13 Delicious Traditional Irish Cocktails

The Irish sure know how to make a mean cocktail, what more do you expect from the country that has the highest consumption of alcohol in Europe?

Whether you’re just wanting a classic Irish cocktail, or you’re looking to get more in touch with your Irish roots, there’s a cocktail in this list for everyone. 

From fruity to fiery, there’s sure to be a drink in here to go with every event and mood. Take it from me, these cocktails are absolutely delicious, and once you have one, you might not be able to stop!

Try out these 13 amazing traditional Irish cocktails, either to impress your friends, or to just give you a new favorite drink. 

1. Irish Manhattan

This is an Irish twist on the classic Manhattan, Jameson pairs exceptionally well with the classic ingredients. All you’ll need is Jameson whiskey, sweet vermouth, aromatic bitters and some cherries for a sophisticated garnish.

You can use any aromatic bitters you want, but this recipe calls for cherry, smoked orange and alpine and also make sure to invest in a nice vermouth, it’ll come in handy when you’re making Manhattan cocktails at home! 

2. Irish Coffee

This cocktail is the perfect mix between a delicious dessert and an exceptional coffee, (it’s just a bit stronger than your usual coffee).

It makes for a relaxing nightcap whilst also giving you the amazing tastes of sweet and spikey creamed coffee, giving you the right amount of balance with the flavors to treat your tastebuds. 

In this recipe you’ll use Irish cream liqueur, Irish whiskey, freshly brewed coffee, whipped cream and nutmeg to perfect the authentic Irish coffee taste that we all know and love.

This recipe also tells you how to prepare it too, so you don’t need to worry about the preparation stage, as it can be quite a hard cocktail to perfect. 

3. Luck Of The Irish

This vibrant, bright green cocktail (see also ‘20+ Best And Tastiest Green Cocktails‘) is sure to catch eyes at your next St Paddy’s Day party.

Your guests will adore the sweet combination of whiskey, peach schnapps, pineapple juice and lime soda, so definitely make sure to make more than needed, just in case. 

Before you serve it at your next big party, I’d recommend that you have a go at making it beforehand as a practice run, just so you get the feel for the textures and flavors of the drink.

You can also make it as a mocktail (see also ‘23 Best Mocktail Recipes To Try At Home‘), so that the non-alcohol drinkers can get a taste of this beautiful drink. 

4. Irish Mule

This drink is a bright mix of smooth Irish whiskey, ginger beer and delicious freshly squeezed lime juice, based on the iconic Moscow mule.

The traditional vodka is replaced with Irish whiskey that brings peaty notes to the tangy undertones of the drink. It’ll only take around 5 minutes to make, and you’ll get a drink with a kick in return- much like a mule! 

5. Black Velvet

Stout and bubbly doesn’t sound like a nice combination, but trust me when I say, you’re definitely going to want to make this.

All you’ll need is Guinness and champagne, which makes this cocktail a super easy drink to make for New Year’s Eve parties, St Paddy’s Day or just because you want to try out a new drink!

The Guinness gives this cocktail a strong kick with a smoky flavor whilst the champagne provides a lighter texture with tons of boozy bubbles. It’s ready in under 2 minutes, what are you waiting for?

6. Irish Eyes

A great cocktail shouldn’t be hard to make, and this recipe follows that rule to a T. With only 4 ingredients and a prep time of 5 minutes, this irresistible drink will become your new go to cocktail.

All you’ll need is creme de menthe, whiskey, Irish cream and cream, shake everything up in a cocktail shaker, or a jar if you don’t have one, pour it and enjoy it, it’s really as simple as that! 

The cocktail is perfect for gatherings too, it’s a real eye catcher with its subtle green color and it looks deliciously smooth, it’s definitely hard to resist. 

7. Irish Blonde

We’re moving on from the classic green colors of Ireland, on to a more fiery red color. Contrary to the name, this Irish blonde is more of a redhead and it’s got the taste to prove it.

