Eight Enticing Irish Cocktails

This month The Equestrian Epicurean serves up eight Irish cocktails. Try them all...you won't believe your luck!

Back in the day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, St. Patrick’s Day revelers celebrated with mugs of traditional green beer. The recipe was simple. Whatever beer was available, with a generous splash of green food dye.

Maybe that is still de rigueur in some places, but here at The Equestrian Epicurean, we are a more refined approach.

This year, we are raising a glass to Irish whiskey and a collection of cocktails that feel just a bit more timeless, beginning with the Irish Blonde.

Irish Blonde

Irish Blonde

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Michael Collins blended Irish whiskey

• 3/4 ounce Grand Marnier

• 1/4 ounce fino sherry

• 1 dash Angostura Orange Bitters

• Garnish: flamed orange peel

Steps

1. Add the blended Irish whiskey, Grand Marnier, fino sherry, and Angostura bitters into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled.

2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

3. Garnish with a flamed orange peel.

Irish Maid

Irish Maid

The refreshing Irish Maid traces its roots back to the Kentucky Maid, which uses bourbon as its base. Switch bourbon out for Irish whiskey, and voila…the Irish Maid!

Ingredients

• 2 slices of cucumber, cut into quarter-inch slices

• 2 ounces Jameson Irish whiskey

• 1/2 ounce St-Germain elderflower liqueur

• 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

• 3/4 ounce simple syrup

• Garnish: cucumber slice

Steps

1. Muddle the cucumber slices in a shaker.

2. Add the Irish whiskey, St-Germain, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

3. Fine-strain into a chilled rocks glass over fresh ice.

4. Garnish with a cucumber slice.

Frisky Whiskey

Frisky Whiskey

Ingredients

• 1 ounce Irish whiskey

• 1 ounce Bärenjäger honey liqueur

• 1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice

• 1/4 ounce simple syrup

• 2 dashes Angostura bitters

Steps

1. Add the Irish whiskey, Bärenjäger, orange juice, simple syrup, and Angostura bitters into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

2. Double-strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.

Brotherhood

Brotherhood

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces Michael Collins blended Irish whiskey

• 3/4 ounce Benedictine

• 3/4 ounce Grand Marnier

• 3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed

• Garnish: lemon peel

Steps

1. Add the Irish whiskey, Benedictine, Grand Marnier, and lemon juice into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.

3. Twist a swath of lemon peel over the top of the cocktail and drop it into the drink.

Tipperary

Tipperary

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces Irish whiskey

• 1 ounce sweet vermouth

• 1/2 ounce Green Chartreuse

• 2 dashes Angostura bitters

• Garnish: orange twist

Steps

1. Add the Irish whiskey, sweet vermouth, green Chartreuse, and bitters into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled.

2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

3. Express the oils from an orange twist over the glass and discard.

Luck of the Irish

Luck Of The Irish

Ingredients

• 1 ounce single-malt Irish whiskey

• 1 ounce sweet vermouth

• 1 ounce green Chartreuse

Steps

1. Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled.

2. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.

Irish Coffee

Irish Coffee

The list wouldn’t be complete without it!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces Irish whiskey

• 2 teaspoons brown sugar

• Hot brewed coffee, to top

• Garnish: whipped cream

Steps

1. Fill an Irish Coffee mug with hot water, let sit for 2 minutes, then discard the water.

2. Add the whiskey and sugar to the heated glass, fill with the coffee, and stir.

3. Top with an inch of unsweetened, lightly whipped cream.

Irish Raktajino

Irish Raktajino

Take it up a notch!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounce Irish whiskey

• 1/2 ounce simple syrup

• 2 ounces espresso (or cold-brew coffee)

• 2 ounces whole milk

• Garnish: smoked paprika

Steps

1. Add all the ingredients to a shaker with ice, then shake vigorously for 15 seconds.

2. Strain into a large snifter.

3. Dust a pinch of smoked paprika over the surface of the drink.

However you choose to celebrate, a well-made drink is always worth the extra effort.

Slainte!!

Janet Winters, Publisher