Skip to main content

Cheers to St. Patrick’s Day with these Irish whiskey cocktails

What better way to toast St. Patrick's Day than with Irish whiskey?

Fig Jam Old Fashioned
Sean Farney

St. Patrick’s Day is almost upon us, and if you’re getting ready to celebrate then you should start planning out your drinks menu. Naturally you’ll want something appropriately Irish to star in your drinks, so an Irish whiskey like Natterjack is an obvious choice. These recipes, developed by mixologist Sarah Vasallo of Bocelli Modern Italian in Tampa, Florida, are the perfect way to celebrate the day.

Fig Jam Old Fashioned

By Sarah Vasallo, Bocelli Modern Italian – Tampa, FL

Ingredients:

Method:

  1. Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass
  2. Add ice
  3. Stir for 30 seconds
  4. Strain over a big ice cube in a rocks glass
  5. Dried fig and apricot stabbed on a pick for garnish
Recommended Videos

How to make Fig Jam syrup

  • 2 Jars Fig Jam
  • 1 Quart Sugar
  • 1 Quart Water

Stir together and bring to a boil then emulsify and let chill

Irish Honey

Irish Honey
Sean Farney

By Sarah Vasallo, Bocelli Modern Italian – Tampa, FL

Ingredients:

Method:

  1. Pour ingredients into a shaker tin.
  2. Add ice.
  3. Shake for 30 seconds.
  4. Strain into an empty coupe glass.
  5. Garnish with a lemon peel.

How to make Honey syrup

Equal parts honey and water

Stir together and bring to a boil then let chill

“Pick Me Up”

The Pick Me Up
Noah Heath - NDH Creative

By Sarah Vasallo, Bocelli Modern Italian – Tampa, FL

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Natterjack Irish Whiskey
  • .5 oz Frangelico
  • .5 oz Espresso
  • .25 oz demerara syrup
  • 3 dashes chocolate bitters
  • Lemon peel garnish

Method:

  1. Pour ingredients into a shaker tin.
  2. Add ice.
  3. Shake for 30 seconds.
  4. Strain into an empty coupe glass.
  5. Garnish with a lemon peel.
Georgina Torbet
Georgina Torbet is a cocktail enthusiast based in Berlin, with an ever-growing gin collection and a love for trying out new…
Give your gimlet a herbal twist with this vodka cocktail
Ghost Hill Organic Vodka

The Gimlet is one of those cocktails that is so simple and such a classic that it's easily overlooked. Whilst I lean toward a Gin Gimlet (and I have strong feelings like it should be made with fresh lime juice and sugar syrup rather than a pre-made lime cordial), you can also experiment with different spirits such as the also popular Vodka Gimlet.

The simple recipe is ripe for experimentation though, and especially when you are working with vodka, you have a lot of leeway to incorporate other ingredients to add more interest and unique personality to your drink. This recipe from Ghost Hill Organic Vodka showcases the smooth and clean notes of the spirit while also allowing space for the other ingredients to shine -- not only lime juice and simple syrup, but also the addition of sage leaves for a more herbal note.

Read more
The best gin drinks: Our 5 favorites
The best gin cocktails for you to make at home
Gin cocktail

When it comes to spirits, there are none as unique as gin. When distilled, gin doesn’t have much flavor, save for the ingredients it’s made with. It’s not all that different from vodka. It’s the addition of juniper berries and various herbs and botanicals either in the distillation process itself (or a second distillation), through vapor infusion (the herbs and botanicals are hung in a basket in the still), or through maceration (adding the flavors to an already distilled gin) that give the gin its distinct, memorable aromas and flavors.

If you’ve ever had gin (or even sniffed it), you know the most potent ingredient is juniper berries. They are what gives gin its patented pine tree aroma and flavor. Other common ingredients include orris root, angelica root, orange peel, and licorice.
Our 5 favorite gin drinks

Read more
Gin goes with everything! From strawberries to carrot
The Connaught

As an avowed gin lover, one of the things I enjoy about the spirit is its ability to mix with a wide range of ingredients. It can do some much more than a Gin & Tonic, as depending on the botanicals used in a particular gin it can be combined with everything from herbal lushness to bracing bitterness to fruity sweetness.

A balanced gin like Fords is a great choice for mixing as it isn't overly sharp or bitter, but still has enough interest to add depth to any drink you make with it. These recipes from bartenders around the world show just how diverse gin drinks can be, combining ingredients from strawberries and coconut to carrot and grapefruit.

Read more