When you think about St. Patrick’s Day, your mind likely fills with ways you can celebrate with family, friends, and a few Irish drinks. Many Americans celebrate by dying beer green, or even with an Irish Car Bomb, a drink enjoyed by filling up a shot glass with whiskey and Irish Cream and dropping it into a glass of Guinness. While these drinks are a great time, they differ in many ways from what people traditionally drink in Ireland. If you want a more authentic St. Patrick’s Day experience, these are few of the drinks that will have you living the real Irish experience. Irish Coffee
What better way to start off St. Patrick’s Day than with a drink that will wake you up and get you in the right mindset for celebration? Good news: the Irish Coffee is a drink actually enjoyed by real Irish people. A traditional Irish Coffee results when you brew your favorite kind of coffee, mix it with a shot of Irish whiskey and top it with a bit of Irish Cream (usually Baileys). You have a long day ahead of you, so you might as well start it right.
Black and Black
A Black and Black is the perfect traditional drink for someone who enjoys Guinness but wants to add a little extra flavor to it. To make a Black and Black, you simply take a shot of blackcurrant juice and add it to your Guinness beer. For the unfamiliar, blackcurrant is a berry grown in Europe that looks a little bit like a grape. Blackcurrants are notoriously tart with delicious hints of raspberry and blackberry-like flavors. When you add this to your Guinness, be prepared for a drink that is a little bitter. However, it is also a very flavorful one that is definitely worth your time.
Dublin Mule
A Dublin Mule is a twist on the Moscow Mule (traditionally vodka, ginger beer, and lime) enjoyed the Irish way. The Irish prefer to use Jameson Irish whiskey in place of vodka, although it is fun to experiment and put your own twist on this Irish favorite. If you want to make your own, fill a copper mug with ice and add 2 oz Jameson. Top with ginger beer and add two dashes of bitters and a squeeze of lime. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Irish Cider
The tradition of drinking hard cider in Ireland goes back a very long time. In fact, archeologists and historians have found evidence that people were enjoying fermented cider on the land that would become Ireland as far back as 5,000 years ago. Traditionally made with apples, the Irish have had plenty of time to perfect the art, and now craft ciders from multiple different fruits. Any respectable Irish pub has more than one brand of hard cider on draft.
Guinness
If your idea of St. Patrick’s Day includes a pint of Guinness, you have the right idea. When you want to live it up like a true Irish person, you can’t go wrong with this Irish classic. Originating in 1759 in a small Dublin brewery, there’s a reason this dark, dry stout has been around so long.
St. Patrick’s Day With Payless Liquors
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Holiday the way it was meant to be celebrated! Whether you want to try something new, or are craving a classic Guinness, Payless Liquors has a huge selection of beverages in the Irish style. Pre-order online, or stop in and browse to prepare for this fun, boozy holiday.
