For most people of legal age, St. Patrick’s Day is a great excuse for hanging with friends, and having some drinks. If you live in Charlotte, you know it’s also a great excuse to join in on the St. Patrick’s Day bar crawl. However, the bar crawl is on Saturday— and St. Pat’s is on Sunday. So, if you decide to throw your own party— you might want to find a few ways to stay on theme. Specifically, you might want to make a few St. Patrick’s Day cocktails for you, and your friends, to enjoy as you ring in another year in the Irish way…
St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails: Recipes to Keep you on Theme
The ‘Green Gargle’
When it comes to your St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails, we urge you to have fun with the names and the mixes. After all, we certainly did. ‘Gargle’ is a slang word in Ireland for alcohol or beer. Our green gargle is a simple cocktail, and one you could certainly throw in a punch bowl. For this St. Patrick’s Day cocktail— we mix 2 parts hpnotiq, to 1 part vodka. Then, add orange juice to taste. Some prefer sweeter, and some prefer a little more liquor-heavy. So, make your choice— then top that drink or punch bowl with some beautiful, bright green lime slices.
The Emerald Isle
This is more of a shooter than a true cocktail. However, it will be arguably the most festive drink of the day. Furthermore, for those who know their flags, it will certainly be a huge hit. Emerald Isle is a poetic name that describes the rolling green hills of Ireland’s countryside. Therefore, we felt it to be the perfect name for this layered shot that mirrors the Irish flag. Take a shot glass and a spoon, you’ll have to ‘float’ the layers in this one for it to look right.
So, start with your creme de menthe (the green one) and pour into your shot glass until it’s 1/3 of the way full. Then, take your Irish cream— this is where the spoon comes in. Place the spoon at an angle in your shot glass, sitting right above the layer of green and slowly begin to pour in your Irish cream. If it begins to mix, you’re pouring too quickly. Then, do your next layer. Some prefer Grand Marnier, some prefer a stiff Irish whiskey…. whatever you prefer— keep it close to a hay color. When it comes to St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails and shooters, this is one of the most tedious. However, it’s sure to be a party favorite.
The Buckled Grasshopper
Last, but certainly not least, we bring you a small spin on a classic cocktail— the grasshopper. A grasshopper is minty, chocolatey, and a perfectly delicious way to get ‘buckled’. Buckled is a slang term used in Ireland to describe being drunk— which seems appropriate. The only thing you’ll need for this cocktail is vanilla ice cream, creme de menthe, creme de cacao (or chocolate liquor), and Irish Whiskey. Take two hearty scoops of ice cream, 2 shots of creme de menthe, 1 of chocolate, and 1 of Irish whiskey. Blend it together, toss in a glass, and top with chocolate sauce, a cherry, and whipped cream. Now, you have the perfect addition to your St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails. Not to mention, a sweet dessert to end on.