The best Irish whiskey cocktails are easy to make at home with simple ingredients and good-quality alcohol. Of course, you’ll need to stock up on a few bottles of whiskey before you even consider getting stuck into any of these, but we’ve included our recommendations for each cocktail below. If you’re in a pinch, the best Scotch whisky will work just as well for most of these, but the unique flavour profile of our selected drams takes these to the next level. Let’s take a closer look at our favourites to make on St Patrick’s Day this year. Sláinte!
1. Irish Whiskey Maid
This refreshing Irish whiskey cocktail is made with Jameson Black Barrel whiskey (preferably) and offers a floral element thanks to the Japanese cucumber and St. Germain elderflower liqueur that we’ve included per the brand’s recommendations. We think it’s ideal for those who prefer a sweeter cocktail, making it perfect for those who don’t drink a lot of whiskey. It’s also one of the easiest to make.
Ingredients:
- 2x oz Jameson Black Barrel whiskey
- 1x oz fresh lime juice
- 1x shot of St. Germain elderflower liqueur
- 3x slices Japanese cucumber, muddled
- 2x fresh mint leaves and cucumber slice for garnish
Method:
- Grab a shaker glass and combine your whiskey, lime juice, St. Germain and cucumbers together
- Add ice and get shaking
- Fine-strain the cocktail into a rocks glass, usually over one large ice block
- Finish with fresh cucumber and a mint sprig to top it off
2. Walnut Old Fashioned
You can’t go wrong with a classic, and while this is a little spin on the Old Fashioneds we’re used to, it still has that signature kick, with a touch of sweetness from the Irish whiskey.
Ingredients:
- 1x demerara sugar cube
- 5x dashes of black walnut bitters
- 1x orange peel
- 2x ounces Powers Gold Label
Method:
- Place the sugar cube in an old-fashioned glass
- Add bitters, orange peel, and a small splash of water.
- Mix the contents until the sugar is crushed and starting to dissolve
- Add your rye whiskey and stir
- Finish with a large ice cube, stir, and serve
3. Irish Coffee
The Irish coffee will go down as perhaps the most classic of all time. It’s one that most bartenders love to make and it’s one of our favourite ways to cap off the working week on a Friday night. It’s creamy, packed with whiskey flavours, and great for a nightcap. Here’s how you make it with Jameson whiskey.
Ingredients:
- 10ml cream
- Sugar syrup to taste
- 35ml Jameson original
- 90ml espresso
- 1x vanilla pod or cinnamon stick for garnish
Method:
- Combine warm sugar syrup with 35ml of Jamesons in a glass until sweet
- Whip 30ml of double cream until it stiffens
- Brew 45ml of espresso into the glass with the whiskey and sugar syrup
- Pour the whipped cream over the top of a spoon so it floats
- Garnish with a stick of cinnamon or vanilla pod
4. Weekend Punch
Another one we’ve found courtesy of our friends at Jameson, this Irish whiskey cocktail is definitely on the fruity side which makes it a perfect celebration drink.
Ingredients:
- 45ml Jameson Irish whiskey
- 30ml orange juice
- 22.5ml grapefruit juice
- 1 dash of bitters
- 7.5ml part simple syrup
- 60ml sparkling white wine
Method:
- Simply add all the ingredients into a jug and add ice
5. The Bloody Molly
If you’re a fan of brunch cocktails and don’t mind a Bloody Mary, the Irish whiskey cocktail equivalent might do the trick. The Bloody Molly is a take on the classic vodka drink, with Jameson Irish whiskey instead of vodka. According to the brand, the drink is named in honour of Dublin’s most famous daughter – Molly Malone, who was “a ‘colourful’ character from the era of John Jameson”. If you’re not afraid to get a little handsy, this one is a real treat.
Ingredients:
- 40ml Jameson Original
- 5ml fresh lemon juice
- 1 whole prawn
- 2 dashes of Tobasco sauce
- 2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- 120ml tomato juice
- 1x stick of celery
- 1x teaspoon of celery salt
- Ice
Method:
- Hand-blend the Irish whiskey, dry sherry, tomato juice, Worcestershire Sauce, celery salt, black pepper, tabasco, horseradish sauce, and sugar in a large bowl.
- Once mixed, serve in a tall glass over ice and garnish with a piece of celery, and any other excessive decorations you can find in the kitchen.
6. Irish Mule
Made with ginger beer, lime juice and whiskey, this is one of the most common Irish whiskey cocktails you’ll come across. You can substitute the ginger beer for ale, but whatever your preference, the ginger notes add a sharp bite to the overall flavour and crispness of the drink.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Irish whiskey
- 6 ounces of ginger beer
- Juice of half a lime about 1 ounce
- Lime slices (optional) for garnish
- Mint sprig (optional) for garnish
- Ice
Method:
- Fill a large glass with ice
- Pour in whiskey and lime juice
- Top with ginger beer
- Stir to mix
- Garnish with lime slices and mint sprig
7. Smithfield Grocer
One of the more complex Irish whiskey cocktails on our list, the Smithfield Grocer is ideal for a warm summer afternoon. There’s a handful of tough-to-find ingredients here, so plan ahead if you want to make this one as you can’t expect to have these ingredients lying around at home.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 bottle of Irish whiskey
- 1 litre pomegranate juice
- 50g chopped ginger
- zest and juice of 3 limes
- 50g sugar
- 250ml of ginger beer
- fresh pomegranate seeds
- sliced limes
Method:
- Combine the pomegranate juice, ginger, zest and juice of limes and sugar in a blender
- Blend the ingredients and sieve the mixture into a jug
- Add an Irish whiskey of your choice and ginger beer
- Garnish with lime slices and pomegranate seeds to finish
Your FAQs Answered
Irish whiskey is a little sweeter than other whiskies and as such, pairs well with sharp, crips notes such as ginger and citrus. Irish whiskey is best paired with ginger ale or lemon-lime.
St. Patrick’s Day is an annual celebration and feast to mark the death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland. For over 300 years, the Irish have commemorated the day as an integral part of their cultural identity, which in recent years, has been linked with mass festivals and global events. It’s also a favourite day for making Irish whiskey cocktails to celebrate.
The most popular whiskies in Ireland are Bushmills, Tullamore Dew, Jameson, Red Breast, Teeling and Powers Gold Label. However, most use Jameson for cocktails as it’s more affordable and offers great flavour when blended with citrus and orange.
You’ll also like:
