A whopping 37 million U.S. residents claim to be of Irish ancestry, and as an Irish immigrant from Dublin, I realize that St. Paddy’s Day (not St. Patty’s Day) is still the holiday nearest and dearest to my heart after 20 years of living in California. The fact that it requires you to share drinks with friends doesn’t hurt one bit.

According to Statistic Brain, 46% of Americans celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and 20% of them plan to have an alcoholic beverage.

Wallet Hub says 13 million pints of Guinness were sold last St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th, the fourth most popular U.S. holiday in America.

To aid you in your endeavor to stay as authentically Irish as possible, we asked Irish- and U.S.-based bartenders, as well as some well-known Irish brands, for their suggestions on what to order this March 17th.

Wilde’s Atlantic Way

From the Lodge at Ashford, the beautiful 4-star hotel located on the grounds of the 350-acre Ashford Castle Estate in County Mayo, Ireland.

Inspired by the ancient beauty that is the west coast of Ireland. This peaty coastal cocktail resembles the harsh yet beautiful western shores of the Emerald Isle, whilst the salt and seaweed-infused fog help to take you to the edge of the Cliffs of Moher. A must-try for any lover of whiskey and adventure.

Ingredients:
50ml Connemara 12yr
2 brown sugar cubes
4 dashes house bitters
1 piece of dried dillisk for garnish
Square of turf (from somebody’s garden)

Method:
First, add dried dillisk and 2 spoons of Atlantic sea salt into a teapot. Fill with hot water and let sit. (This is for the Atlantic sea water). Next, place 2 brown sugar cubes into mixing glass. Add 2-3 dash of house bitters / angostura bitters Add 10ml of filtered water Add 50ml Connemara 12 yo peated whiskey Muddle the sugar cubes until broken up Add ice and stir using the bar spoon for 15 seconds. In a chilled tumbler glass, add an ice sphere Place the glass on top of the turf in the perspex container. Add a small piece of dried dillisk to the rim of the glass for garnish. Pour the cocktail into the glass. Add some dry ice to the container Que the music (The lonesome Boatman). Lastly pour the hot infused salt water over the dry ice and enjoy.

Gunpowder Blush

From the incredible Ashford Castle, set on 350 acres in County Mayo, on the shores of Lough Corrib and the River Cong, with a spectacular backdrop of woodlands, lake, river, and mountains. The 5-star hotel features 83 guestrooms, suites and a Lakeside Cottage, and is renowned for a range of country sports including an equestrian center, fly fishing, an exclusive nine-hole golf course and Ireland’s first school of falconry. Several dining rooms and bars, along with a gracious afternoon tea service are among the amenities.

Their signature “Gunpowder Blush” is a very unique cocktail that is actually infused with smoke, making for an incredible presentation to imbibers:

Ingredients:
2 1/3 oz GunPowder Gin
1/3 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1/3 oz FRESH GRAPEFRUIT JUICE
1/3 oz Falernum
1/3 oz l Maraschino
1/3 oz Elderflower liqueur

Dublin Guinness Porter Vanilla Float

by NIOS restaurant, part of the Kimpton Muse Hotel.

Ingredients:
½ oz vanilla vodka
5 oz Guinness Dublin porter
Vanilla bean garnish
2 oz scoop of vanilla ice cream

Method:
Scoop ice cream into frosted glasses, add a small jigger of vanilla vodka, then very slowly pour the Guinness over the top of each. (It will fizz and bubble over it you pour too fast. Serve with a spoon and a straw! For extra decadence, top with freshly whipped cream or chocolate sprinkles).

“But What Does Bobby Burn?”

A delicious Irish cocktail from bartender Josh Seaburg at Saltine in Norfolk, VA, this sour-driven take on a Bobby Burns cocktail pays homage to the first documented version, using Irish whiskey as the base. The addition of becherovka adds some welcome spice to the party. What comes out of the shaker is a well-rounded, full bodied beverage, lighter and more accessible than the original. Great for starting arguments over which is the greater United Kingdom whiskey.

Ingredients:
2 oz Teeling Irish whiskey
3/4 oz Vya Sweet Vermouth
1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1/4 oz Becherovka
1/4 oz Benedictine
Barspoon of Simple syrup.
2 Dashes Angostura bitters

Method:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin, shake, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

The Wilde Oscar

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Bulleit Bourbon
1 oz Guinness Extra Stout
1/2 oz Rich Simple Syrup
Dash of Botanical Bitters

Method:
Stir all ingredients in an ice filled mixing glass. Strain cocktail over a large ice cube. This cocktail is also delicious when made with Guinness® Draught. Garnish with a large orange peel and maraschino cherry.

Video: Here

The Irish Lovers

From Whitney Vadeboncoeur at Dark Corner Distillery Tasting Room in Greenville, SC.

