St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated by the Irish people as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. It’s actually celebrated on the anniversary of the patron Saint of Ireland’s death in 461. St. Patrick’s Day is the one day during Lent that the prohibitions on meat are waived and a feast festival is held, so they tend to eat, drink and be merry on this holiday. But, believe it or not, it was illegal in Ireland for pubs to be open on St. Patrick’s day until 1995, when the government launched a campaign to promote tourism with the holiday. Now everyone, including the Irish people can legally enjoy drinks to celebrate. Here are a few of the best St. Patrick’s Day drinks to enjoy on your own, or serve at your party.
Green Drinks
Fuzzy Leprechaun
If you’re looking for a green drink that’s fruity, but not minty, this is a great choice. It’s a fun drink, from the name, to the color and the flavor. It’s green color would make you think it tastes like mint or apples, but it surprises with a peachy flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 oz. Peach Schnapps
- 1 oz. Blue Curacao
- 1 oz. Vodka
- 1/2 oz. Orange juice
- 1/2 oz. Pineapple juice
Orange and cherry for garnish
Directions
- In a shaker with ice, pour in all ingredients, except garnish
- Shake until cold
- Strain into a glass with ice
- Garnish with orange slice and a cherry
Boozy Shamrock Shake
This is a good choice if you want a boozy drink and some decadent indulgence at the same time. It’s got all the flavor of a Shamrock shake from McDonald’s, but it’s arguably better because of the addition of Schnapps. And, you won’t even have to wait in line at the drive thru!
Ingredients
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 4 Tablespoons 101 proof peppermint Schnapps
- Green gel food coloring
- Whipped cream
- Decorative sprinkles
Directions
- Leave the ice cream sit out on the counter for around half an hour to soften
- Add the first 4 ingredients into a blender
- Blend until smooth
- Pour into large glass
- Top with whipped cream and sprinkles
- Serve
Gold Emerald Shooter
This is a really unique drink with a fun green color and gold flecks. It’s a combination of Goldschlager, vodka and Midori, which sounds kind of weird, but it works. The result is a perfect blend of sweet and spicy. And the flavors blend so well that even people who aren’t partial to some of the spirits in it will love it.
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz. Vodka
- 1/2 oz. Goldschlager
- 1/2 oz. Midori
Directions
- Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice
- Shake until cold
- Strain into a shot glass
- Serve
Other Festive Drinks
Lucky Charms Shots
These are a shot of pure childhood nostalgia. They taste just like eating a bowl of Lucky Charms, but with the added benefit of Bailey’s Irish Cream. They’re magically delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 cup cold whole milk
- 1 cup Lucky Charms cereal
- 1 cup Bailey’s Irish Cream, chilled
- 1 Tablespoon rainbow sprinkles
- 1/4 cup vanilla frosting
Directions
- Pour 1/2 cup of the Lucky Charms into milk and let it sit in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.
- Strain out the cereal
- Pour the milk into a pitcher
- Pour Bailey’s into the milk and stir to combine
- Crush the other 1/2 of the cereal finely
- Put cereal onto a plate and stir sprinkles in with it
- Dip shot glasses in vanilla frosting
- Roll glasses in cereal
- Pour the Bailey’s mixture into the glasses
- Serve
Pot o Gold Shots
These look as good as they taste, and make an excellent presentation piece for St. Patrick’s Day parties. Not only do you get a nice jello shot, you get a piece of candy. And it looks like gold underneath a rainbow with clouds, enough to please your inner Leprechaun.
Ingredients
- 1 (3.4 oz) package lemon or pineapple jello
- 1/2 cup cold whiskey
- 1 cup Cool Whip
- Gold sprinkles
- 6 rainbow candy belts, cut into 2 inch pieces
Directions
- In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Add in jello and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in another cup of water and the whiskey.
- Place 16 plastic shot glasses on a baking sheet. Fill them 2/3 full with the jello mixture.
- Refrigerate for about 2 hours, or until set
- Top each with a dollop of Cool Whip and add gold sprinkles
- Put a piece of the rainbow belt candy on each one, forming it into a semi-circle
- Serve
Irish Flag
This is a great drink to serve at St. Patrick’s Day parties because it’s tasty and the layers of the shot resemble an Irish flag. Don’t let a fear of layering discourage you from trying to make it because it’s actually quite easy. And, the alcohol content is low enough that if you serve these at a party, your guests can enjoy a couple of them without you having to worry about them getting too out of hand.
Ingredients
- 1/3 Creme de Menthe
- 1/3 Bailey’s Irish Cream
- 1/3 Grand Marnier
Directions
- Fill shot glasses 1/3 full of Creme de Menthe
- Add the Bailey’s by pouring it slowly over the back of a spoon
- Finish it by pouring the Grand Marnier over the back of a spoon
- Serve
Irish Car Bomb
This drink is both fun and tasty. It consists of a pint of stout and a shot. You drop the shot glass into the pint, and then drink it quickly. The reason you drink it quickly, as opposed to leisurely sipping the pint is that once the ingredients combine, they curdle quickly, and no one wants chunks in their beer. You should probably watch how many of these you drink, as well, because they’re a fantastic way to get “bombed”.
Ingredients
- 3/4 pint Guinness Stout
- 1/2 shot Bailey’s Irish Cream
- 1/2 shot Jameson Irish whiskey
Directions
- Pour the Bailey’s into a shot glass and then top it with the whiskey
- Pour Guinness into glass and let it settle
- Drop shot glass into pint glass
- Drink immediately
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated all around the world, and the drinks in this article are intended to reflect that diversity, while also embracing Irish heritage. After all, there’s an old adage that goes “Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!” With the vast number of St. Patrick’s Day parties and festivals held each year, you’re sure to see some of the drinks listed here floating around somewhere, and they’ll make stunning additions to your own.