Irish Gold St. Patrick’s Day Cocktail

It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day!! To be honest, this isn’t a holiday I’ve ever really cared about. It kind of just seemed like another holiday we use here in the US as a reason to drink (like Cinco de Mayo…why are we celebrating Mexico’s Independence for them?). But for some reason I’m actually excited for St. Patty’s this year! Maybe it’s because I recently found out I’m part Irish. Or because I can use it as an excuse to buy a green shirt. Or maybe I’ve just fallen into the above mentioned category of using the day as an excuse to go out with friends.

Fun fact: in preschool I refused to eat Green Eggs and Ham. Because they were green (and I was a picky child). When trying to think of St. Patrick’s Day desserts or drinks all I could think of was things like Green Velvet Cake or some Keystone with green food coloring. Not appetizing. I liked that this drink went with the gold theme instead. You can’t forget about the gold at the end of the rainbow!

Whiskey lemonade is my usual drink of choice, and this doesn’t stray too far from that. Jameson is an Irish whiskey, which is how this cocktail becomes acceptable for St. Patrick’s Day. The peach schnapps add the sweetness and the orange juice and lemon bring just the right amount of tartness.

What are your guys’ St. Patty’s plans? Do you have any traditions? I know it’s on a Monday night, but this drink is easy enough for you to whip up real quick at home if you decide to stay in. Just make sure you wear your green while sipping this Irish Gold Cocktail! For the first time ever I’m planning on joining the craziness at an Irish bar. Guess we’ll see if I’ve outgrown my aversion to artificially green colored food…green beer seems inevitable at this point.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! If you find the gold at the end of the rainbow, don’t forget to share! 🙂

~Stephanie

Irish Gold St. Patrick’s Day Cocktail (recipe from cocktails.about.com)

• 1 1/2 oz Jameson whiskey (or other Irish whiskey)
• 1 oz peach schnapps
• ginger ale
• splash of orange juice
• lemon slices to garnish

1. Pour whiskey and schnapps over ice.
2. Fill glass with ginger ale to taste
3. Add a splash of orange juice
4. Garnish with lemon slice