A Taste of Ireland: 11 Ideas for St. Patricks Day Drinks

Get the party started this green day with ideas for St. Patricks Day drinks that are a far sight more civilized than beer with food coloring. Flip through the photos above for ideas, and kick things off with our fave, the Irish Flag layered shot, which starts with 1 part creme de menthe topped with 1 part Baileys Irish Cream (we subbed Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur for whiter color and more yum) and 1 part Grand Marnier. Pour each layer very slowly over the back of a spoon to keep the layers from mixing.

Go global with your St. Patricks Day drinks by serving up a cocktail that's already got its green on. Mix 1-1/4 oz. rum, 1 oz. lime juice and 2 oz. lemon-lime soda. Pour over ice in a tumbler and garnish with mint leaves and a twist o' lime for luck. Turn up the green a bit more for St. Pat's with a few drops of green food coloring if you're into it – we are!

This no-fuss fusion is probably the easiest and yummiest way to go beyond basic beer with your St. Patricks Day drinks. And it's brimming with lemony goodness, not to mention Irish-ness. Just fill a beer mug about half-full with a light Irish lager like Harp, then top off with lemonade. Some like more beer than lemonade ... we suggest a bit o' taste-testing before your party to perfect your ratio!

Why have just a martini when you can have a Lucky-tini? A bit o' green apple and a gorgeous green hue gives martini lovers all the Irish they can handle .... But wait – there's even more Irish to love in this surprising St. Pat's twist on the classic appletini: In a shaker, combine 2 oz. Irish whiskey, 1 oz. sour apple schnapps, and 2 oz. white cranberry juice with ice. Shake for 30 seconds, then strain into a chilled glass. Don't forget the sassy apple garnish. Luscious!

Some would say there's nothing more Irish than beer, so set up a beer tasting station for a fun take on St. Patricks Day drinks. This idea makes a great conversation-starter, too. We added shamrock stickers to low-profile tumblers and used customizable St. Patricks Day stationery to hide the bottle labels while identifying the types of beers sampled. Set up a personal tasting tray for each guest and ask them to pick their favorites, then do the big reveal.

Feeling both sweet and sassy? This delish drink has got it all goin' on – fresh and fruity, with a little kick. Mix 1 oz. Midori with 2 oz. sweet and sour mix and 1 oz. lemon juice. Stir with perfectly green swizzle sticks, and garnish with a slice of orange. Yum!

If you want to serve beer in true Irish style, you can't go wrong with a Black and Tan, more politely called a Half and Half in Ireland. This smooth concoction marries, but doesn't mix, light and dark beers – usually Bass ale and the quintessentially Irish Guinness stout. To make yours all Irish, all the time, start with Harp lager or Smithwick's ale, both brewed in Ireland. Pour the lager or ale first, then pour the stout very slowly over the back of a spoon to keep the beers from mingling.

Double your luck by dressing up plain-Jane drinks in green fashion accessories for an instantly Irish version of even the simplest cocktail. We crafted this humble appletini with 1-1/2 oz. vodka and 1 oz. green apple liqueur, after dipping the rim of the glass in a little apple-flavored sugar, of course. A twist of orange peel is a nod to the colors of the Irish flag, and it's way easier to work with than apple peels. (We'd much rather raise a glass than wrestle a peeler.)

Warm hearts start with hot drinks! No lineup of St. Patricks Day drinks would be complete without Irish Coffee, and colorful coffee cups create a perfectly Irish way to serve yours. Just start with coffee, add 1 oz. Irish whiskey, and add whipped cream and sprinkles on top for a sweet finishing touch.

For a more traditional take on the classic combo of coffee and Irish whiskey, serve in clear coffee mugs with delightfully green-and-white-striped napkins. Your fellow St. Patricks Day revelers will feel just like they're in an old Irish pub.

Aren't you lucky? Our St. Patricks Day drinks include a Leprechaun Kiss, a.k.a. Shamrock Shake. To make this Irish blessing, blend 2 cups mint chip ice cream with 1-1/4 cups milk. If mint's not your fave, vanilla ice cream with several drops of green food coloring will be more to your liking and look equally Irish. We highly recommend serving your green creation in a St. Patricks Day Giant Green Goblet with whipped cream and shamrock sprinkles – and if you're sharing, make sure to add an extra Krazy Straw.