There are few days more celebrated in Ireland than St Patrick’s Day, which is held annually on March 17. In fact, the holiday is one of the most widely acknowledged national festivals in the world, with the US, UK, Canada and Australia all holding their own celebrations. And while Guinness may be the traditional drink to toast to the patron saint of Ireland, a cocktail is an equally welcome addition to any St Patrick’s Day party.
The holiday originated as a Roman Catholic day of feasting in the ninth or 10th century, but in the past couple of hundred years, it has developed into a celebration of Irish culture, tradition and identity. Of course, ongoing Covid-19 restrictions mean that as in 2020, 2021’s St Patrick’s Day parades and parties will be more reserved than usual. To help you celebrate at home, we’ve compiled our favorite St Patrick’s Day cocktail recipes – from a luxurious champagne and Irish whiskey combo, to a classic warming Irish coffee.
Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Coffee
Pictured above.
Dating back to 1829, Tullamore D.E.W has a long and varied history and a valid claim to being one of the oldest Irish whiskey producers. Now, the brand is committed to championing the traditional technique of blending and uses three types of Irish whiskey in its celebrated Original Irish Whiskey.
In its classic Irish coffee recipe, Tullamore D.E.W is teamed with coffee and cream, as well as a selection of spices to create a soul-warming Irish classic – think of it as the Espresso Martini’s older (and much more indulgent) older sibling.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ parts Tullamore D.E.W. Original
- 1 ½ parts strongly brewed coffee (Recommended: any premium dark roast)
- ½ part sugar (Recommended: Demerara Sugar)
- Lightly whipped heavy cream
- Cinnamon or nutmeg
Method
Preheat a clear-stemmed glass with very hot water. Add the sugar and brewed coffee and stir well. Once the sugar has melted, stir in the Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey. Gently whip the heavy cream until you have a loose, not stiff consistency. Pour the cream over the back of a hot teaspoon to top the drink (and prevent the cream from penetrating the top of the drink). Finally, garnish with grated nutmeg or cinnamon for a spicy finish.
The Grande Robin of Dublin by The Shelbourne
We recently named Redbreast as one of the best Irish whiskey brands in the world thanks to its dedication to producing single-pot whiskeys – a traditional production method unique to Ireland.
In this St Patrick’s Day cocktail recipe, the bar team at Dublin’s celebrated The Shelbourne hotel pair Redbreast’s 12 Year Old with the sweetness of pear puree for a refreshing tipple, finished with a dash of champagne for added indulgence.
Ingredients
- ½oz of Redbreast 12
- 2 tsp of pear puree
- 2 tsp of lemon juice
- 1 tsp of honey
- Top off with sparkling wine (Prosecco, Crémant, Champagne can all be used)
- Apple fan as garnish
Directions
Shake Redbreast, pear puree, lemon and honey together. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and top off with sparkling wine and apple fan.
Emerald Old Fashioned by Knappogue Castle
©Jenny Adams
Knappogue Castle is another Irish whiskey held in high regard. Located in a 15th century castle that dates back to Ireland’s clan era, Knappogue has been creating world-class whiskeys since the 1990s, and is perhaps best known for bottling the Knappogue Castle 1951, which is regarded as one of the oldest and rarest Irish whiskeys on record.
In the Emerald Old Fashioned, Knappogue Castle offers a twist on the classic recipe with the addition of chartreuse ensuring it looks the part to celebrate its Irish home.
Ingredients
- 2oz Knappogue Castle 12 Year Old
- 1 tsp honey syrup
- 1 tsp green chartreuse
- 1 tsp Dolin Genepi
- Mint to garnish
Method
Pour all ingredients excluding mint into rocks glass with ice. Stir for 10 – 15 seconds. Slap a sprig of mint across your palm to release aromas and add to the drink.
Already Gold by Black Button Distilling
Although Irish whiskey is the natural choice for a St Patrick’s Day cocktail recipe, there’s no harm in a bit of experimentation. In this recipe, Irish whiskey is traded out for a sweeter American cousin – the award-winning Bespoke Bourbon Cream from Black Button Distilling.
Rochester-based Black Button Distilling adopts a grain-to-glass philosophy, sourcing over 90% of the ingredients for its whiskey, gin and liqueur ranges locally, championing both local businesses and agriculture. The hand-finished Bespoke Bourbon Cream uses cream from New York farms and offers a rich finish with notes of vanilla and caramel.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Black Button Distilling Bespoke Bourbon Cream
- 1 oz Peppermint Syrup
- 4 dashes of Chocolate Bitters
Directions
Combine all ingredients into a shaker over ice. Shake and strain into a coupe glass and garnish with edible gold glitter.
See more Cocktail of the Week recipes here.
The post Cocktail Recipes to Celebrate St Patrick’s Day appeared first on Elite Traveler.