When St. Patrick's Day draws near, it's impossible to miss the color green — it's everywhere you look. Green appears on banners and T-shirts, and in many glasses of St. Paddy's Day beer. You can whip up green beer at home or decide to stay loyal to Guinness stout year after year. Isn't it time you found new ways of adding green to the most delicious St. Patrick's Day cocktails?
If you're at a loss over finding new cocktails that honor the color green, don't worry. With our list of 20 St. Patrick's Day cocktails, you won't be caught without something green in hand. You'll find festive cocktails for everyone, from a shamrock champagne concoction to a classic Irish mudslide or Baileys mint martini.
Whether you try an Irish version of an Old Fashioned or a green Negroni, you'll be shocked at how many green-themed cocktails there are. By the end, you can cherish the many cool ways there are to pour some St. Paddy's Day into each drink recipe. Plan a party, family dinner or post-St. Paddy's Day parade cocktail hour with whichever drink recipes excite you most. You'll stand up and shout about these green-themed St. Patrick's Day cocktails made to celebrate all things Irish!
Leprechaun's Kiss
3 Yummy Tummies
Have a ball while feeling like a kid again when you serve up a Leprechaun's Kiss. It combines blue curacao, orange juice, vodka and Sprite for a light and bubbly cocktail that looks as green as you can get. The rainbow sprinkles add even more fanciful fun to this happiness-inducing St. Patrick's Day recipe.
Shamrock Martini
Stuffed Suitcase
Why should martini lovers have to compromise just because it's St. Patrick's Day? Like the Leprechaun's Kiss, this cocktail includes orange juice and blue curacao to make a stunning shade. Add some Malibu rum, Cointreau and simple syrup for a drink that satisfies with every sip. The orange sanding sugar turns this elegant beverage into something an upscale leprechaun would enjoy.
Midori Whiskey Sour
A Couple Cooks
St. Patrick's Day cocktails should celebrate whiskey in its many forms and variations. You can do just that with this special Midori Whiskey Sour. You can't miss the hit of melon-flavored Japanese Midori, lime juice, lemon juice and soda water. Add some more melon balls to the cocktail if you've got a few extra minutes for garnishes.
Sparkling Shamrock
Pretty Plain Janes
You didn't think you could find a St. Paddy's Day cocktail that included champagne, did you? Well, you've found one with the Sparkling Shamrock. It turns out you can color champagne green as easily as beer, plus there is a little Midori for added punch. Dust the glass rim in green sanding sugar and cut out some shamrock-shaped melon balls for an added surprise.
Green Apple Sangria
Cooks With Cocktails
When you need to throw a St. Patrick's Day party and want to serve more than beer, try this Green Apple Sangria. It's loaded with tart green apples, pears and kiwi for a surprisingly healthy kick. The fruits soak in white cranberry juice, vanilla vodka and white wine for an appropriate pairing. It'll outlast even your most excitable St. Patrick's Day party guests.
Low-Carb Margarita
Low Carb-ology
Margaritas are the most popular cocktails in the U.S., so it's understandable if you want one on St. Patrick's Day. Not all margaritas fall on the side of "healthy," but this one guarantees a low-carb option. It comes alive with silver tequila and no fewer than three flavored-water enhancers. Lime juice and club soda promise one of the greenest, yet most unexpected, of St. Patrick's Day cocktails.
Irish Flag Shooters
Mix That Drink
Even if you think you've outgrown shooters, you may reconsider that after checking out this beautifully layered Irish flag cocktail. It can only be described as tasting like dessert in a shot glass.
This is thanks to the flavors created by green creme de menthe, white Baileys Irish Cream, and orange Grand Marnier. An Irish flag in every shot makes a great finish to a celebratory St. Paddy's Day.
Luck of the Irish Shots
Real Housemoms
Every St. Patrick's Day, we all depend on the luck of the Irish. A second shot recipe called the Luck of the Irish keeps the mint of creme de menthe and the cream of Baileys. Here, creme de cocoa invites chocolate to this St. Paddy's party. The shot stays deluxe with the addition of whipped cream and chocolate mint candy to inspire your taste buds correctly.
Irish Mudslide With Jameson
3 Yummy Tummies
There is a reason why the Irish Mudslide has remained so popular among dessert cocktails. You can't get more creamy than a marriage of Baileys Irish cream, Kahlua, and half-and-half blended with green food coloring.
