If you’re over your green beer days but not over the idea of festive, emerald-hued sippers, we’ve got 5 treats for you. Inspired by Irish spirits and our craving for no-nonsense, tasty cocktails, these recipes will ensure you do St. Pat’s day right. We mean, like a proper adult. (You’re one of those, right?) Retire your foam sponge finger and whip up a batch of these drinky-poos. Cheers!
Bailey’s Espresso Martini
Coffee fro-yo addicts, this one is for you. If you love sweet coffee, this fab cocktail is ideal as an after dinner aperitif with a sweet spin.
Ingredients:
1 oz. Baileys Irish Cream
1/2 oz. vodka
2 oz. cold espresso or strong brewed coffee
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together, shake in a martini shaker and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with a cherry.
Green Dublin Apple Cocktail
Tart apple and white cran flavours make this a perfect winter cocktail.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Michael Collins Irish whiskey
1 oz. sour apple schnapps
2 oz. white cranberry juice
Instructions:
Pour all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a fresh apple slice.
Black Velvet
This beer cocktail is an easy-to-make showstopper. The differing densities of the two liquids cause them to create a layered effect in the glass – the result is an amber-y lava lamp that’s as delicious as it is pretty.
Ingredients:
5 oz. chilled Guinness
1 1/2 oz. chilled champagne (if you’re on a budget, spring for Bambino, we say)
Instructions:
Pour chilled Guinness into a champagne flute. Then pour in the champagne carefully, so it doesn’t mix with Guinness. (Note: the effect is best achieved by pouring the beer over a spoon turned upside down over the top of the glass so that the liquid runs gently down the sides. Class act!)
Irish Coffee
Way more drinkable than an Irish carbomb, a warming Irish coffee will keep you alert and calm your nerves. (And not make you want to puke. Bonus.)
Ingredients:
2 oz. Irish whiskey
5 oz. coffee
2 teaspoons sugar
Heavy cream for garnish
Instructions:
Pour the whiskey, coffee, and sugar into a stemmed, heated glass mug. Stir, then top off with a thick layer of lightly whipped heavy cream.
Green Tea Spritzer
This one is a bit more labour intensive, but makes a mean punch-alternative if you’re entertaining. Sort of like a wine sangria without the fruit but with earthy green tea instead. Plus – it’s not exactly a wheatgrass shot – but the potent green tea content in this cocktail may actually be beneficial in preventing your hangover. Or at least mix the booze with some antioxidants. That sounds like a good hangover prevention strategy, right?
Ingredients:
½ cup water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon matcha green tea
3 cups white wine
12 mint leaves
1 cup soda water
Instructions:
In a saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Whisk in matcha, then let the mixture cool completely. This is your matcha syrup. In a pitcher, combine matcha syrup with wine and mint leaves and stir to combine. Chill in the fridge for 4 hours. To serve, pour into chilled glasses and top with soda water. Makes 4 servings.
There are a lot more ideas where these came from. If you thirst still isn’t sated, check out these easy green cocktail recipes. Thyme and ginger sour, anyone? We think SO.
