🍸☘️ 17 BEST Irish Cocktails: Enjoy On St. Patty’s Day & Beyond! ☘️🍸

Whether you want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, reconnect with your Irish roots, or just want something new to sip on, these 17 traditional Irish cocktails will give you a lot of inspiration.

Ireland is known as one of the top alcohol producers in the world. 

The Irish invented whiskey, Guinness, Irish cream, and the infamous Irish coffee. 

But when it comes to cocktails, there isn’t a lot created explicitly in the country.

However, there is no shortage of Irish beer and liquor recipes.

From the Luck Of The Irish to the Pot Of Gold to the Dirty Irishman one of these drinks surely caught your attention, especially with their unique names.

Check out #11 if you’re looking for a delicious dessert cocktail.

Best Irish Cocktails

1. Luck Of The Irish

St. Patrick’s Day is a historic celebration for the Irish, and one of their favorite cocktails to make on that day is Luck of the Irish. 

This signature Patty’s Day drink is made of Irish whiskey, pineapple juice, peach schnapps, lime soda, and food coloring, giving it a beautiful green hue. 

Luck of the Irish is not just a drink you can sip post-meal or while waiting for your brunch. 

You can also pair it with food like steak or grilled chicken.

2. Irish Mule

The Irish Mule is a delicious Irish twist on the Moscow Mule.

Instead of vodka, it is replaced with whisky, and ginger beer and lime juice are added. 

Best served cold, this refreshing cocktail is easy to mix up, and although it is often prepared for St. Patrick’s Day, you can enjoy this tasty drink any time of the year. 

You can sip it post-meal or while eating corned beef and cabbage.

3. Irish Maid

Irish Maid is a cocktail similar to a Whiskey Smash.

It calls for muddling lemon wedges in a shaker before mixing the remaining ingredients like sugar, whiskey, and mint. 

This drink also calls for muddling cucumber slices, so its fresh juice is released before it gets combined with other ingredients such as elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, and citrus. 

Served in a rock glass with ice, Irish Maid is delicious and refreshing, and it is a fantastic alcoholic beverage for brunch.

4. Irish Coffee

Irish Coffee is one of the most famous Irish cocktails, and making this can require less effort!

This caffeinated alcoholic drink requires four ingredients.

It combines smooth Irish whiskey, rich black coffee, sweetener, and cream.

Created by Joe Sheridan in the 1940s, the Irish Coffee is a well-planned and carefully constructed drink that you should make with the care of any cappuccino or latte. 

Perfect for a chilly day, it makes an amazing after-dinner drink that you would want to share with your friends. 

Here’s another Irish coffee cocktail to try as well, Pumpkin Spice Irish Coffee.

5. Irish Ale

Irish Ale, also known as Red Ale, is a style of pale ale brewed using kilned malts and roasted barley, giving the beer its deep red color. 

The strength can go as high as 6%, which can get you really boozed up. 

For the cocktail version, you can mix an Irish Ale with Irish whiskey and lime for a more mellow flavor.

Irish Ale is ideally served at parties or night-outs as it can help you loosen up for a fun evening.

6. Black Velvet

If you are looking for a simple yet impressive cocktail, then Black Velvet may be just what you need. 

Although you might not be able to recreate the velveteen atmosphere of a cocktail lounge at a trendy restaurant, you can still prepare this one tasty Irish drink. 

Black Velvet is easy to make, just pour some Guinness into a glass and top it with champagne and you’re done. 

That is the most common combination, but some prefer to skip the champagne and use cider instead. 

This delicious drink is perfect for nights when you want to party with your friends but don’t want to go out.

7. Irish Manhattan

Switch your typical whiskey out for the Irish variety for a simple twist on the classic Manhattan cocktail. 

Add black raspberry liqueur, Averna Amaro, coffee bitters, and fresh raspberry into the mix, and you got yourself a drink perfect for happy hour or when you just want a nice, relaxing sipper. 

You can also prepare this cocktail if you plan an Irish dinner menu. 

It can be served as an aperitif or during the meal.

8. Pot Of Gold

Pot Of Gold is an Irish drink often prepared on St. Patrick’s Day. 

The whiskey base of the drink is bolstered with a quarter ounce of smoky scotch from Islay, which means it won’t overwhelm the cocktail but will lend a smoky and complex nuance. 

Instead of the traditional simple syrup, Pot of Gold uses honey-ginger syrup, which gives it a subtle kick of gingery taste and a satisfying smoothness.  

The silkiness is amplified by egg white, creating a foaming element that provides a cushion on which you can rest a few flakes of edible gold. 

You can serve a Pot of Gold at fancy parties or when you feel sophisticated on a night out.

9. Irish Eyes

The Irish Eyes cocktail is a fantastic selection for those who love creamy, minty drinks. 

This is one of the most delicious Irish whisky cocktails you will find, and it is very easy to mix up. 

