St. Patrick’s Day drinks: Cocktails, green beer & Irish holiday cheer

When it comes to special occasions, one of the most highly anticipated holidays of the year is almost here. It’s time to get lucky, folks. St. Patrick’s Day takes place on March 17 and folks around the country are more than ready to celebrate with some green beer and a wee bit of Irish cheer!

Whether you plan to celebrate with a great big St. Paddy’s Day bash with a few leprechauns or a small gathering with a few of your favorite BFFs, the following cocktail recipes are sure to get your guests in the holiday “spirit.”

St. Patrick's Day Cocktail Recipes

Pot of Gold

• 1 1/2 parts Frangelico
• 4 parts Lager Beer
• 3 parts Ginger Beer
• 1/2 part Lemon Juice
• Lemon Wheel

Directions: Pour beer into glass. Add Frangelico and lemon juice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with lemon wheel.

The Green Shamrock by Stafano Galligioni

• 2 oz. Bisol Jeio Prosecco D.O.C.
• 2 1/2 oz. Pear and Apple Juice
• 1/3 oz. Midori
• 1/3 oz. Simple Syrup
• Orange Peel
• Caramelized Pear

Directions: Fill glass or pitcher with ice. Pour juice, Midori and simple syrup and mix well. Pour into glasses until one third full and top with Prosecco and garnish.

The Lucky Negroni

• 1 1/2 oz. Vermouth Royal Blanc
• 1 1/2 oz. G'Vine Gin
• 1 oz. Suze

Directions: Pour ingredients into an ice filled old-fashioned glass. Stir and enjoy.

A Wee Little Pot O' Gold

• 2 oz. Usquaebach Reserve
• 4 oz. Club Soda
• 2 Dashes Orange Bitters
• Lemon Twist

Directions: Fill a highball glass with ice. Add bitters and Scotch. Garnish with lemon twist. Voila.

Jameson Irish Mule by Hard Rock Cafe

• 2 oz. Jameson Irish Whiskey
• Lime Wedges
• Ginger Beer

Directions: Pour whiskey into a 16 oz. glass filled with ice. Add four lime wedges, squeezed and dropped. Fill rest of the glass with your favorite ginger beer. Stir and enjoy!

Green Gimlet by The Forest Feast

• 2 oz. Hangar 1 Straight Vodka
• Lime Juice
• Cucumber
• Fresh Mint
• Ice

Directions: Combine ingredients and stir. Garnish with lime wedge, cucumber slice and fresh mint.

Emerald Elixer by Veronica Farias of KTCHN at The OUT Hotel

• 1.5 oz. Vodka
• 1 oz. Triple Sec
• 1 oz. Midori
• Lime Juice

Directions: Add ingredients together and shake. Strain over martini glass and enjoy.

The Lucky Charm by Veronica Farias of KTCHN at The OUT Hotel

• 1.5 Vodka
• 1.5 Baileys
• Splash of Kahlua
• Splash of Milk

Directions: Pour over Rocks glass with ice. Top with whip cream and sprinkle Lucky Charms on top.

Trebol (Shamrock)

• 2 oz. Milagro Silver
• 1 slice Tomatillo
• 1 oz. Lime Juice
• .5 oz. Agave Nectar
• 4 Cucumber Slices
• Pinch Cilantro
• Slice Jalapeno
• Salt

Directions: Blend all ingredients without ice. Shake and strain into a tall glass with ice. Garnish with cucumber.

Agua Verde (Avocado Margarita)

• 1.5 parts Milagro Silver
• .25 parts Avocado
• 1 part Fresh Lime Juice
• 1 part Agave Nectar
• 3 Cucumber Slices
• Lime Wheel

Directions: Combine ingredients and blend with one cup of ice. Pour into a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Serpent's Bite Loopy Leprechaun Shot

• 1 part Serpent's Bite
• 1 part Ginger Liqueur
• 1/2 part Sour Mix

Directions: Combine Serpent's Bite, ginger liqueur and sour mix in a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a shot glass. Add green food coloring and enjoy!

Sugar Island Bocktail Blitz by Sugar Island

• 1 part Sugar Island Spiced Rum
• 1 part Orange Juice
• Pilsner Beer or favorite Lager

Directions: Build all ingredients in beer glass. Garnish with orange slice.

Tarragon Cooler by Elad Zvi

• 2 parts Maker’s Mark Bourbon
• 1 piece Serrano pepper, cut in half and deseeded
• *2 parts Serrano-infused Maker’s Mark Bourbon
• 1 part freshly squeezed Lime Juice
• ½ part Agave Syrup
• Pinch of Salt
• 1 cup Ice
• 4 sprigs Tarragon

Directions: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend on high until the ice is pureed. Serve immediately. *For serrano-infused Maker’s Mark Bourbon, combine the pepper and Maker’s Mark Bourbon in an airtight container and allow it to macerate for at least 2 days. Store in the fridge and shake container gently twice a day.

The Twisted Margarita by Cody Goldstein

• 2 parts Tres Agaves Blanco Tequila
• ¾ parts lime juice
• ½ part triple sec
• ½ part simple syrup
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• Mustard Seed
• Sea Salt

Directions: Rim glass with a slice of lime. Roll rim of glass in grounded mustard seed and sea salt mixture. Combine Tres Agaves Blanco Tequila, lime, simple syrup, triple sec and mustard powder into a shaking tin. Fill half way with ice and shake for 10 seconds. Strain over ice in a rimmed rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and serve

Irish Car Bomb

• 3/4 pint Guinness stout
• 1/2 shot Bailey’s Irish Cream
• 1/2 shot Jameson Irish Whiskey

Directions: Pour Bailey’s Irish Cream into a shot glass, followed by the Jameson Irish Whiskey. Pour Guinness into a beer mug and allow the foam settle. Drop the Bailey’s/Jameson shot glass into the Guinness.

And just in case you don't know, learn how to Make Green Beer

Keurig Kold

Speaking of drinks, imagine being able to whip up your favorite ice-cold beverage from the comfort of home - no fuss, no muss. While Keurig is known for their delicious hot beverages, the new Keurig KOLD drinkmaker makes refreshing drinks with a simple push of a button. From seltzers, flavored waters and teas, to cocktails, craft sodas and Cokes, now you can transform room temperature water into cold still or sparkling drinks without CO2 canisters or messy syrup bottles. According to the company, “KOLD carbonates drinks without a CO2 canister using its innovative and unique Karbonator beads, and flash-chills room-temperature water to 39 degrees.” Just pop in a KOLD pod, push the button and watch the magic happen as a perfectly chilled beverage streams into your glass. Perfect for parties or for busy folks on-the-go, Keurig KOLD is a convenient and simple way to make a deliciously refreshing beverage for young and old alike.