5 St Patrick’s Day Tipples

It is that wonderful time of year again, when we join together and celebrate St Patrick’s Day, giving us a wonderful excuse to partake in some mid March drinks. In honour of the emerald isle, we have given some very serious thought into our selection of unique St Patrick’s Day drinks for the gent who may not be to fond of Guinness. So have a read, get down to your nearest supermarket and get mixing.

The Green Dragon

Let us start with this gin based cocktail which will most certainly turn any St Patrick’s Day into one to remember (or one difficult to remember depending how many you enjoy.) It is, like most gin based cocktails, reasonably hard hitting. We suggest using Warner Edwards Harrington Dry because of its juniper and spicey kick. It also works well with Kummel which is an herbal liqueur. With a hint of crème de menthe and the orange bitters bringing the flavours together, the result is a cocktail with a strong herbal flavour. Can you think of a better way to celebrate St Patrick’s Day? Of course not.

Ingredients
1.5 oz Warner Edwards Harrington Dry Gin
.5 oz Kummel Wolfschmidt Liqueur
.5 oz De Kuyper Creme de Menthe
.5 lemon
4 dashes of orange bitters
Glass: Cocktail glass

Instructions
Combine all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with cracked ice. Shake thoroughly and strain the cocktail into a chilled cocktail glass.

An Bodhran

A Bodhran is a traditional Irish frame drum found in almost every Celtic band. What does this cocktail share in common with the drum? Well, enjoy one too many and chances are your head will be pounding like someone is using it as a Bodran in the morning. The whisky provides a wonderful kick that complements the fruity tones of the port. The egg produces froth whilst the maple sugar brings sweetness to the cocktail.

Ingredients
1.25 oz Jameson Select Reserve Whiskey
.5 oz  Port
1 tsp  Maple syrup
1  Egg
Mint bitters
Glass: Champagne Coupe

Instruction
Combine all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake rigorously for a minute and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Add three drops of mint bitters to garnish.

Irish Coffee

This Irish coffee cocktail is one that we wouldn’t suggest you indulge in to kick start your mornings every day. Another whisky based tipple, this decadent coffee makes for a wonderful cocktail to act as a replacement to dessert, with its thick cream and sweet taste. We are still waiting eagerly for the day Starbucks introduces it, but until then, we’ll happily make our own.

Ingredients
2 oz Tullamore Dew Whiskey
6 oz Illy Ground Espresso Coffee
2 teaspoons brown sugar
Heavy cream
Glass: Mug

Instructions
Make the coffee and pour together with whiskey and sugar into a heated glass mug. Stir together and top with a thick layer of lightly whipped heavy cream. Be sure not to stir the cream into the coffee.

Baby Guinness

With St Patrick’s Day here, it would be a travesty if we did not have some Guinness related concoction on our list, however it is also safe to say that Guinness is somewhat of an acquired taste. So this delightful little shooter has the look of the dark stout with a pleasant coffee and creamy taste.

Ingredients
2.5 oz Kahlua or Tia Maria
.5 oz Bailey’s Irish cream
Glass: Shot

Instructions
Pour Kahlua or Tia Maria in to a glass shot, almost filling the glass. Then pour in carefully the Baileys on top using the wall of the shot glass to prevent the Baileys blending with the coffee liquor. This produces the ‘head’ of the baby “Guinness”.

Honeydew Martini

Last but by no means least is the The Honeydew Martini. Similar to the The Green Dragon in as much as it is hard hitting, we don’t suggest having too many of these if you have work in the morning, with its 4 ounces of alcohol per serving. The Midori gives it the honeydew flavour and the triple sec adds a sweet element.

Ingredients
3 oz Absolut Vodka
.5 oz Midori
.5 oz De Kuyper Triple Sec
Glass: Cocktail glass

Instructions
Fill the cocktail shaker with crushed ice halfway. Pour in all the ingredients together into the cocktail shaker. Garnish with a slice lemon.

Enjoy in moderation our fellow gentlemen; remember that it is only Monday. And happy St Patrick’s Day!