You’ll need three essential ingredients to make this drink: Irish whiskey, cream, and green crème de menthe. 

The result is a fun, flavorful green Irish cocktail you want to share with your family and friends. 

This alcoholic beverage can also take the place of dessert, as you can serve it with a scoop of mint ice cream post-meal.

10. Irish Blonde

Irish Blonde combines Irish whiskey with orange liqueur and sherry for a rich and luxuriant cocktail.

The Irish whiskey is elegant and refined but stands well in mixed drinks. 

The orange liqueur adds sweetness, richness, and smoothness to the drink. 

Sherry adds depth to the Irish Blonde, giving it a light, bright, and bone dry style with savory elements. 

The drink is finished with a flamed orange peel over the top and a spritz of caramelized oils. 

The result is a golden cocktail with a silky body and gentle flavor. 

This is a lovely alternative to other holiday drinks, so much so that you might enjoy it all year round.

11. Grasshopper Irish Cream

If you love chocolates and mint, you will undoubtedly love the Grasshopper Irish Cream cocktail. 

The rich, green-hued drink became a mainstay at bars during the disco era. 

At the same time, bartenders have upended the blueprint, creating playful riffs on the flavorful classic, including an Irish version.

Shake the Irish cream liqueur, Crème de menthe, shaved chocolate, amaro, and fresh mint leaves with ice, and you can put some nutmeg on top if you’re feeling fancy. 

This cocktail can be consumed any time of day, but given its creamy and sweet nature, it is particularly effective after dinner and can even be a substitute for dessert.

12.  Irish Boulevardier

The classic Boulevardier is made with bourbon, while the Irish version is made with Irish whiskey and enriched with crème de cacao and vermouth. 

Irish Boulevardier is adored for its deft balance of boozy, bitter, and sweet. 

It is rich and warming, and it is the same cocktail you want to reach for on a chilly fall or winter evening.

13. Irish Old Fashioned

Irish Old Fashioned is an easy twist on the classic, but the flavors are different from the standard. 

Made with Irish whiskey, this version is sweeter than the original Old Fashioned. 

Also, instead of a traditional simple syrup, this recipe uses benedictine. 

The liqueur plays well with the Irish whiskey and adds some sweetness and botanical depth that is further enhanced by angostura and orange bitters. 

Served over large ice cubes and garnished with an orange twist, this simple cocktail will get you going through the night.

14. Whiskey Sidecar

Sidecars are a delicious classic cocktail traditionally made with cognac, Cointreau, and lemon juice. 

This Irish version is made with Irish whiskey, blue curacao, and orange juice that will undoubtedly elicit smiles from whoever you’re serving. 

The sugared rim is optional, but since this cocktail lands on the drier side of the sweetness spectrum, a few sugar granules with each sip is a treat.  

Whiskey Sidecar is a fantastic drink served before or after a meal, along with some amazing appetizers.

15. Irish Sour

Want to put an Irish spin on the classic whiskey sour cocktail? 

Use an Irish whiskey as the base instead of the traditional whiskey. 

Irish whiskey will give the drink light and fruity flavor with hints of vanilla and nutty tones. 

The finish is mellow and smooth. 

You can substitute the typical lemon juice for freshly squeezed grapefruit juice to add a bit of bitter sourness to the cocktail. 

If you want more depth, add a bit of maraschino liqueur which adds a nutty sweetness. 

Top it off with grenadine and white vermouth for color and more flavor. 

This beautiful cocktail can be served at parties and night-outs.

16. Irish Sunset

Are you looking for a refreshing cocktail to sip on a sunny day? 

Then the Irish Sunset is the drink for you.

Made from a delicious blend of Irish whiskey, peach schnapps, and fruit juice, it is simple to make and perfect for parties, events, or a beautiful summer day. 

Loosely inspired by the Irish Gold cocktail, its stunning coral color is reminiscent of a beautiful summer sunset. 

The cherry juice makes the drink look pretty, which is why it is named an Irish Sunset.

17. Dirty Irishman

If you are a caffeine and cocktail fan, then the Dirty Irishman is the perfect recipe for you. 

It combines Irish whiskey, Irish cream, and strong coffee for a smooth, sweet, and creamy beverage. 

Not only is this coffee cocktail tasty, but it is also very easy to make. 

You can serve this at a cocktail party for your friends or whip it up on a Friday night when you want to relax in your pajamas.

The bottom line

There is an endless recipe for Irish mixed drinks, and even the classic cocktails have their Irish version. 

Whether for yourself or your guests, you will undoubtedly enjoy the Irish cocktails listed above. 

You no longer need to wait for St. Patrick’s Day to enjoy these drinks, as you can easily make it at home any time of the day.

More Irish Recipes

• Irish Appetizers
• Irish Desserts
• Irish Potato Recipes
• Irish Foods
• Irish Cocktails
• Pumpkin Spice Irish Coffee