8 Easy to make Irish Drinks (Perfect for Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day!)

St. Patrick’s Day may be an Irish holiday, but it is celebrated around the world. Usually with alcohol. Lots of alcohol. So if you won’t be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, but are still looking to get your party on then this list is for you. Here are 8 Irish drinks perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, wherever you may be in the world.

Irish Coffee

Irish coffee is a classic Irish drink, and while it may not be the ideal party drink it’s a cheeky way to start the day if St. Patrick’s Day falls on a weekend, or a cozy warm-up evening drink if your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are more refined rather than, well, messy.

You will need:

• Good, hot coffee
• Irish whisky
• Cream

There are numerous recipes for Irish coffee, but the key trick is to get the cream to the right consistency. For a real Irish coffee recipe plus the story of how it came to be, check out this post.

Baby Guinness Shots

For those who haven’t tried them, baby Guinness shots are essentially dessert in a glass. They are sweet, delicious, and go down really easy. It’s one of my favourite Irish drinks for celebrating St. Patrick’s day. But, word of caution: don’t do too many or you will regret it in the morning!

You will need:

• Baileys
• Coffee Liquor (I like Tia Maria or Kahlua)

The trick is layering the liquors so they look like a baby pint of Guinness. You’ll want 2/3 of the coffee liquor (this will look like the ‘beer’), then carefully pour baileys on top to look like the ‘head’ of a pint of Guinness.

Jameson, Ginger, and Lime

Irish whisky is a classic, so celebrate your St. Patrick’s day with this simple but classic cocktail. It’s refreshing and one of the easiest Irish drinks to make.

You will need:

• Jameson Irish Whisky (really any Irish whisky will do, but I love Jameson)
• Ginger ale
• Wedge of lime

Fill a highball glass with ice, add 1 shot of the Jameson whisky, top off with a good quality ginger ale (Schweppes or Canada Dry), then squeeze a wedge of lime over top and drop it in the glass. Give it a quick stir and serve.

The Nutty Irishman

If you love creamy Irish drinks, then the Nutty Irishman is another great one to try.  Like the other drinks on this list so far, it is super easy to make and you can make both a hot and cold version.

You will need:

• Ice
• Bailey’s Cream Liquor
• Frangelico Hazelnut Liquor

Fill a brandy glass halfway with ice, then add equal parts (1 ounce each) of the Baileys and the Frangelico. Or, you can make the hot version where you substitute the ice for a good, hot cup of coffee and add in the Baileys and Frangelico.

Irish Car Bombs

Definitely not an Irish classic, but the Irish Car Bomb is one of the most popular Irish drinks to have on St. Patrick’s Day (especially across in North America). It’s easy to make and is a great party choice.

You will need:

• Guinness beer
• Irish Cream liquor (Baileys)
• Irish whisky

Pour 3/4 of an ounce of Baileys into a shot glass and add 3/4 ounce of whisky on top. In a tall pint glass, pour 1/2 a pint of Guinness. Allow the Guinness to settle and when it’s time to drink, drop the shot glass into the Guinness and drink as quickly as possible.

Irish Flag Shooter

When it comes to Irish drinks for St. Patrick’s day, a good one to try is the Irish Flag shooter which is the three colours of the Irish Flag: green, white, and orange. However, this drink is more for its looks than it tastes as the flavours aren’t the most complimentary.

You will need:

• Crème de Menthe
• White Irish cream liquor
• Orange Grand Marnier

The trick to getting the layered look is to float the liquors over the glass so they don’t mix. You can do this by slowly pouring it over the back of the spoon. The correct order is: Crème de menthe (green), Irish cream liquor (white), and Grand Marnier (orange)

Grasshopper

A grasshopper isn’t typically known as one of the top Irish drinks, but its vibrant colour makes it a great pick for those trying to find festive recipes for St. Patrick’s Day. Unlike the Irish Flag shooter, these ingredients in this green cocktail do blend well together, making for a tasty dessert-like cocktail.

You will need:

• Ice
• Crème de menthe
• Crème de cacao
• Cream

Pour 3/4 ounce each of crème de menthe and crème de cacao into a cocktail shaker. Add ¼ ounce of cream and ice, then shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Or, if you like, you can also blend all ingredients for a frozen grasshopper.

Shamrock Juice

Another bright green cocktail is Shamrock Juice. Despite the colour, the dominant flavour is orange. There’s nothing really Irish about it, but if you are looking for a yummy fruity drink with a festive colour, it’s a great pick to help you celebrate. Heads up though; this one is really strong.

You will need:

• Ice
• Gin
• White tequila
• Light Rum
• Vodka
• Blue Curacao
• Fresh squeezed orange juice

Fill a hurricane glass with ice and add 1/2 ounce of gin, white tequila, and light rum. Add 1 ounce of blue curacao. Top off with orange juice and, if you like, top off with an orange wedge and cherries.

Enjoy!