Great St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails That Are Easy To Make
Green St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails Are Always Fun
St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails can look so appealing and taste downright delicious. Check out these festive recipes along with how to make green beer!
Is St. Patrick’s Day A Holiday?
No, St. Patrick’s Day is not a national holiday. This will come as a surprise to many folks as they take March 17th off every single year to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
St. Patrick’s Day was named after St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland and he was credited with bringing Christianity to the people of Ireland. It was reported that he died on March 17th.
St. Patrick’s Day Traditions – My Pot of Gold
Most every year I celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the same way. I take the day off work spending it with friends and family enjoying music, drinks, food, and lots of fun conversations.
Our group always dresses up in St. Paddy’s Day festive green attire like silly shirts that tell you to ‘Kiss me I’m Irish’ or ‘Whiskey Makes Me Frisky’. Some wear silly headbands, beads, and even socks. Plus some well-placed shamrocks on clothing too.
We do our own version of a walking pub crawl day party around one of our neighboring towns. We all start at one location around 11 am (it used to be earlier but we’re not getting any younger). This is to get you in the Irish mood.
The day begins with a boozy green beverage (beer or cocktail) which is quickly followed up with a shot or two and then some food that is both delicious and festive.
There are quite a few of us who participate in our walking pub crawl every year. Not all of us go to the same spots after the first bar but we usually see each other multiple times during the day. It’s a fun experience to see friends everywhere you go.
One fun moment is when we all meet in the alley later in the afternoon for a cool photo next to one of our friend’s green Jeep. She was very smart to make this plan early and we have loved the photos over the years (most of us remember to make it at the right time).
This photo above is a very special one for us, as we lost a good friend a few years back who is sitting up front and center in this photo. Our friend Wade always made us laugh and feel good (his antics were priceless)!
Every St. Patrick’s Day was extra special because of Wade Pyle’s shenanigans!! Check out this photo below!
Why Is St. Patrick’s Day Such A Special Day To Sparkle?
The one thing I can say about why St. Patrick’s Day is so special to me is that in the Midwest we don’t hang out with friends as much as we should during those long winter months.
We can see spring on the horizon and even sometimes get pretty decent weather for the day. It makes us all want to cut loose knowing the warmer seasons are approaching. We get to dress up in silly, funny attire and just let our light sparkle.
Plus, if you are anything like me, it is so fun meeting friends of friends and making new acquaintances.
I can’t tell you how many people I met that first year of the walking pub crawl that are still friends of mine today. Some of us only see each other that one time per year but on that day we are besties!
Who Likes Green Drink Recipes For St. Patrick’s Day?
It used to seem silly to watch my husband and friends drink green beer on St. Patrick’s Day. But then, once I started drinking green cocktails it all made sense.
It’s just part of the fun! This day ‘Everyone is Irish’.
I would search to find fun green jello shots and green cocktails for everyone to enjoy when we did actual pub crawls in party buses. I totally loved finding new and unusual drink ideas to share with friends (new and old).
I have included below my three favorite green cocktails I make when I am at home. I also ask for these when out.
Apple Martini
This is a real favorite for me. I love the taste of sour apple and the blending of the ingredients is perfect!
1 ½ oz Ciroc Apple Vodka
¾ oz Sour Apple Schnapps Liqueur
Place all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and serve in a martini glass.
Liquid Marijuana Cocktail and Shots
(FYI – There is NO real Marijuana in this)
½ oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
½ oz Malibu Rum
½ oz Midori Liqueur
½ oz Blue Curacao
½ oz Sweet and Sour
½ oz Pineapple Juice (strain well first)
1 oz Sprite (this is for a cocktail only- omit for shots)
Add all ingredients (except for Sprite) into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until well chilled. Pour into 4-shot glasses if making shots. If making the cocktail add the Sprite to the shaker and stir. Then strain it into a cocktail glass. Enjoy!
Grasshopper
I have to admit. This drink isn’t one of my favorites but a favorite of friends. I am not the biggest mint fan (due to an unfortunate 21st birthday party mishap years ago).
1 ½ oz Creme de Cacao
1 ½ oz Creme de Menthe
2 oz Heavy Cream
Pour ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake well to chill and strain into a cocktail glass. Yum!
How Do They Make That Green Beer? (Should Your Guinness Be Green Too?)
There are a few suggestions when making green beer. The easiest is to add three drops of green food coloring to every 12 ounces of light beer. It gives it that wonderful green hue that we so desire on this day.
Just to be clear though, you don’t add green anything to your Guinness! It is enjoyed in its natural state.
Below I have added a few natural options to make your beer green as well that I saw recently on TheBruSho Youtube channel. I will give you a brief description but go to their site to get the full details.
Green Beer With Matcha
Matcha is used to make Matcha tea and to put into your smoothies among other things.
12 oz Light Beer
1 tsp Matcha Powder (be sure to use higher-grade powder)
Stir well (you will need to mix well)
The taste was reported as having subtle earthiness.
Green Beer With Wheatgrass
12 oz Light Beer
1 oz Wheatgrass
Stir well.
The taste was reported to have a mild grassy flavor.
Green Beer With Spirulina
Spirulina is a blue-green algae. It is easily available in capsule form.
12 oz Light Beer
1 capsule Spirulina
Open one capsule of Spirulina and pour it on top of the beer. Stir well.
This one seems like a winner to me because it had pretty much no added flavor so you can enjoy the taste of your beer the way it was intended.
Lots Of Tasty Choices To Drink – St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails And Beverages
There are other very popular drinks to get the party started that I would be remiss to not mention. The Irish Car Bomb, The Irish Slammer, Irish Coffee, The Nutty Irishman, and don’t forget Jameson and other Irish Whiskeys. I could go on and on (this is a drinking holiday after all).
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Your Way By Creating Your Own Emerald Isle
I would love to hear about some of the ways you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Do you take the day off or do you have to work? Do you wear green? Or if you don’t – do you get pinched? Do you have a favorite Irish Whiskey?
No matter how you choose to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, remember these three things:
- Have Fun
- Be Safe
- Think Green
Thank you for following me and I hope you get to try some of these delicious drinks! As always follow us for more Next Cocktails!
