Shake up some lucky sips with these green St. Patrick’s Day cocktails

On March 17, everyone is a wee bit Irish. While there might be plenty of Guinness flowing, some people would prefer a libation that has the color associated with the Emerald Isle. Instead of that green beer, these green St. Patrick’s Day cocktails bring bright, bold flavors to the glass. For those who want a vibrant Slainte, these cocktails deliver.

According to Drizly, “37% will be celebrating at home with a nice meal paired with a festive drink.” Although Irish Whiskey is often the preferred spirit for the holiday, 14% of those celebrating will enjoy an Irish themed cocktail.

While the Irish Coffee can be a popular choice, green St. Patrick’s Day cocktails are often the popular choice. Even though the Baileys Irish Vanilla Mint offers a sweet take on the pastel color, there are plenty of other options that can be poured from the cocktail shaker.

Vibrant green St. Patrick’s Day cocktails

In this cocktail from Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company, there is a boost from some green vegetables. Before anyone worries that this cocktail could be like eating a salad, all the other flavors make it a sweet, enjoyable drink. The Leprechaun does not have to trick anyone into drinking this cocktail.

Green Apple and Pineapple Kale Zinc Spiked Lemonade

Ingredients

• 16oz Natalie’s Pineapple Kale Zinc juice
• 2 green apples, peeled and diced
• 1 tbsp honey
• 8oz Natalie’s Natural Lemonade
• 1½ cups vodka
• Ice
• Sour rainbow candy for garnish
• Green apple slices for garnish

Directions

• In a blender, combine the PKZ juice, diced apples, honey, lemonade, and vodka.
•  Blend on high speed until fully combined.
• Pour over ice
• Take one strip of the rainbow sour candy and weave it onto a toothpick OR form it in the
  shape of a rainbow and pierce it with the toothpick.
• Garnish with the rainbow candy and a green apple slice.

Around St. Patrick’s Day, many people are hoping to be lucky. While that luck might not guarantee a lottery win, this Lucky Be a Lady cocktail can put everyone in good spirits.

Lucky Be a Lady

Ingredients:

• 1 oz El Bandido Yankee Reposado
• 1 oz Midori
• 1.5 oz Junmai Sake Nigori
• .25 oz Green Chartreuse
• .5 oz Lime Juice

Directions:

• Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill, then strain into a rocks glass full of fresh ice. Garnish with 1 shamrock. (Oxalis aka Shamrock is edible, really tasty, and you can find them at most plant shops, in case anyone wants to know!)

While that four leaf clover might be a symbol of good luck, the clover could be a reminder to eat your greens. With this cocktail from Absolut, celery juice brings the green color. The bright flavors are refreshing and definitely a clever combination.

Absolut Clever Clover

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Parts Absolut Original
• 1/2 Parts Celery Juice
• 1/2 Parts Suze
• 1/2 Parts Lime Juice
• 3/4 Parts Clover Honey Syrup
• 1-2 Dash Angostura Bitters

Method:

• Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake until cold and strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Matcha has often offered its green color to beverage. While the flavor can be a little grassy, a deft hand can make the herbal qualities subtle. In this cocktail, the matcha is used as a garnish which brings a lovely aroma to each sip. It is almost like a walk in the garden.

Matchatini by E11EVEN Vodka

Ingredients:

• 2.0 oz of E11EVEN Vodka
• 1.0 oz of Cucumber Syrup
• 1.0 oz of Fresh Orange Juice
• 1.0 oz of Lemon Juice
• 1 Cucumber strip for garnish
• 1 Bar Spoon of Green Matcha Powder to dust the rim of the glass

Method:

• Combine E11EVEN Vodka, cucumber syrup, fresh OJ, and lemon juice in a mixing glass. Add ice to the mixing glass and stir for 30 seconds. Dust the rim of the coup glass with Green Matcha powder and strain cocktail into the Green Matcha Powder dusted rim coup glass. Thread cucumber strip into a cocktail skewer and position across glass.

Although the Leprechaun might play a trick or two on some people, this green St. Patrick’s Day cocktail is all about the fun. It might be full of green juice, but it does pack a punch. Maybe that is why the Leprechaun is so happy.

Happy Leprechaun

Ingredients

• 2 oz 21 Seeds Valencia Orange Tequila
• 3 oz green juice
• 1 oz passionfruit juice

Method:

• Shake to mix, pour on ice.

Sometimes a sour can be a great cocktail to keep the sipping in check. That punch of pucker can moderate the consumption. In this cocktail, the combination of tart, sweet, and herbal makes for a delightful sipper.

Clover Sour

Ingredients

• 2oz Cutwater Gin
• 1oz fresh lemon juice
• 1oz honey syrup
• 1 egg white
• pinch matcha powder

Method:

• Add all ingredients to a cocktail tin. Shake without ice for about 15 seconds. Add ice to tin and shake well until chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with edible gold star sprinkles and a dust of matcha powder.

While some people might hope to find that pot of gold on St. Patrick’s Day, this cocktail could make them feel a little luckier. With a nod to the favorite cereal with those marshmallow charms, it could be the sweet sipper to end the day.

“Your Lucky Day”

Ingredients

• 1oz Cutwater Horchata Vodka
• .75oz creme de menthe
• .75oz creme de cacao
• 1oz lucky charm infused half and half

Method:

• Add ingredients to a cocktail tin with pebble ice. Shake and pour into a tall cocktail glass. Fill to the top with ice and garnish with whipped cream, lucky charms, a gold coin and a straw.