The 20 Best Irish co*cktails to Drink This St. Patrick's Day (2024)

Ah, St. Patrick’s Day, the one day a year when everyone becomes an honorary Irishman, complete with questionable green attire and a sudden obsession with all things shamrock-shaped. As if we needed another reason to indulge, here we are, celebrating the patron saint of Ireland by raising glasses filled with various types of liquid luck in the form of these St. Patrick’s Day co*cktails.

From Irish whiskey drinks to emerald green shots, there’s a rainbow of St. Patrick’s Day libations waiting to be explored. Whether it’s a Gold Rush co*cktail or a humble pint of Guinness, there’s a pot of liquid gold at the end of every celebration.

So, let’s raise a glass to St. Patrick’s Day: the one day of the year when green beer flows like water. May your whiskey drinks be strong, your laughter be loud, and your hangover be tiny. Sláinte!

1. Leprechaun’s Kiss Martini

This chocolatey Leprechaun’s Kiss Martini co*cktail combines Irish cream liqueur with vanilla vodka and is garnished with a rainbow sugar rim and a hidden Hershey’s Kiss. After a few sips of this drink, you’ll feel like you just kissed the hot part-leprechaun from The Luck of the Irish.

Get the recipe.

2. Irish Coffee

Is there a better way to start St. Patrick’s Day then with coffee combined with whiskey? We’re all still working from home, right?

Get the recipe.

3. Frozen Gin and Tonic

Unlike whiskey, gin may not be a spirit that’s associated with Ireland. But, this Frozen Gin and Tonic relies on cucumber and lime juice to make it a perfect St. Paddy’s Day green. So if anyone tries to pinch you for not wearing green, toss this drink at them. Or, try using your words. Up to you.

Get the recipe.

4. Irish Trash Can

Name a type of alcohol and we can all but guarantee it’s in this Irish Trash Can (as well as a whole can of Red Bull). There are so many spirits in here we’re shocked Slimer isn’t also in the glass. But this green, boozy drink will have you saying, “I think he can hear you.”

Get the recipe.

5. Green Beer

A little green beer for the holiday? Go for it! A little green beef for the holiday? Maybe not. While you may want to avoid dyeing your steaks green to celebrate, this recipe is the perfect way to say, “I don’t like good Irish beer, but I’m ready to be festive.”

Get the recipe.

6. Irish Mule

Move over, Moscow. Well, not physically. That sounds hard. But do make room for a new co*cktail, the Irish Mule. Made with Irish whiskey and ginger beer, it’ll have you dancing on tables by the end of the night. Or at least threatening to.

Get the recipe.

7. St. Patrick’s Day Mimosa

Hosting a St. Patrick’s Day brunch and aren’t ready to break out the whiskey? Go green with a St. Patrick’s Day Mimosa made with sparkling wine, orange juice, and Blue Curaçao. It’s sweet, smooth, and goes down perhaps a little too easy.

Get the recipe.

8. Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur

If you’re the type of person who tastes everything and says, “I can do it better,” forget the Bailey’s and make this Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur recipe. Just gather the ingredients — which include Jameson Irish whiskey, chocolate syrup, and heavy cream — and let your blender do all the work.

Get the recipe.

9. Coconut Mint Mocktail

A non-alcoholic drink on St. Patrick’s Day? We’ll raise a mocktail to that! If you’d rather not get sloshed on the Irish holiday this year, this Coconut Mint Green Tea Mocktail is the perfect solution. And if you do toss in some whiskey…well, we hear coconut water is good for hangovers.

Get the recipe.

10. Baileys Espresso Martini co*cktail

It’s not Bond, James Bond. It’s Irish Cream, Baileys Irish Cream. And a gentle reminder that not all St. Patrick’s Day co*cktails need to be green. This drink is made with vodka, espresso, Kahlua, and Baileys. And it is shaken, not stirred. We think 007 would approve.

Get the recipe.

11. Baby Guinness Shot

Should you give a Baby Guinness Shot, made using Kahlua and Baileys, to a baby? No. But you can serve it for both St. Patrick’s Day and April Fool’s since it doesn’t contain any actual Guinness.

Get the recipe.

12. Jameson Green Tea Shot

Oddly enough, this Jameson Green Tea Shot doesn’t have any tea in it. Instead, the co*cktail is made of Jameson whiskey, peach schnapps, Sprite, and sour mix. Combined, it tastes eerily similar to green tea. Just don’t try to use it as a substitute for your morning matcha.

Get the recipe.

13. Midori Sour

Thanks to the melon liqueur that is Midori, this easy co*cktail recipe is neon. Make the drink for St. Patrick’s Day or Halloween! It’s so versatile.

Get the recipe.

14. Scooby Snack Shot

“Would you do it for a Scooby Snack?” If you’re serving this Scooby Snack Shot made with coconut rum, Midori, pineapple juice, creme de banana, and whipped cream, our answer is yes. No “ruh roh” about it.

Get the recipe here and order the Scooby snack cookies here.

15. Green Jungle Juice

Are you spending St. Patrick’s Day in a lush jungle, enjoying the fresh air (and humidity)? Sip on this festival co*cktail after your morning hike. Just remember not to play a drinking game with the big cats. They’re all cheetahs.

Get the recipe.

16. Cucumber Lemonade co*cktail

If you’re not a fan of Irish whiskey, you can still enjoy festive co*cktails on March 17th. Simply make this Frozen Cucumber Lemonade that uses fresh lemon juice and cucumbers to give you leprechaun at a spa vibes.

Get the recipe.

17. Green Moscow Mule

Blend vodka, green juice, ginger beer, and lime juice, to make this themed Moscow Mule co*cktail.

Get the recipe.

18. Grasshopper Milkshake co*cktail

I scream, you scream, we all scream…for boozy ice cream. This twist on the classic Grasshopper co*cktail is dessert in a glass. It’s made with part mint, part chocolate, and is all St. Patrick’s Day-friendly. The only thing it’s “not” is for sharing.
Get the recipe.

19. Green Hawaiian co*cktail

Elvis may have known a thing or two about Blue Hawaii. But if he was in the tropical paradise on St. Paddy’s Day, he’d be singing about this co*cktail. So, curl your lip, shake your hips, and don’t forget to garnish with a pineapple and a cherry.

Get the recipe.

20. Gold Rush co*cktail

At the end of the rainbow, there’s a pot of gold, so at the end of our list, you’ll find the Gold Rush co*cktail. It’s a combination of bourbon whiskey, lemon juice, and honey that’s garnished with a lemon peel. The sweet and tart combo is like a grown-up Sour Patch Kid. Good luck sneaking it into the movie theater.

Get the recipe.