29 St. Patrick's Day Drinks That Are Not Green Beer
March 11, 2022As St. Patrick's Day looms, many of us are looking for the perfect way to celebrate. While green beer is always an option, it can sometimes get a little old. If you're looking for something a little more festive, why not try one of these delicious non-green beer recipes?
From an Irish cream and coffee to a sour apple tequila, there's something for everyone in this list. So grab a pint and get ready to celebrate!
1. Green Dublin Apple
St. Patrick's Day is all about celebrating the Irish, and what better way than with an Apple Cocktail? This classic cocktail uses whiskey instead of vodka, so it has a stronger flavor profile that will have you feeling like you're in Ireland! For a more fruity and extra sour hint, cranberry juice is added.
2. Irish Eyes
While most St. Patrick’s day drinks are housed in highball glasses or martini glasses , Irish Eyes uses a lowball glass to showcase the beautiful green and white color combination. This cocktail only uses three ingredients: creme de menthe, Irish whiskey, and cream.
3. Shamrock Juice Cocktail
Shamrock Juice Cocktail should definitely be part of the eye-catchy St. Patrick’s day drinks. The blue and green ombre colors are beautifully layered. This cocktail may just look simple, but it indeed hits you to the core. The combination of gin , vodka , rum , tequila , and blue curacao gives off a bitter yet citrusy hint in every sip.
4. Irish Cream and Coffee
Coffee and booze lovers will surely enjoy celebrating St. Patrick’s with the home runner Irish Cream and Coffee. Sweet and creamy with a kick of caffeine and Irish whiskey will keep your senses awake for partying and merry-making the entire day. If you have some pastry in the oven, this warm beverage is a good match.
5. Bailey’s Coffee Float
Give your usual vanilla float a whole new twist by incorporating coffee and Irish whiskey. Bailey’s Coffee Float is every smoothie lover’s dream. The combination of vanilla ice cream, Irish cream, cold brew coffee, and chocolate syrup creates a sweet and creamy treat you would want to have several times.
6. Grasshopper Cocktail
Another green drink on the list, the Grasshopper Cocktail, is a sweet and mint-flavored drink usually served every after a meal. The calm color of light green is from the creme de menthe, which gives off a cool and minty hint. It also uses creme de cacao for that semi-sweet chocolate taste.
7. The Irish Mule
Probably one of the most revitalizing St. Patrick’s day drinks is the Irish Mule. This cocktail is made of ginger beer, Irish whiskey, and lime juice, a perfect marriage of sour and bitter flavors. This twist on the usual Moscow Mule uses whiskey instead of vodka for that extra citrus note.
8. Mini Beer Shots
St. Patrick's day is a beer holiday, but this doesn’t mean that you need to keep drinking green beer! Welcome aboard the adorable Mini Beer Shots with cream on top. You are wrong if you think the additional cream won’t do much. The cream adds more sweetness and texture to the Licor’s bitter taste.
9. Peppermint Martini
Peppermint Martini is not just exclusive to Christmas. It is an all-rounder cocktail that is also ideal to have during celebrations such as St. Patrick’s day. This beautiful white drink has a calm and creamy texture derived from the white chocolate liqueur, vanilla vodka , half & half, and peppermint extract.
10. Vanilla Matcha Smoothie
While liquor is a staple for celebrating St. Patrick’s day, those who prefer zero-proof beverages can enjoy the creamy Vanilla Matcha Smoothie. Aside from the green color, this St. Patrick’s day drink is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants that are good for your immune system! You only need whole milk, vanilla, sugar, and matcha powder.
11. Green Jello Shots
The Green Jello Shots is the perfect fusion of a drink and dessert. They're explosive with lime and earthy flavors from vodka and gelatine. Plus, each mixture creates several servings for your guests.
12. Green Bloody Mary
If you want to skip the tomato goodness of the classic Bloody Mary , this spin-off will surely take your taste buds to a whole new level.
Green Bloody Mary combines tomatillos, yellow tomatoes, lime, vodka, celery seed, and horseradish. These ingredients create that extra sour and spicy kick that you might not feel in your “red” Bloody Mary.
13. Irish Hammer
Another go-to drink during St. Patrick’s day is the sweet and smooth Irish Hammer. The recipe does not need many ingredients aside from whiskey , Irish mist, and Irish cream. This shot gives off honey and caramel notes with slight bitter hints from the whiskey.
14. Pineapple Mint Mojito
Mojito is really not associated with St. Patrick’s day. However, the presence of mint leaves and other green ingredients make it an excellent addition to the list.