The combination of orange curacao, Irish whiskey, sherry and orange bitters give it a sharp taste that you just need to try. 

Serve it in a coupe glass and garnish it with a twist of orange zest and you’ve got yourself a different kind of cocktail this St Paddy’s Day. 

8. Irish Ale 

If you don’t really consider yourself a whiskey person, this cocktail will change your stance on that. The ginger beer combined with the deliciously smooth rye whiskey makes it a perfect cocktail to quench your thirst on warm afternoons.

Make sure to use authentic ginger beer for this recipe, the sharp, spicy and sweet kind that’s made with real ginger root. Trust me when I say it’s worth it, it completely transforms this recipe. 

It’s refreshingly good and it’s the perfect drink to drink on any occasion, it’s also super easy to make, so you won’t be trying for hours to perfect it. 

9. Irish Maid

Light, refreshing and bright, this cocktail is the perfect alternative to green beer this St Paddy’s Day.

All you’ll need is 5 simple ingredients to make this delectable drink, Jameson whiskey, slices of cucumber, elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup with a drop of honey.

The elderflower liqueur gives a wonderfully refreshing taste to this boozy drink, whilst the whiskey lends a smooth finish with peaty notes. 

Simply finish the cocktail by garnishing it with a wheel of fresh cucumber, and you have your own, super easy to make, Irish maid. 

10. Black And Gold

This cocktail just looks too good to drink, but the sweet and sharp flavors of it just entice you in, it’s the perfect after dinner drink.

Orange liqueurs and bitters are combined with Kahlua and whiskey to give a perfect balance, the citrus flavors take the edge off the strong alcohol making it a wickedly delicious cocktail that is perfect for all occasions. 

It’s ready in 5 minutes, which is great because once you’ve gulped down your first one, you’ll be off to make a second straight away. 

11. Irish Old Fashioned

Looking for a sophisticated drink to have in your repertoire? Look no further than this Irish take on the classic Old Fashioned.

This one is made with Irish whiskey, rather than bourbon, and once you have one sip of this cocktail, you won’t be going back to bourbon.

Made with Jameson whiskey, Benedictine, angostura bitters and orange bitters, this cocktail is the definition of sophistication. 

The Benedictine can be quite sweet, so if you’re looking for a more subtle sweetness, tone it down a bit and use 0.5 ounces rather than the 3/4.

12. Pot Of Gold

These delicious cocktails provide an array of fruity and sweet flavors to make this St Paddy’s Day the best one yet! With only 4 ingredients needed for this recipe, there’s really no reason not to try out these green and gold drinks.

All you’ll need is sour apple schnapps, coconut rum, pineapple juice and some maraschino cherries for a garnish. 

The gimmick with this cocktail is that there’s two choices to choose from: The Pot o’ Gold or the Drunken Leprechaun.

Simply add some green food coloring the mixture to make the latter, and you’ll certainly impress your guests. 

13. Irish Sour 

This recipe is an Irish take on the classic whiskey sour, using a Jameson whiskey as the base to give it a light and fruity taste with hints of nutty and vanilla tones.

The typical lemon juice is then swapped for freshly squeezed grapefruit juice to add a bitter sourness and the end result is a finish that is wonderfully mellow and smooth. 

If you want a bit more depth, try adding a splash of maraschino liqueur to add a bit of nutty sweetness. 

Frequently Asked Questions

When Is St Patrick’s Day?

St Patrick’s Day has already been and gone in 2022, so the next time you can celebrate it is Friday 17th March 2023.

Which gives you plenty of time to practice these cocktails, so you can have them made to perfection by the time it comes around next year! 

Can I Use Any Whiskey For These Cocktails?

It’s best to stick to Irish whiskey, like Jameson for these cocktails as these are specifically Irish cocktails and Irish whiskey provides a smooth, round flavor.

Whereas Scotch whisky has a more smoky, malty and sharp flavor that’s quite distinctive. If you don’t have any Irish whiskey or can’t find any, use bourbon as a substitute as the flavors of bourbon and Irish whisky are quite similar.