10 St. Patrick’s Day Drinks (That Aren’t Beer)
Updated: Dec. 15, 2023
Take a break from the beer and try one of these St. Patrick's Day drinks instead.
Irish Coffee
Make waking up early for a St. Patrick’s Day parade a little easier with an Irish coffee before you head out.
Yield: 2 servings
1. Make a pot of strong-brewed coffee. We recommend using a dark roast coffee, like French roast.
2. While the coffee brews, in a small bowl, beat 1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream and 1 teaspoon of green creme de menthe with a hand mixer until the mixture has thickened.
3. Divide 2 teaspoons of sugar and 2 ounces of Irish whiskey between two coffee mugs. Top the mugs with coffee then gently spoon on the whipped cream, allowing it to float.
(One of our favorite St. Patrick’s Day shots is a mini Irish coffee shot!)
Leprechaun Lime Drink
This sweet lime drink is so good, it’ll make you want to do an Irish jig.
Yield: 6 servings
1. In a large punch bowl, beat 1 quart of softened lime sherbet, 1/2 cup of thawed limeade concentrate and 2 tablespoons of sugar until blended.
2. Stir in 2 (12-ounce) cans of chilled lemon-lime soda and about 2 cups of ice. Top the punch with slices of lemons and limes.
3. Serve by ladling the punch into chilled glasses.
Here are more green food ideas to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. You can also prepare awesome St Patrick’s Day charcuterie boards for the holiday season!
The O’Everyone
Made with just three ingredients, this cocktail from Tullamore D.E.W. Brand Ambassador Donna Stewart is the easiest way to get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit.
Yield: 1 serving
1. Place 1 sugar cube (or 1 ounce of simple syrup) to a rocks glass and add 3 dashes of Angostura bitters. If using a sugar cube, use a muddler or a spoon to break up the sugar.
2. Pour 2 ounces of Tullamore D.E.W. in a rocks glass, add an ice cube and give it a stir until the sugar has dissolved and the cocktail is cold.
3. Garnish with a twist of orange or lemon, or a Luxardo cherry.
This is the real difference between whiskey and whisky.
Irish Whiskey Float
The classic ice cream float gets a fun adult upgrade for St. Patrick’s Day with this Irish whiskey float. Feel free to substitute the cola with Green River for a festive touch.
Yield: 1 serving
1. Drop a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream into a pint glass.
2. Top with an ounce of Irish whiskey and about a cup of cola. Serve with a straw and/or spoon.
Take a look at these other boozy ice cream cocktails.
Irish Gold Rush
Also from Tullamore D.E.W.’s Donna Stewart, this citrusy cocktail is as good as finding a pot of gold!
Yield: 1 serving
1. To a cocktail shaker full of ice, add 2 ounces of Tullamore D.E.W., 3/4 ounce of fresh lemon juice and 3/4 ounce of honey syrup or simple syrup.
2. Cover and shake until condensation has formed on the outside of the shaker, about 10-20 seconds.
3. Add some ice to a rocks glass, strain the cocktail into the glass and garnish with a lemon twist.
These are the best brands Irish whiskey, according to a whiskey professional.
Easy Irish Cream
No St. Patrick’s Day is complete without Irish cream! Whipping up your own is super simple and makes a great hostess gift.
Yield: 5 cups
1. In a blender, add 2 cups half-and-half cream, 1 can (13.4 ounces) of sweetened condensed milk, 1-1/4 cups of Irish whiskey, 1/4 cup of chocolate syrup, 2 tablespoons of instant coffee granules and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Cover and blend until smooth.
2. Transfer into an airtight container, like a swing-top bottle or plastic food container. To use, pour an ounce or two into a rocks glass with ice.
Try these other DIY alcoholic coffee creamers, too.
Irish Mule
A spirits swap changes a Moscow mule into a light and refreshing Irish mule.
Yield: 6 servings
1. Combine 4 cups of chilled ginger beer, 2/3 cup of lime juice and 1-1/4 cups of Irish whiskey in a pitcher.
2. To serve, pour the cocktail into copper mugs filled with ice and garnish with a lime wedge.
Keep the cocktails and food flowing with these St. Patrick’s Day party recipes.
Creamy Mocha Cocktail
Every celebration needs a touch of chocolate, and this creamy mocha cocktail is the perfect option for a St. Paddy’s Day bash.
Yield: 3 servings
1. In a blender, add 1 cup of ice, 2/3 cup of half and half, 5 ounces of Irish cream liqueur, 5 ounces of Amaretto and 1 ounce of coffee liqueur. Cover and blend until smooth.
2. Drizzle a bit of chocolate syrup in three chilled martini or coupe glasses. Divide the cocktail evenly between the glasses and serve.
If you love nutty cocktails, you have to try these amaretto cocktails, too.
Lemon-Lime Punch
Frothy and full of sherbet scoops, this nonalcoholic lemon-lime punch will quickly become little leprechauns’ favorite.
Yield: 6 quarts
1. In a large punch bowl or pitcher, dissolve 2 cups of sugar and 2 envelopes of unsweetened lemon-lime soft drink mix with 2 cups of water.
2. Once dissolved, stir in 1 can (46 ounces) of unsweetened pineapple juice, cover the bowl and refrigerate until it’s chilled.
3. Just before serving, remove the punch from the fridge and stir in 1 liter of chilled ginger ale and top with 1 quart lime sherbet scooped.
Throw an effortless St. Patrick’s Day party with our handy how-to guide.
Thin Mint Milk Shake
This boozy Thin Mint milk shake is for adults only! If you’re out of Thin Mints, try your hand at these copycat Girl Scout cookie recipes.
Yield: 2 servings
1. To a blender, add 3 tablespoons of creme de menthe, 1-1/2 cups of vanilla ice cream and 7 Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies, in that order. Cover and blend until all the cookies have crumbled and the shake is smooth.
2. Pour the shake into two cups and serve.
Test Kitchen tip: For an alcohol-free shake, substitute the creme de menthe with 3 tablespoons of milk and a dash of mint extract.
Originally Published: March 11, 2020