The Jameson whiskey gives this mudslide a beloved taste that gets finished off with whipped cream, ice cream and chocolate sauce. After all, it's only St. Patrick's Day once a year, right?
Baileys Mint Martini
Lemon Tree Dwelling
If you prefer your creamy St. Patrick's Day cocktails in martini form, this Baileys mint martini is for you. With the easiest combination of Baileys Irish Cream, vodka and creme de menthe, you can seal the deal on St. Paddy's Day with a smile. Lucky you — the martini tastes like the most luxurious after-dinner mint in a glass.
Dubliner
Liquor.com
For the most sophisticated of St. Patrick's Day revelers, a Dubliner represents the ultimate "Irish Martini." Swap out the gin for Jameson and add plenty of citrus in the form of Grand Marnier and orange bitters. Drop in a maraschino cherry instead of an olive, and you've prepared one of the most beloved Irish cocktails. If you can find a green maraschino cherry, you're lucky indeed!
Greenhorn
Difford's Guide
Some of us cocktail lovers appreciate a drink that's loaded to the brim with alluring ingredients. This Greenhorn recipe speaks to exotic, fruity flavors such as pineapple and green melon. Rum sets the stage for greatness in green, while egg white keeps things light and airy. Garnishes include more pineapple and a cherry for a truly special St. Patrick's Day cocktail.
Tipperary
Food and Wine
Not all St. Patrick's Day cocktails have to be green to show off their Irish side. This drink is called Tipperary in honor of a bucolic Irish town and dates back to 1916. Whiskey, bitters and vermouth make a classic combination, along with green chartreuse for herbal flair. It's the kind of vintage concoction that brings a smile to everyone's face no matter what day it is.
Irish Old Fashioned
Burrata and Bubbles
One of our favorite retro cocktails that made a huge comeback in recent years is the Old Fashioned. When you don't want to gather new ingredients together, simply micro-adjust this treasured drink by making it Irish. This is a snap when you replace the rye or bourbon with Jameson Irish whiskey. The result is a delicious, yet dependable version of a classic.
Pot of Gold
The Spruce Eats
Take St. Patrick's Day literally by creating your very own pot of gold even a leprechaun would appreciate. This creative recipe uses flavors that go together beautifully, from ginger beer and elderflower to mint and cucumber. Vodka is the perfect spirit here, so the other ingredients can shine to their fullest.
Baby Guinness Shot
A Nerd Cooks
There's no way you'll reach the end of a list covering the best St. Patrick's Day cocktails without mentioning Guinness. The surprise here is that there is no Guinness in this Baby Guinness Shot. It only looks like a Guinness that's small enough for a leprechaun.
What it's made up of are the non-whiskey ingredients to an Irish coffee: Kahlua and Baileys. The layer of Irish cream is nearly as foamy as a well-poured pint of Guinness.
Piña Verde
Steve the Bartender
If you prefer your St. Paddy's Day tropical, you might want to reach for this green variation of a Piña Colada. The name means "green pineapple" to reflect the main flavor profile. The pineapple joins the herbaceous green chartreuse, coconut cream and lime juice. Blend it all up for an instant, sun-filled vacation the Irish would surely appreciate.
Irish Maid
Fox and Briar
This adorably named Irish Maid cocktail has Irish whiskey, along with a set of ingredients made for a lady. The whiskey is lightened up with elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, lemon juice and cucumber. It's the ideal concoction to serve at a St. Patrick's Day brunch for the gals (and guys with good taste).
Gold Rush
Serious Eats
There is no stopping a cocktail named Gold Rush when looking for the famous Irish pot of gold. It's incredibly simple to make with bourbon, lemon and honey. You'll enjoy this powerful drink warm or cold; and if you prefer to stay Irish, replace the bourbon with Irish whiskey. The unique sweetness of honey is something you won't forget after sipping from this golden cup.
The Garden Negroni
Difford's Guide
Who can argue with the power of the Negroni? This St. Patrick's Day, make your Negroni Irish-Italian with green melon and green chartreuse liqueur. The herbal flavors go hand in hand with Luxardo bitter bianco, gin and vermouth. To keep things green, garnish this beverage with a slice of green apple or a green maraschino cherry.
