Savor Virginia

From green beer to cocktails made with Irish whiskey, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the biggest party holidays of the year, whether you’re Irish or not. If Guinness isn’t your go-to, mix, shake and stir up these themed cocktail recipes made with Virginia spirits. These fun, festive cocktails will make any St. Paddy’s celebration a hit.

Irish Lemonade

Recipe and photo courtesy of Murlarkey Distilled Spirits

1.5 oz MurLarkey Lemon Whiskey
3.5 oz lemonade
2 basil leaves
Garnish: Sprig of basil & lemon wedge

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Pour into a highball glass. Garnish with sprig of basil and lemon wedge.

Nitro Shamrock

Recipe and photo courtesy of Virginia Distillery Co.

1 oz mint syrup
3 oz Snowing in Space nitro coffee
1 1/2 oz Port Cask Finished Virginia-Highland Whisky

Mint simple syrup: 1 cup distilled water, 1 cup sugar, 1⁄4 cup mint leaves. Combine ingredients over low heat, stirring constantly. Once sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and cool for at least 30 minutes before straining out mint leaves. Yields 1 1/2 cup

Pour whisky into glass. Add mint simple syrup. Add Snowing in Space Nitro Coffee. Top with whipped cream and Andes pieces.

Shipping Up to Boston

Recipe and photo courtesy of KO Distilling

1.5 oz Bare Knuckle Wheat Whiskey
.5 oz simple syrup
3 oz cranberry juice
4 oz unsweetened tea
3 dashes cranberry bitters
Dehydrated lemon for garnish

This spring sipper is typically a blend of cranberry juice and iced tea, but KO Distilling improve upon it with their award-winning, Virginia-made Bare Knuckle Whiskey.

Stir to combine and serve over ice. Sláinte!

Irish Good Morning

Recipe and photo courtesy of Reservoir Distillery

2 oz Reservoir Wheat
.5 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream
2 oz Cold brew coffee

Pour ingredients over ice in shaker. Shake and serve over ice.

Saint Smashed

Recipe and photo courtesy of Devils Backbone Distilling Co./Pray Tell Agency

1 can Devils Backbone Orange Smash RTD
¼ oz Blue Curacao
Ice
Orange slice
Lime slice

Pour one 12oz can of Orange Smash into a goblet filled with ice. Top with ¼ ounce of Blue Curacao and stir with a straw. Garnish with orange and lime.

Lucky Buck

Recipe and photo courtesy of Denise Petty

2 oz Catoctin Creek® Roundstone Rye 80 Proof
0.5 oz lime juice
Top with ginger beer
Lime wheel garnish

Stir all together in a rocks glass and serve with ice.

Irish Creme Frozen Falls Vodka Martini

Recipe and photo courtesy of Falls Church Distillers

2 oz Frozen Falls Vodka
1 oz Bailey’s Irish Creme

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a Hershey’s chocolate and crushed Girls Scout’s Thin Mints cookie rim.

Pot o’ Gold

Recipe and photo courtesy of Mt. Defiance Distillery

2 oz Mt. Defiance Old Volstead’s Whiskey
1/4 oz Mt. Defiance Absinthe Superieure
1/4 oz Pierre Ferrand’s Dry Curacao
A barspoon of Maraschino Liqueur
1 dash Aromatic Bitters

Stir ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Shamrock Shooter

Recipe and photo courtesy of Belle Isle Moonshine

1 oz. Belle Isle Peppermint Patty
1 oz. cream, milk, or dairy alternative
2-3 dashes chocolate bitters
¼ oz. Frangelico (optional)
¼ oz. crème de menthe (optional)

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain into shooter glasses. Top with whipped cream.

Hop Green Sour

Recipe and photo courtesy of Vitae Spirits

1.5oz Barrell-Aged Collab #2 – Beer Whiskey
0.5oz Vanilla Simple Syrup*
1oz lemon juice
0.5oz egg white
3 drops green food coloring
5 shakes Embittermint Orange Bitters

Vanilla Bean simple syrup: Bring 1 cup sugar, 2 cup water to a boil. Cut one vanilla been down the center line and scrape out the inside with a spoon. Add both to the pot with the syrup and let simmer for 5-10 minutes. Take pot off of heat and let cool to room temperature. Store in refrigerator with the vanilla bean in the syrup for up to one month in sealed mason jar .

Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake until egg whites are frothy. Strain into collins glass and add ice.