St. Patricks Day
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 22.3% ABV ∙
The St. Patrick's Day is a green-hued Irish whiskey sour, shaken with herbal liqueur, mint liqueur, lime, and a dash of absinthe, then topped with soda. Cool and silky with a bracing herbal snap, the fine strain leaves it smooth, while the soda lifts the finish into a crisp, faintly anise-tinged sparkle.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake the first 6 ingredients with ice: Irish whiskey 50 mlHerbal liqueur (e.g., Green Chartreuse) 10 mlCrème de Menthe green 10 mlLime juice 10 mlSugar syrup 10 mlAbsinthe 1 dash
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Top with Soda water
- Garnish with a mint leaf (or shamrock) pegged to rim
Tips
- Shake hard and fine-strain — this build strains out any ice shards so the soda top stays clean and lightly textured.
- Top with the soda water gently after straining to keep its fizz instead of knocking it flat.
- Pre-chill the coupe before straining so the drink doesn't lose its chill before the soda goes in.
History
This cocktail is a modern creation, documented as devised in 2006 by a bartender in London, England. It belongs to a lineage of Irish whiskey and green Chartreuse drinks that stretches back to Prohibition-era recipes such as the Shamrock, credited to Hugo Ensslin's 1917 book Recipes for Mixed Drinks, which paired Irish whiskey with Chartreuse and vermouth. The later St. Patrick's Day version builds on that herbal, green-hued combination but adds crème de menthe, lime juice, sugar syrup, a dash of absinthe, and soda water, taking its name and vivid emerald color from the Irish holiday it is meant to celebrate.
FAQ
What is a good cocktail for St. Patrick's Day?
The St. Patrick's Day cocktail is a fitting choice for the holiday, thanks to its green hue from Crème de Menthe and herbal liqueur and its Irish whiskey base. It's shaken with lime juice for balance, then topped with soda and served up in a chilled coupe with a mint leaf garnish.
What is a popular Irish cocktail?
Irish whiskey anchors most well-known Irish cocktails, and the St. Patrick's Day cocktail is a prime example, shaken with herbal liqueur and Crème de Menthe for its signature green color.
Is there a shamrock cocktail?
There isn't a single standard drink called the Shamrock, but green-colored cocktails are commonly served around the holiday and sometimes garnished with a shamrock in place of a mint leaf. This build calls for a mint leaf, with a shamrock listed as an accepted alternative garnish.
What's the most famous Irish drink?
Guinness stout is generally considered the most famous Irish drink, alongside Irish whiskey as the country's best-known spirit. Cocktails built on Irish whiskey, such as this one, are a common way to bring that spirit into a mixed drink for St. Patrick's Day.
What color is bad luck on Saint Patrick's Day?
Wearing blue is traditionally considered the unlucky or out-of-place color on St. Patrick's Day, since green has become the holiday's signature color. This cocktail leans into that association, getting its green tint from Chartreuse-style herbal liqueur and green crème de menthe rather than food coloring.
