Holiday Drinks: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Irish Cocktails

St. Patrick's Day is March 17. St. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland. According to folklore, he is referred to most famously, and falsely, for removing snakes from Ireland.

His life was one shrouded in mystery. St. Patrick was born in the later part of the 4^th Century in Britain. His parents were wealthy. His father was a Christian deacon, for tax purposes not for religious reasons.

At the age of 16 St. Patrick was abducted and imprisoned by Irish raiders. He was held captive and enslaved as a shepherd for more than 6 years. Isolated, he turned to prayer and became a devout Christian.

After escaping on foot, over a 200-mile walk, to Britain, St. Patrick's writings tell us that he had visions. An angel, in a dream, told him he should return to Ireland as a missionary. For 15 years studied Christianity to be ordained as a priest and embark on this mission.

Some tales tell that St. Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland, which is false. St. Patrick was sent to Ireland to do two things. First, he was to serve as a minister to Christians already living in Ireland. Second, he was to convert the non-Christian Irish who practiced a nature-based pagan religion.

In his lessons, St. Patrick utilized symbols and rituals to assimilate Christian beliefs to pagan traditions. Highly honored symbols, such as the sun and fire rituals, were incorporated into the symbol of the cross and Easter celebrations. The Celtic cross is the most recognizable symbol attributed to St. Patrick. Teaching in this manner he was able to turn Irish pagans to Christianity.

St. Patrick is believed to have died on March 17 during the 5^th Century. For thousands of years, in honor of him, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on this day. Since St. Patrick's Day falls during Lent, historically, Irish families would fulfill their religious obligations by attending mass in the morning. In the afternoon, Lenten fasting would be waived. Celebrations with music, dancing, drinking, and feasting on a meal of bacon and cabbage would be enjoyed. (History)

Across the world, many people take part in St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Why not partake in the celebration yourself with a few Irish inspired cocktails geared toward St. Patrick's Day.

Green Beer

Light colored Irish Ale, Lager, or similar
3-5 drops of green food coloring

In a large, chilled, pint glass, drop in your food coloring and pour the beer on top. The beer will mix with the coloring on its own so there's no need to stir. Word of caution, drinking this causes a temporary condition of green lips, tongues, and some times teeth.

IRA (Irish Republican Army) Cocktail

1 ½ oz Irish whiskey
1 oz Bailey's Irish Cream

Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add your ingredients and stir.

Irish Angel

1 oz Irish whiskey
½ ox Dark Crème De Cacao
½ ox White Crème De Menthe
2 oz Cream

Fill a mixing glass with ice. Add your ingredients and shake. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Add some ice from shaker if desired.

Irish Buck

2 oz Irish whiskey
Ginger Ale

Fill a tall glass with ice. Add your Irish whiskey and fill with ginger ale. Garnish with a twist of lemon.

Irish Coffee

1 ½ oz Irish whiskey
Hot Coffee

Pour your Irish whiskey into a coffee mug and fill with coffee. Top with whipped cream.

Irish Coffee Royale (aka Irish Gentleman)

1 oz Irish whiskey
1 oz Kahlua, or coffee flavored liqueur
Several drops of Green Crème de Menthe
½ tsp sugar
Hot Coffee

Pour your Irish whiskey and Kahlua into a coffee mug. Fill with coffee, add sugar, and stir. Top with whipped cream and drizzle Green Crème de Menthe on top.

Irish Cow

4-½ oz Bailey's Irish Cream
4-½ oz Milk

In a small saucepan combine Irish cream and milk. Warm on low heat while stirring. Pour into a mug and top with whipped cream or nutmeg if desired.

Irish Headlock

½ oz Irish whiskey
½ oz Bailey's Irish Cream
½ oz Brandy
½ oz Amaretto

Fill a mixing glass with ice. Add your ingredients and shake. Strain into a chilled glass.

Irish Monk

1 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
1 oz Hazelnut Liqueur

Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add your ingredients and stir.

Irish Spring

1 oz Irish whiskey
½ oz Peach Brandy
1 oz Orange juice
1 oz Sour mix

Fill a tall Collins glass with ice. Add your ingredients, liquors first, and stir. Garnish with a cherry and a slice of orange.

Irish Stinger (aka Green Hornet)

1 ½ oz Brandy
½ oz Green Crème de Menthe

Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add your ingredients and stir. Some people like this served as a shot. To serve it as a shot, strain your mixed contents into a large shot glass.

Irish Tea

½ oz Vodka
½ oz Gin
½ oz Rum
½ oz Triple Sec
½ oz Melon Liqueur
7-Up

Fill a tall glass with ice. Add vodka, gin, rum, triple sec, and melon liqueur. Fill with 7-Up.

Leprechaun

2 oz Irish whiskey
Tonic water

Fill a rocks glass with ice and add your liquor. Fill with tonic and stir. Garnish with a slice of lime.

Leprechaun (Vodka)

1 oz Vodka
½ oz Peach Schnapps
½ oz Blue Curacao
Orange juice

Fill a tall Collins glass with ice. Add your Vodka, Peach schnapps, and Blue Curacao. Fill with Orange juice and stir.

Please use your best judgment when drinking and drink in moderation. Please remember that drinking and driving don't mix. Always designate a driver.

Sources:

Personal experience
Feller, Robyn M. The Complete Bartender. New York: Berkley Books, 1990.
Cunningham, Stephen Kittredge. The Bartender's Black Book. Quality Books Inc., 1998.
http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=mini_home&mini_id=1082