A good Pineapple Mint Mojito only needs some natural sweetener from the honey, cool notes from the mint, sourness from the lime, tropical sweetness from the pineapple, and fizzy club soda. If you want a boozy version, you can add several splashes of vodka.
15. Sour Apple Tequila
Channel your inner Irish with this boozy Sour Apple Tequila. Get ready to party with sweet and sour flavors and hints of apple and lime in this bright green-colored cocktail. If you want less alcohol in your system during the festivities, you can mix this St. Patrick’s day drink in a highball glass and fill it up with lime soda.
16. Irish Buck
This whiskey and ginger ale combo is perfect when trying out the green cupcakes and pesto pasta you prepared for St. Patrick’s day. The sour and citrus notes perfectly match any savory or sweet dishes.
17. Basil Lime Daiquiri
Celebrate St. Patrick’s day with a nice glass of Basil Lime Daiquiri. This cocktail delivers bright, tart, and some spice in every sip. The basil gives a more earthy and savory touch that goes well with the rum and lime juice.
18. Shamrock Shake
One of the most kid-friendly St. Patrick’s day drinks is the homemade version of McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. This green mint-flavored milkshake is loaded with whipped cream, ice cream, vanilla, and peppermint extract. While this is great for your non-alcoholic friends, you can always opt to add some whiskey, rum, or tequila to spice up the flavor.
19. Irish Margarita
Every celebration always calls for a glass of margarita . But you can add a little extra to the classic recipe by tweaking some ingredients, like including blue curacao. This Irish Margarita will remind you of a summer escapade on the beach. It has a sweet, sour, and tangy flavor paired with gorgeous gold sugar in the rim of the glass.
20. Sparkling Green Sangria
Another great alternative to St. Patrick’s day green beer is the Sparkling Green Sangria. This concoction is a product of mixing Moscato wine , triple sec, cucumbers, seedless green grapes, green apple, lemon, lime, and sparkling water.
It may seem like a lot because you’re going to have to put everything in a punch bowl, but the mixture creates a light, sweet, and sour beverage perfect for easing the heat.
21. Drunken Leprechaun
Drunken Leprechaun is one of the best St. Patrick’s day drinks. This cocktail contains two Irish ingredients, whiskey, and Guinness, which create robust, citrus, and sour flavors in one glass. Sounds yummy, right?
22. Liquid Marijuana Shot
This popular shooter does not contain any cannabis. Instead, it combines spiced and coconut rum, melon liqueur, sweet and sour, pineapple juice, and blue curacao. The result? A sweet and tangy shot that has a beautiful grass green hue.
23. Jalapeno Margarita
Do you know what is better than drinking a regular margarita? A spicy, fresh Jalapeno Margarita!
You’ll be able to enjoy this cocktail during St Patrick's day since it has the same margarita flavor with a bit of spice. The citruses of oranges mixed with tequila make for a fantastic combination that you can't go wrong with trying out!
24. Irish Flag Shooter
Glasses of Irish Flag Shooter - Image by The Spruce Eats
The tables will be turned on St. Patrick's Day when you make this fun-to shooter ! The layers represent the colors of Ireland’s flag–green for crème de menthe, white from Irish cream, and orange Grand Marnier. Why not give it a try?
25. Emerald Martini
The Emerald Martini is a tart, exhilarating cocktail for this coming St Patrick's Day celebration. Made with vodka and curacao mixed together in addition to melon liqueur—it has the perfect balance between sweet and savory that will leave you wanting more!
26. Green Apple Martini
With the Green Apple Martini, you can enjoy a sweet and delicious cocktail with vodka. There are many variations of this drink—some of which have an electric green color or contain real apples for added flavor!
You'll find that our simple recipe comes together in minutes so it's never been easier to make this tasty treat at home!
27. St. Patrick’s Day Mimosa
Making a cocktail for St Patrick's Day can be as easy or difficult, depending on what you're looking to achieve. With only three ingredients, this drink is sure not to disappoint! The bright green color comes from orange juice and blue curacao mixed with champagne —it doesn't get much easier than that!
28. Green With Envy
The Green With Envy cocktail not only tastes great, but it's also full of vitamins and minerals. It will keep you cool during the holiday season while energizing your body! This drink has everything that’s needed in order to celebrate an Irish holiday–from cucumber, arugula, green chartreuse liqueur, and gin !
29. Kiwi Vesper
St. Patrick's Day is a great time to enjoy some unusual drinks. What would you rather have? A Kiwi Vesper cocktail or anything else from our list!
It has fresh kiwis, vodka, and gin in addition to white wine, which makes it perfect for those who don't like their alcohol strong enough.