25 Cocktails You Will Want To Try For St. Patrick’s Day

Green is the color for St Patrick’s Day so make sure you are wearing some if you host a party. This is also a day for festivities so you should have a wide range of cocktails.

Start with some Lucky Leprechaun Lime Sherbet Punch or a Green Mimosa and work your way through Margaritas, Sours, and even a Manhattan.

In this guide, we will look at 25 cocktails that you will want to try for St Patrick’s Day (see also ‘23 Glorious Green St. Patrick’s Day Desserts‘). We will also provide a bonus section for a few shots too.

1. The Irish Maid

If you want a session drink to ease you into St Patrick’s Day then try an Irish Maid. In a cocktail shaker, muddle two cucumber slices and add two ounces of Jameson’s Whiskey with half an ounce of elderflower liqueur, three-quarters of an ounce each of freshly squeezed lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice. Shake vigorously then strain into a glass with another cucumber slice for a garnish.

2. Midori Lemonata

Midori (see also ‘17 Easy Midori Cocktails For Everyone‘) is a great spirit for cocktails and its green color works really well on St Patrick’s Day.

Fill a mug or jar with ice and then add one part of vodka to two parts each of limonata and Midori. Top it all off with some club soda, give it a stir, and sip through a straw.

3. Avo-Keto Margarita

The Margarita typically looks green due to its use of limes and you can create an even more vivid one.

Pour ice, six ounces of tequila, an ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice, the flesh of an avocado, and a pinch of salt into a blender and blitz until smooth.

Pour into a rocks glass with ice and a prepared chili lime salt rim. Garnish with a lime wheel and enjoy.

4. Shamrock Sour

For a cute, green cocktail to enjoy on St Patrick’s Day, try a Shamrock Sour.

In a cocktail shaker with ice combine two tablespoons of lime juice, half a tablespoon of lemon juice, a quarter cup of simple syrup, two ounces of Irish whiskey, and one drop of green food coloring.

Strain the mixture over ice and then garnish with a wedge of lime. 

5. Vodka Limeade

Should you decide to host a St Patrick’s Day party then you will need some punch.

Simply combine a 12 ounce can of frozen limeade concentrate with a cup of vodka, half a cup of Triple Sec, and around four to six cups of club soda. Garnish each glass with mint leaves and lime wedges.

6. Grasshopper

If you really want to wow your guests, go for a cocktail that really stands out. The color comes from crème de menthe and the moreish taste comes from the crème de cacao.

Half-fill a cocktail shaker with ice and then add equal parts crème de menthe, crème de cacao and half-and-half.

Shake vigorously and then strain into chilled martini glasses with chocolate shavings for a garnish.

7. Mezcalima Lime 

For a smoky, refreshing cocktail, try a Mezcalima Lime. Run a lime wedge round the rim of a lowball glass, then dip into salt.

Combine one part each of mezcal and freshly squeezed lime juice then pour into the glass. Top it all off with ginger beer and use a slice of lime for a garnish.

8. Luck of The Irish

Fruity, green, and with a splash of Irish whiskey, you will really enjoy the Luck of The Irish.

Throw some ice cubes into a cocktail shaker and vigorously shake three ounces each of Irish whiskey and pineapple juice with two ounces of peach schnapps and a drop of green food coloring (see also ‘24 Delicious Peach Cocktails You Simply Have To Try‘).

Strain it into an ice-filled glass then top it off with sparkling limeade with a cherry garnish. 

9. Irish Coffee

To add a caffeine boost to your St Patrick’s Day celebration, create an Irish Coffee. Warm up a mug by rinsing it with hot water after five minutes.

Pour in one and a half ounces each of Irish cream liqueur and Irish whiskey with a cup of brewed black coffee.

Top it off with a squirt of whipped cream and a sprinkling of nutmeg.

10. The Irish Encounter

Cocktails can be frozen too, like this delectable rum and Irish cream concoction.

