juice, sugar, peaches and raspberries into a blender with a few cubes of ice. Blend until smooth. Pour into chilled old fashioned glass and garnish with a few fresh raspberries.



IRISH MARTINI

  • 3 ounces Irish cream liqueur

  • 1 ounce Irish whiskey

  • 2 ounces cold black coffee

  • Ice

  • Coffee beans for garnish

Preparation: Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice and stir until very cold. Strain into martini-style glass and garnish with coffee beans.

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