Irish Cocktails and Music to Sip to

By Peyton Whittington Published February 2024

St. Patrick’s Day is the time to celebrate everything we love most about the Emerald Isle: Irish whiskey, The Cranberries, bread pudding, Guinness, Derry Girls and the list goes on.

That’s why this St. Patrick’s Day, we’re celebrating with our two favorite aspects of Irish culture: the music and, of course, the drinks. Keep reading for 10 delicious Irish cocktail recipes to pair with your favorite Irish songs this St. Patrick’s Day.

Bushmills Oldest Fashioned

Drink it while listening to: “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphys

If listening to this song doesn’t make you feel like an 18^th century bare-knuckle brawler with a handlebar mustache (or at least Leo DiCaprio in “The Departed”) then take another sip. A badass song deserves an equally badass cocktail; try this Old Fashioned with Bushmills Irish Whiskey to get the party started with two classics.

The Recipe:

• 2 ounces Bushmills Original Whiskey

• ½ ounce agave syrup

• 2-3 dashes orange bitters

• Orange peel

• Luxardo cherry

In a mixing glass with ice, add whiskey, orange bitters and agave syrup. Stir until combined. Strain into glass with a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel and a Luxardo cherry.

Jameson Paddy’s Punch Bowl

Drink it while listening to: “The Wild Rover” by The Pogues

It ain’t St. Paddy’s Day without this Irish folk song, and it ain’t a folk song unless the whole bar is belting it together. Multiply this Jameson punch recipe to share with new friends and old this St. Patrick’s Day.

The Recipe:

• 2 ounces Jameson Irish Whiskey

• 1 ounce apple juice

• 1 ounce apple cider

• Juice of half a lemon

• Lemon wheel

In a glass, add whiskey, apple juice, apple cider and lemon juice. Stir to combine and garnish with a lemon wheel.

Blackhorn

Drink it while listening to: “Black Velvet Band” by The Irish Rovers

When “Black Velvet Band” comes on, sing it out while you sip on a Blackhorn, made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters and a kiss from the Green Fairy. If you couldn’t tell, there’s a lot of color theming going on here.

The Recipe:

• 2 ounces Keeper’s Heart Irish and American Whiskey

• 1 ounce Martini Sweet Vermouth

• 1 bar spoon Grune Fee Green Fairy Absinthe

• 1 dash aromatic bitters

In a shaker with ice, add whiskey, sweet vermouth, absinthe and bitters. Shake and strain into a chilled glass.

River Boyne Fizz

Drink it while listening to: “The Irish Rover” by The Dubliners & The Pogues

Only the Irish could turn such a sad story into a jaunty drinking ditty. Appropriate for a song about seafaring, this cocktail is named after the River Boyne in Leinster, Ireland. With citrus, honey, whiskey and bubbles, who wouldn’t want to raise a glass and sing?

The Recipe:

• 1 ½ ounces Slane Irish Whiskey

• 1 ½ ounces fresh lemon juice

• 1 dash orange bitters

• 1 spoon of honey

• Tonic water

• Mint sprig

• Lemon wedge

In a glass, add Irish whiskey, lemon juice, bitters and honey. Stir together until honey is broken down. Add ice and tonic water. Garnish with a mint sprig and lemon wedge.

Shanky’s Whip Espresso Martini

Drink it while listening to: “Devil’s Dance Floor” by Flogging Molly

After a few rounds, you’re going to need something with a little kick to keep you swinging. Shake up an espresso martini with mellow, smooth Shanky’s Whip Black Irish Whiskey and get back out on the Devil’s Dance Floor.

The Recipe:

• 2 ounces Shanky’s Whip Black Irish Whiskey

• 1 ounce Alpine Blu Vodka

• 1 ounce espresso

• 3 coffee beans

In a shaker with ice, add Irish whiskey, vodka and espresso. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass. Garnish with three coffee beans.

Irish Coffee

Drink it while listening to: “Molly Malone” by Bastard Bearded Irishmen

Keep the caffeination going with a classic Irish coffee as you lament the demise of sweet Molly Malone. Opt for the upbeat Bastard Bearded Irishmen version to keep everyone’s spirits alive (alive, ho).

The Recipe:

• 8 ounces hot coffee

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar (or to taste)

• 1 ½ ounces Slainte Irish Whiskey

• 1 ounce cream (or to taste)

In a glass mug, pour hot coffee. Add in the brown sugar and stir until it is completely dissolved, then add Irish whiskey. Top with desired amount of cream.

Irish Maid

Drink it while listening to: “Galway Girl” by Celtic Thunder

Before Ed Sheeran fell for her, American songwriter Steve Earle sang about a pretty Galway Girl in 2000 while he was living in Ireland and working with traditional musicians. Play the Celtic Thunder version for even more Gaelic groove while you sip on an Irish Maid, a refreshingly floral take on an Irish whiskey cocktail. Watch this video for step-by-step directions on how to make it!

The Recipe:

• 2 slices cucumber

• 2 ounces The Whistler Oloroso Cask Irish Whiskey

• ½ ounce Fiorente Elderflower Liqueur

• ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice

• ¾ ounce simple syrup

In a shaker, muddle cucumber slices. Add ice, whiskey, liqueur, lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled glass over fresh ice. Garnish with additional cucumber slices.

Tito’s Green Ginger

Drink it while listening to: “Irish Eyes” by Rose Betts

When the celebration starts to slow down, match the energy with an herbal, bubbly, light cocktail and a sweet song. Vodka might not be Irish, but neither is Rose Betts, and everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, right?

The Recipe:

• 3 cucumber slices

• 2 mint leaves

• 2 basil leaves

• 1 ½ ounces Tito’s Handmade Vodka

• ½ ounce fresh lime juice

• 3 ounces ginger ale

Gently muddle cucumber slices, mint and basil in a shaker. Add vodka, lime juice and ice. Shake well and strain into a glass. Top with ginger ale and serve.

Redbreast Treetop Sour

Drink it while listening to: “Whiskey In The Jar" by Thin Lizzy

Remember when we said the party was slowing down? Yeah, we lied. Get the pub rollicking with this Thin Lizzy cover of an Irish folk staple and perhaps the most intriguing cocktail on this list. Redbreast Irish whiskey, apricot brandy and egg white come together for a cocktail that’s frothy and fruity so you can craic on with it.

The Recipe:

• 1 ⅓ ounce Redbreast 12 Year Irish Whiskey

• ⅔ ounce fresh lemon juice

• ½ ounce simple syrup

• 1 egg white

• ½ ounce Jacquin's Apricot Brandy

• 3 dashes orange bitters

• Cucumber slice

• Mint

In a shaker, add whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white, apricot brandy and orange bitters. Dry shake for 10 seconds, add ice and shake again. Strain into a glass with fresh ice. Garnish with cucumber slice and mint.

Baileys St. Patrick’s Day Shake

Drink it while listening to: “Back to the Pub” by Gaelic Storm

It’s the last call of St. Patrick’s Day, and we’re closing out with the most sinfully decadent dessert cocktail: a mint chocolate chip Baileys milkshake. Don’t worry, though: you can always go back to the pub tomorrow to raise another glass.

The Recipe:

• 1 ¼ ounces Baileys Original Irish Cream

• 4 ounces milk

• 3 scoops mint chocolate chip ice cream

• Chocolate syrup

• Whipped cream

In a blender, combine Irish cream, milk and ice cream. Blend until smooth. Drizzle chocolate syrup on the inside surface of a glass. Pour ice cream mixture into the prepared glass and garnish with whipped cream.

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