Blend together ice, a third of a banana, three ounces of coconut milk, one and a half ounces of aged rum, and half an ounce of Irish cream.

When smooth, pour into a tall glass and then garnish with whipped cream and some toasted coconut.

11. The Irish Mule

Try this Irish variation on a Moscow Mule, especially for St Patrick’s Day.

Fill your copper mug with a few cubes of ice and then pour in two ounces of Irish whiskey, the juice of half a lime, and top it off with ginger beer.

Stir to combine it together and then garnish with a few lime slices and mint sprigs.

12. Jameson Manhattan

To create an Irish Jameson Manhattan, fill a mixing glass with ice and add one and a half ounces of Jameson whiskey, three-quarters of an ounce of sweet red vermouth, and two dashes of Angostura Bitters.

Stir to combine and then strain into a chilled Martini glass and garnish with a couple of maraschino cherries.

13. Cucumber Basil Martini

Even Martinis can be given an Irish twist like this Cucumber Basil Martini.

Create an infused simple syrup by zesting a lemon, squeezing the juice out of two, and adding water to create a single cup.

Simmer it in a saucepan with a cup of sugar then add twelve half-inch thick cucumber slices, leave for ten minutes then remove from the heat and add lemon zest.

When cool, muddle eight basil leaves then add four ounces of gin, an ounce of the simple syrup and another ounce of dry white vermouth with ice to shake and strain into a glass. 

14. Irish Margarita

Another version of a Margarita with an Irish twist is this cocktail. Line the rims of your glasses with corn syrup and dip into gold sugar crystals for a rim before adding ice.

To a cocktail shaker with ice, add four ounces of tequila (ideally reposado), two ounces each of Blue Curaçao and peach schnapps, an ounce each of Irish whiskey, freshly squeezed lime juice, and Aperol to eight to 12 ounces of pineapple juice.

Shake vigorously and carefully pour into each glass with a lime round for a garnish.   

15. Lucky Leprechaun Lime Sherbet Punch

You will need a large punch bowl if you want to create this Lucky Leprechaun Lime Sherbet Punch.

Combine 46 to 64 ounces of limeade, with two cups of vodka, a liter of ginger ale, a bottle of sparkling wine, and four drops of green food coloring.

Add a quart of lime sherbet in scoops with lime slices to float and then serve into glasses ensuring that each one includes some sherbet.

16. Emerald Sunrise

Try a Tequila Sunrise with a green twist for St Patrick’s Day as you only need three ingredients.

Pour five ounces of orange juice and one and a half ounces of tequila into a glass and stir it.

Use a large straw and a spout to pour in the Blue Curacao to the bottom of the glass.

That looks great as a layered drink but stir it up and it should turn green.

17. Green Mimosas

A Mimosa works as a great opening drink to a party so make yours green for St Patrick’s Day.

Start with two and a half ounces of freshly squeezed orange juice in a flute with a tiny splash of Blue Curaçao then top with three ounces of sparkling wine which should make the mixture turn green.

18. Green Blood Mary

Whether for the morning of St Patrick’s Day, or the morning after, you can create a green Bloody Mary.

Blitz together chunks of five tomatillos (with the husks removed), three yellow tomatoes, two celery stalks, three tablespoons of chopped cilantro, one and a half teaspoons of horseradish, a quarter teaspoon of cumin, some seasoning, one and a half cups of water, and a jalapeño.

You can strain this or simply pour it and chill prior to serving.

19. Green Beer

You may want to try a regular beer instead of a Guinness, but it should be colored green on St Patrick’s Day.

Add just three drops of green food coloring to a pint glass. Pick your favorite pale beer and pour it into the pint glass for a nice foamy head and watch the color emerge.

20. Green Dublin

If you want a cocktail close to a Cosmopolitan for St Patrick’s Day, try a Green Dublin.

Fill your cocktail shaker with ice and add four ounces each of Irish whiskey and white cranberry juice with two ounces of sour apple schnapps.

Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass then garnish with a slice of green apple.

21. Black Velvet

You only need two ingredients to create a Black Velvet cocktail but make sure they are top-quality.

Pour Champagne into a flute up to halfway and then slowly pour some chilled Guinness to the top. That’s it, enjoy.

22. Irish Eyes

Use a cocktail shaker to get Irish Eyes smiling with this sensational cocktail.

Fill one with ice and then pour in an ounce of Irish whiskey, a quarter ounce of crème de menthe, and two ounces of cream.

Shake vigorously to combine and then pour into an old fashioned glass with even more ice. Garnish with one maraschino cherry for that extra touch.

23. The Massey

For a potent cocktail to really get St Patrick’s Day going, use a mixing glass for The Massey.

Pour in an ounce of Irish whiskey, an ounce of gin, three-quarters of an ounce of sweet red vermouth, a quarter of an ounce of Green Chartreuse, and an eighth of an ounce of Campari.

Stir with ice until well chilled and then strain into a cocktail glass with a strip of orange zest for a garnish.

24. Pot of Gold

Find that pot of gold by creating your own delicious cocktail. Add some ice to a cocktail shaker and then combine one part sour apple schnapps and coconut rum with two parts pineapple juice.

Shake vigorously and then strain into an ice-filled cocktail glass with a maraschino cherry garnish.

25. Baileys Guinness Irish Floats

To end your St Patrick’s Day festivities, why not end with an ice-cream float (see also ‘28 Tasty And Festive St Patrick’s Day Desserts‘)? Place a couple of scoops of vanilla ice cream into a large glass and then add an ounce of Baileys Irish cream and pour around a cup of Guinness to top them off.

Drizzle with some chocolate syrup and enjoy.

Bonus: Shots

St Patrick’s Day also needs to be celebrated with some shots (if you need some St. Patrick’s Day appetizers, read here).

They do not have to be too boozy and you may even find yourself using up some cucumbers or pickle juice, as you would if you created the ones below.

Pickleback

For a cheeky, memorable shot, dip your shot glass in water then some Old Bay seasoning.

Pour in one part Irish whiskey with two parts of a Pickle Juice Chaser and for that green color add some lime juice with green food coloring. Give it a quick stir and swallow it down. 

Cucumber Gimlets

Cocktails can be healthy too, if you serve them in a salad vegetable. Use a peeled and hollowed-out cucumber piece to serve your gimlets and you can save on the trash too.

Add two ounces of gin with a splash of lime juice, and just a teaspoon of the cucumber flesh to a cocktail shaker with ice.

Strain it into the cucumber piece, top it up with sparkling limeade, drink it up then eat the container. 

Lucky Charm Vodka Jello

Bring out a tray of these green jello shots and your party should go down in folklore.

Use cooking spray to grease each shot cup and then heat up two cups of boiling water to whisk into six ounces of green Jello powder.

Pour in a cup of vodka and whisk until smooth before pouring into the cups and refrigerating until firm. For that extra touch, squirt some whipped cream on top.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to St Patrick’s Day, you should be expected to have at least one pint of Guinness. Bailey’s should be involved too as an Irish cream liqueur.

Thankfully, these cocktails give you plenty of opportunities to create some interesting cocktails.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Most Consumed Drink On St Patrick’s Day?

Though these cocktails are well worth trying, there is only one drink you should be drinking on St Patrick’s Day.

Widely known as one of the most successful exports from Ireland and the country’s national drink, a pint of Guinness is pretty much a tradition on St Patrick’s Day.

Around 13 million pints of the black stuff are drunk worldwide on the day which is roughly eight times as much as any other day.

Which Other Drinks Should You Try On St Patrick’s Day?

Aside from Guinness, you should try an Irish Coffee to end the festivities after a large St Patrick’s Day feast.

A Baileys or Jameson Whiskey would go down well too. During the day, you can also try a Bulmers Cider as an alternative to Guinness.