Ingredients:
1 oz Whiskey Girl Peach
1 oz Jameson Irish whiskey
1/2 oz sour mix
1/4 oz triple sec
Splash of soda

Method:
In a shaker, combine all ingredients with ice. Shake and strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime. This recipe is also great for shots.

Founded by employees of the original Dublin-based pub, Kitty O’Sheas at Hilton Chicago features an array of Irish cocktails, with its two signature Bloody Mary’s highlighted below.

Sriracha Guinness Mary

Kitty’s signature Bloody Mary features house-made Sriracha, vodka and a float of Guinness, topped with bacon, pickle, tomato, radishes and celery.

Ingredients:
1 gal tomato juice
10 oz lemon juice
16 oz pickle juice
8 oz horseradish
12 teaspoons Sriracha
8 teaspoons Worcestershire
8 teaspoons HP sauce
Celery salt to taste

Method:
Combine all ingredients together and blend. Taste for Seasoning. Finally add 1oz Titos Vodka to a 10oz serving of Bloody Mary Mix and then top with 2oz of Guinness.

Green Bloody Mary

Kitty O’Sheas surprises guests with its new house-made green Bloody Mary, crafted with tomatillo, yellow summer tomatoes, jalapeno and Red Bush Irish Whiskey.

Ingredients:
8 lbs green tomatillos, (blanched and cut into chunks for easier blending)
4 lbs yellow tomatoes, (cut into chunks for easier blending)
16 ea seedless cucumbers, (peeled and seeded)
16 ea garlic cloves
8 oz lime juice
8 ea jalapenos (seeds and stem removed)
8 tbs chopped cilantro
8 teaspoon horseradish
4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Kosher and celery salt to taste

Method:
Combine all ingredients together and blend until smooth. Taste for seasoning then pass through a strainer for leaner smoother juice consistency, if you prefer a more heavier consistency, do not strain.

Finally add 1 ½ oz Red Bush Irish Whiskey to every 12oz serving of Green Bloody Mary Mix.

Cuppa Cheer

Created by Pamela Wiznitzer of Seamstress NYC

Ingredients:
1 oz Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur
1 oz Brancamenta
1 oz Crystal Head Vodka

Ever Thine, Ever Mine

Created by Pamela Wiznitzer of Seamstress NYC

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur
¾ oz Pama Liqueur
1 ½ oz Koskenkorva Vodka

Method:
Pour in a coupe glass and garnish with raspberries.

Irish Slang

Ingredients:
1 ½ oz Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur
1 ½ oz Teeling Irish Whiskey
¾ oz Caffe Borghetti Liqueur
½ oz Grand Marnier

Method:
Shake and strain into a highball. Garnish with an orange slice.

Gaelic Grasshopper

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur
1 oz Teeling Irish whiskey
1/2 oz Crème de Cacao
½ oz Brancamenta

Method:
Shake lightly and strain over crushed ice. Garnish with mint and shaves chocolate.

Golden Cuppa

(Created by Pamela Wiznitzer of Seamstress NYC)

Ingredients:
1 oz Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur
1 oz Zaya rum
4-5 oz boiling hot chai tea
6 oz of fresh heavy cream

Method:
Add 1 oz of Kerrygold to 6 oz of fresh heavy cream.  Shake (or stir) until its becomes thick and turns into whipped cream. Top it onto the drink and finish with a dash of allspice and nutmeg.

SHAMWRECKED

(Created by Bartender: Francesco Dionese, Dutch Fred’s NYC)

Ingredients:
2 oz Teeling single grain Whiskey
4 oz homemade shamrock shake
8 drops chlorophyll extract
Garnish: Emerald candy

Method:
Shake all ingredients and strain into a mason jar. Cover with the napkin, place the emerald candy on top of it and insert the straw.

The Teeling Whiskey Irish Coffee

Ingredients:
1 1⁄2oz Teeling Small Batch Whiskey
4oz Freshly Brewed, Robust Coee
1⁄2oz Spiced Stout Syrup (see below)
Orange Zested Cream
Garnish: Freshly Grated Nutmeg
Suggested Glassware: Hot Drinks Glass

Method:
Preheat glass with some warm water and discard, add the Teeling Whiskey, stout syrup, brewed coffee and stir to combine. Warm a large spoon and gently pour the cream over the back of the spoon and onto the coffee.

Mint Mocha Spiked Coffee

Created by Pam Wiznitzer, Seamstress

Ingredients:
1.5 oz Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur
1 oz Brancamenta
3 oz cold coffee

Macchiato Martini

Classic coffee inspired Martini.

Ingredients:
1oz. Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur
1 shot of Espresso
½ oz Chocolate syrup
Garnish with chocolate cookie crumbles

Method:
Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain the ingredients into a martini glass with no ice.