Best St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails

These drinks are the perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! From Irish whiskey to Irish cream, there’s so much to love about these drinks inspired by the Emerald Isle.

Your ultimate guide to St. Patrick’s Day cocktails

St. Patrick’s Day never used to be one of my favorite holidays. Now, if parades and big festivals are your thing, I will not stop you from checking out the celebrations in Boston, Savannah, Chicago or Dublin on St. Paddy’s weekend. I bet it would actually be pretty fun! I’d do it once. Maybe. 

But given that my birthday is just a few days before, my birthday celebrations were often looped in with St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and I grew to resent it a little bit as a young person.

Then I fell in love with making cocktails, and I also fell in love with Irish ingredients. I almost always have Guinness beer, Baileys and Irish whiskey on hand now. These days I prefer to celebrate the luck of the Irish at home, mixing up my own cocktails, and you might want to start, too.

Homemade green beer is fun, but your drinks don’t have to be green. I draw inspiration from Irish ingredients, recipes and more to have plenty of options. If you’re like me and want a low-key celebration sans pinching, you’re in the right place! These tips, tricks and St. Patrick’s Day cocktails are just what you need.

Irish ingredients for St. Patrick’s Day cocktails

There are plenty of Irish staples that you may already enjoy on their own, but they’re also terrific in cocktails.

Take Guinness beer for example. We know how great it is in a glass, but add a bit of bubbles and you’ve got an elegant Black Velvet for sipping. You can also add it to chocolatey baked goods like Guinness donuts.

Irish cream liqueur is a must. I’ve perfected my recipe to make my own at home — with just a few ingredients it’s easy to do! Sip it solo or use it to make a creamy cocktail. You can even capture all of the flavor — but none of the booze — by mixing up Irish cream syrup that’s perfect for coffee.

I’d be remiss not to mention Irish whiskey, which hails from Ireland. This smooth spirit has notes of caramel and vanilla that mixes into a multitude of drinks.

Quick tips for hosting

I’m going to reassure you that you really can’t go wrong with any of these Irish-inspired drinks. They are all delicious! But, there are some things you may want to consider.

1. Taste. Some of these drinks may appeal to you more than others based on their ingredients and flavors. Think about your favorite cocktails and look for something similar.
2. Booziness. Not all of these drinks are created equal. Consider what kind of spirit is in each and decide which makes the most sense.
3. Timing. You may want to choose your drink based on the timing of your celebration. Some drinks are more suited to brunch while others make a great nightcap.
4. Fanciness. If you’re hosting a more upscale St. Patrick’s Day gathering, select one of the more elegant sippers.
5. Fun! Whatever drink you pick, add garnishes and themed touches to add a little extra fun for yourself or your guests!

Whenever I’m hosting, I like to have one or two drink options as well as a non-alcoholic option. This gives my guests plenty of choices! If you’re celebrating solo or in a small group, mixing up just one of these drinks is probably perfect.

If you’d rather transform your favorite drink, try adding a green garnish like a cucumber ribbon, lime wedge or herb sprig. You could also throw in a clover-patterned straw, and some drinks might enjoy a scoop of Baileys whipped cream on top.

What to serve with St. Patrick’s Day cocktails

Whether you’re celebrating quietly at home or throwing a big party, it’s not a celebration without snacks. You’re definitely going to need some St. Patrick’s Day appetizers.

Traditional St. Paddy’s Day fare doesn’t have to be complicated! Take this delicious Irish lamb stew or this simple Irish soda bread. They’ve simplified the recipes for these favorites to be easy and delicious!

Mashed potato beef hand pies would be a tasty option that make serving a breeze. And you really can’t go wrong with beer cheese dip made with Guinness! Potatoes are a staple of Irish cuisine, so a round of fried potato slices with garlic aioli would be perfect.

Craving something sweet? Guinness chocolate cake with Irish buttercream combines two iconic Irish flavors that you’ll love.

The best St. Patrick’s Day cocktails

I hope you find that these cocktails have you feeling like you’ve found a pot of gold just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! Slàinte!