Celebrate and Get Festive This St. Patrick’s Day with These Green Cocktails

This March 17th, may your day be touched by some Irish luck! You could attend a parade, go pub-hopping, or cook corned beef and cabbage at home. However you celebrate, you don’t have to dye your beer green to get festive this St. Patrick’s Day. Instead, try one of these green cocktails to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland. Sláinte!

Fuzzy Leprechaun

Fuzzy Leprechaun Recipe

1 oz. peach Schnapps

1 oz. blue Curacao

1 oz. vodka

½ oz. orange juice

½ oz. pineapple juice

Orange slice and maraschino cherry for garnish

Instructions:

1. Combine all liquids in a shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake vigorously until chilled thoroughly, about 10-15 seconds.
3. Strain over ice into a Collins glass. Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry to serve.

This is an easy and fun way to show some Irish pride this St. Patrick’s Day! Sweet, fruity, and a little tropical, the Fuzzy Leprechaun is a green-tinged play on the Fuzzy Navel. Don’t let its playful appearance trick you; this one packs quite a punch.

Green Demon

Green Demon Recipe

1 oz. Midori

1 oz. vodka

1 oz. white rum

~2-3 oz. lemonade, to top

Instructions:

1. In a Collins glass filled halfway with ice, pour Midori, vodka, and rum.
2. Top off the liquor with lemonade.
3. Stir gently to incorporate.

This is the perfect party drink. Not only is it a fun color with yummy melon flavors, but it’s also easy to make a large batch for all your friends. If it’s too sweet for your taste, sub the lemonade with lemon juice.

Midori Sour

Midori Sour Recipe

1 oz. Midori

1 oz. vodka

½ oz. lemon juice

½ oz. lime juice

Club soda to top

Lime wheel garnish

Instructions:

1. Add the Midori, vodka, and juices to a Collins glass filled with ice.
2. Top with club soda and gently stir to incorporate.
3. Garnish with a lime wheel to serve.

This classic from the ‘70s is enjoying a little renaissance, especially this St. Patrick’s Day! The bright green visage of the cocktail is a cheerful addition to the day’s festivities. It doesn’t hurt that the drink is also delicious and perfect for heralding Spring.

Grasshopper

Grasshopper Recipe

1 oz. green crème de menthe

1 oz. white crème de cacao

2 oz. heavy cream

Freshly grated nutmeg to garnish

Instructions:

1. Shake the crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and heavy cream in a shaker filled with ice until thoroughly chilled, 10-15 seconds.
2. Strain into a martini glass or coupe.
3. Grate nutmeg over the drink to serve.

This is another cocktail that uses slightly more obscure ingredients in order to get that green appearance. The Grasshopper has been around since Prohibition. Rich and creamy, it’s an elevated option for a low-key St. Patrick’s Day observance. 

Green Bloody Mary

Green Bloody Mary Recipe (6 servings)

1 1/2 lb. tomatillos, husked and quartered

1 c.  yellow cherry tomatoes

3 small cucumbers, chopped

2 jalapeños with stems removed, chopped*

2 cloves garlic, peeled

1 lime, juiced

1 tbsp. horseradish

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. celery seed

1 1/2 c. vodka

Instructions:

1. Add tomatillos, tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapenos, and garlic to a food processor. Process until smooth.
2. Add lime juice, horseradish, salt, and celery seed and blend again until fully incorporated.
3. In a large pitcher, mix together this tomatillo juice and vodka.
4. Pour into tall glasses and garnish with lime wedges, celery sticks, or any other desired garnish.

*Remove the seeds if you want a less spicy Bloody Mary

So this one takes a little more work than the others, but we promise it’s worth it! Kick-off your St. Patrick’s Day with a spicy green twist to the beloved Bloody Mary. Not only that, but you’ll get a huge serving of vegetables just by celebrating Ireland!

Shamrocker

Shamrocker Recipe

1 ½ oz. blanco tequila

1 ½ oz. Midori

1 oz. triple sec

Squeeze of orange juice (approximately ¼ oz.)

Orange slice for garnish

Instructions:

1. Pour all liquids into a shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled, about 10-15 seconds.
3. Strain into a martini glass or coupe.
4. Garnish with an orange slice.

This is THE quintessential green St. Patrick’s Day cocktail! The Shamrocker is fruity without being too sweet, with balanced citrus and pepper notes. It’s brightly colored and looks like a party in a glass – once you have yours, everyone else at the bar will want one. If you’d prefer a sweeter iteration, run the orange slice along the rim and dip it into sugar before pouring the cocktail.

"May you have all the happiness and luck that life can hold—and at the end of your rainbows may you find a pot of gold."

How will you be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year?