Irish Drink Recipes to Taste the Emerald Isle

Although Irish drinks swell in popularity around March, they're absolutely well worth shaking or stirring up regardless of the season. Don't miss out on these delicious flavors just because it's May, August, or December. Let the taste of an Irish cocktail bring you joy year-round.

Irish Coffee

This coffee drink was invented just after World War II by an Irish barman who wanted a drink that would revive airplane passengers after a long flight.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces Irish whiskey
• 1 teaspoons sugar
• 6 ounces freshly brewed coffee
• Unsweetened whipped cream for garnish

Instructions

1. Heat an Irish coffee mug by filling with hot water.
2. After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
3. Add whiskey and sugar.
4. Stir to mix.
5. Add hot coffee.
6. Stir to dissolve sugar.
7. Top the coffee mixture with a generous dollop of whipped cream.

Irish Old-Fashioned

This twist on a traditional old-fashioned cocktail uses Irish whiskey.

Ingredients

• 1 sugar cube
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Splash of water
• 2 ounces Irish whiskey
• Ice
• Orange peel for garnish

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, muddle sugar cube, bitters, and water until sugar has dissolved.
2. Add whiskey and ice cubes.
3. Stir to mix.
4. Garnish with orange peel.

Irish Slammer

This famous Irish cocktail tastes something like a chocolate milkshake. Note that it is not for the faint of heart because you have to chug the entire half-pint of Guinness in one gulp. Otherwise, the cream will curdle.

Ingredients

• ½ pint Guinness extra-dry stout
• ½ ounce Bailey's Irish Cream
• ½ ounce Irish whiskey

Instructions

1. In a highball glass, add Guinness.
2. In a shot glass, add Baileys and Irish whiskey.
3. Drop shot into Guinness, chugging the drink immediately.

An Irish Toast

This cocktail is a simple and delicious two-ingredient Irish mixed drink. Beware, it very sneakily packs quite a punch.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Bailey's Irish Cream
• 2 ounces Irish whiskey
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, add ice, Baileys, and Irish whiskey.
2. Stir to mix.

Irish Handshake

While not precisely of Irish descent, the Irish handshake is popular for its green color.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Irish whiskey
• 1 ounce green curaçao
• 1 ounce heavy cream
• Ice

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, whiskey, green curaçao, and cream.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into chilled glass.

Irish Toddy

This Irish whiskey version of a hot toddy is like a warm blanket on a cold night.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces Irish whiskey
• 4 ounces boiling water
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Pinch ground cinnamon
• Pinch brown sugar, to taste
• Lemon wedge

Instructions

1. Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
2. After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
3. In mug, add whiskey, water, lemon juice, cinnamon, and brown sugar.
4. Stir to mix.
5. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Irish Shillelagh

You'll love this boozy drink; its sweeter fruit flavors are a nice change of pace from typical whiskey drinks.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces Irish whiskey
• ½ ounce London dry gin
• 1 teaspoon white rum
• 1 teaspoon peach schnapps
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon simple syrup
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, whiskey, gin, rum, schnapps, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.

Irish Pride

This minty green drink is a delicious and colorful way to show your Irish pride.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce crème de menthe
• 1 ounce amaretto
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Ice
• Mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, crème de menthe, amaretto, and lemon juice.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.
5. Garnish with mint sprig.

Irish Whiskey Cocktail

This cocktail calls for pastis, a French anise-flavored apéritif, and Cointreau, a French triple sec. Don't worry, as the whiskey keeps it wholly Irish.

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon Cointreau
• ½ teaspoon Pastis
• ¼ teaspoon grenadine
• 2 ounces of Irish whiskey
• Dash Angostura bitters
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add Cointreau, Pastis, grenadine, Irish whiskey, and bitters.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.

Irish Rose

This rose red cocktail is a lovely, light, and summery cocktail that tastes as good as it looks.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 ounce pomegranate syrup
• 1 ounce Irish whiskey
• Ice
• Ginger ale to top off

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, lime juice, pomegranate syrup, and whiskey.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
4. Top off with ginger ale
5. Stir to mix.

Irish Lemonade

Whiskey and lemon make for an incredible pair; the bright and tart lemon flavors are well balanced together with whiskey's bite and caramel flavors. Lemonade takes the flavor pairing to new levels.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Irish whiskey
• ½ ounce ginger liqueur
• 6 ounces lemonade
• Ice
• Lemon wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Irish whiskey, ginger liqueur, and lemonade.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Nutty Irishman

A slightly sweet drink, the hazelnut liqueur takes the Irish cream and Irish whiskey to new levels without much work on your part.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce Irish cream
• 1 ounce hazelnut liqueur
• ¾ ounce Irish whiskey
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Irish cream, hazelnut liqueur, and Irish whiskey.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.

Irish Eyes

This green cocktail has the same sparkle of green and hazel sparkling, smiling Irish eyes.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce Irish whiskey
• 1¾ ounces cream
• ¼ ounce crème de menthe
• Ice
• Cherry for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Irish whiskey, cream, and crème de menthe.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Serve in a rocks glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with cherry.

Finnegan's Drink

A spin on the boulevardier, this recipe calls for Irish whiskey and just a hint of orange to add a touch of sweetness.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce Irish whiskey
• 1 ounce Campari
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• ¼ ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
• Ice
• Orange slice for garnish

Instructions

1. In a mixing glass, add ice, Irish whiskey, Campari, sweet vermouth, and orange juice.
2. Stir rapidly to chill.
3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with orange slice.

Green Irish Garden

Like the Emerald Isle, this drink is stunningly green with hints of a sunny day in the garden.

Ingredients

• 2-3 mint leaves
• 2 ounces Irish whiskey
• ¾ honey liqueur
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• Ice
• Shredded mint leaves for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
2. In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves with a splash of honey liqueur.
3. Add ice, Irish whiskey, lime juice, and remaining honey liqueur.
4. Shake to chill.
5. Strain into chilled glass.
6. Garnish with shredded mint leaves.

Emerald Isle Sun

This cocktail brings the best of sunshine even on the rainiest of days.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces Irish whiskey
• ¾ ounce elderflower liqueur
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• Ice
• Lemon twist for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Irish whiskey, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with lemon twist.

Lucky Year Round

Don't wait until spring to break out your Irish whiskey and toast to your love of Ireland. Live your best lucky life throughout the year; you don't even need to break out the green dye.