Green beer, dry stouts, Pot o’ Gold Shooters and Irish coffee cocktails have long maintained their reputation as the most popular St. Patrick’s Day drinks. In the running for the newest holiday favorite are these four Irish-inspired cocktails infused with Virginia-made spirits.
The Commonwealth’s finest whiskeys and liqueurs are mixed with velvety Irish creams, fresh fruits and locally made simple syrups and club sodas to create a series of heavenly concoctions. Take a look at our nominated recipes and mix up a few cocktails at home.
Irish Lemonade
1.5 oz. Clemoncy Lemon Whiskey
.75 oz. Sugar Cane KISS
3 oz. Original Soda + Tonic
2 lemon wedges
Luck, leprechauns and a glass of hard lemonade are all you need to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day. This Virginia take on Irish Lemonade trades the Jameson, Kilbeggan and other famous Irish whiskeys for a naturally infused and flavored lemon whiskey from Bristow’s MurLarkey Distilled Spirits.
In a shaker, combine ice, Clemoncy and Sugar Cane KISS from Keep It Simple Syrup of Richmond. Squeeze the juice from one lemon wedge and drop into the shaker, then shake vigorously for approximately 30 seconds. Serve over ice with a splash of Navy Hill’s Original Soda + Tonic, crafted and bottled in our state’s capital, and garnish with a lemon wedge.
Recipe adapted from MurLarkey Distilled Spirit’s Irish Lemonade
Irish Knockout
1 oz. silver tequila
.5 oz. Irish cream
.5 oz. Orange Liqueur
The tiers of zesty liqueur, smooth tequila and velvety cream in this Irish-inspired shooter put up quite the fight against Ireland’s traditional cream cocktails. Vitae Spirits’ Orange Liqueur sources bitter hardy oranges from its home in Charlottesville and combines their peels with an array of spices and sweet oranges.
Carefully layer the Orange Liqueur, tequila and cream in a shot glass and serve with a slice of orange.
Recipe adapted from Paste Magazine
Irish Mule
1.5 oz. Virginia-Highland Whisky
.5 oz. fresh lime juice
.5 oz. Ginger KISS
2 oz. ginger beer
Drop of green food coloring
The next best thing to a shiny pot of gold is a copper mug brimming with the sugary mix of an Irish Mule. Much like its Russian counterpart, the Irish Mule flaunts the same spicy and refreshing flavors, but with a pop of Shamrock green.
Pour the Virginia-Highland Whisky from Virginia Distillery Co., fresh lime juice, Ginger KISS and ginger beer into a chilled copper mug. Add ice, stir and garnish with a lime wedge and celebratory Shamrock stirrer.
Recipe adapted from Virginia Distillery Co.’s Blue Ridge Mule
Cinnamon Irish Coffee
4 oz. freshly brewed coffee
1.5 oz. SCRATCH Brown Sugar Cinnamon Whiskey
1 tbsp. brown sugar
3–4 tbsp. heavy cream
Nutmeg and cinnamon, optional
A cheery top of the morning to you percolates in each a warm and boozy mug of Irish Coffee. Its soft cinnamon flavor and milky texture also make for the perfect after dinner drink.
Traditionally served in a clear, footed glass, pour the coffee into a mug and gently stir in the brown sugar, Irish cream and whiskey from Virginia’s Springfield Distillery. Let the remaining cream float on the coffee’s surface and sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Recipe adapted from Genius Kitchen
