St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails: The Best Festive Drinks Are Made Of These
St. Patrick’s Day is here, and whether you’re planning on hitting up the cosy pubs with an Irish hangover in your neighbourhood or you want to host your own Gaelic-themed gathering, you might already be fretting about what to drink on the day.
Stereotypes would suggest you have to partake in a pint of Guinness, but there are a few delicious cocktail alternatives that capture that St. Patrick’s Day spirit just as well!
Read on for three great cocktails that’ll have you saying Sláinte with the best of them!
The South Side
Fun fact: Chicago has one of the largest Irish-American populations in the United States, and the South Side Irish Parade is one of three annual St. Patrick's Day parades that take place in the Illinois city.
So it only seems fitting to try the cocktail which shares the name with the area.
You’ll need:
50ml London Dry Gin (like Tanqueray or Gordon's)
25ml lemon juice
12ml sugar syrup
Around 10 mint leaves
To make:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes
Using a jigger, measure 50ml London Dry Gin, 25ml lemon juice and 12ml sugar syrup into the shaker
Add 8 mint leaves
Shake the mixture vigorously until the surface of the cocktail shaker feels chilled
Use a cocktail strainer to strain into a martini glass
Place a final couple of mint leaves on top of the drink to garnish.
The Mint Choc Shake
You’ll be seeing green pretty much everywhere else on St. Paddy’s Day, so why not have a drink that matches?
It’s a great, dessert-like cocktail which you can enjoy after tucking into some snacks, and the best part is, it’s incredibly simple to make but looks impressive and festive.
You’ll need:
Baileys Mint Choc Shake
Whipped cream
Chocolate shavings
To make:
Grab a glass
Pour in 50ml of Baileys Mint Choc Shake
Garnish with a generous serving of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Cucumber Martini
Hosting a more relaxed St Patrick’s Day gathering but still want to partake in some traditional touches? This floral, summery twist on a classic martini enjoys both a natural green hue – because you have to stay on theme – and delivers a fresh, floral sensation with every sip. It’s the next best thing to taking in the wild fields of Ireland on a clear day.
You’ll need:
60ml Vodka (we love Ketel One for this floral serve)
One tablespoon of dry white vermouth
One tablespoon of St Germain
2 slices cucumber
To make:
Place the cucumber slices in the bottom of a cocktail shaker and muddle
Add the rest of the ingredients and ice. Shake for 15 seconds until the shaker feels cold to the touch
Strain into a glass and garnish with cucumber slices.
