The best St. Patrick’s Day cocktails are the ones that are easy to make, that don’t require hard-to-find ingredients, and that are absolutely delicious.
From refreshing Irish whiskey cocktails, like the reliable Jemmy and Ginger, to potent concoctions, like the Slammer, there’s plenty of boozy tipples to choose from!
In the guide below, I’ve only included tasty St. Patrick’s Day drinks recipes that don’t require a much prep/ingredients.
Easy St. Patrick’s Day cocktails
Photos via Shutterstock
Now, traditional Irish drinks tend to fall into a few different categories: Irish beers, Irish whiskeys, Irish stouts, Irish gins and, our favourites, Irish cocktails!
In this guide, I’m bringing you a mix of elegant tipples, green drinks and wonderfully easy Irish alcohol drinks.
1. The Irish Maid
The Irish Maid is one of the easiest and most refreshing St. Patrick’s Day drinks you can make.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need Irish whiskey, elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, fresh lemon juice and cucumber.
To make, gently muddle 2 slices of cucumber in a shaker. Add whiskey, elderflower liqueur, simple syrup and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Half-fill with ice, shake hard and strain into a glass half-filled with ice.
Why you’ll like it: Smooth, fresh and perfectly balanced – it looks impressive but couldn’t be easier to knock up.
2. The Nutty Irishman
The Nutty Irishman is one of the more indulgent St. Patrick’s Day cocktails and it doubles up nicely as a dessert drink.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need Baileys Irish Cream, Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur and ice. If you want the more indulgent version, add whipped cream and crushed hazelnuts for garnish.
To make, add Baileys and Frangelico to a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled glass. If you’re going all-in, top with lightly whipped cream and sprinkle over crushed hazelnuts.
Why you’ll like it: Sweet, smooth and seriously satisfying – this is perfect as an after-dinner treat.
3. Irish Eyes
Few green St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails compare to the Irish Eyes – a bold, green cocktail that stands out in both appearance and flavour, and despite how it looks, it’s very easy to make.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need Irish whiskey, Baileys, green Crème de menthe and fresh cream.
To make, add whiskey, Baileys, green Crème de menthe and cream to a shaker half-filled with ice. Shake hard until chilled and strain into a glass half-filled with ice.
Why you’ll like it: Creamy, strong and eye-catching – this one definitely isn’t shy on flavour!
4. Irish Coffee
The Irish Coffee is one of the most iconic St. Patrick’s Day drinks and it’s been warming people up since 1943.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need Irish whiskey, freshly brewed coffee, Demerara sugar, fresh cream and optional nutmeg or dark chocolate for garnish.
To make, add 35.5ml of whiskey to a warmed glass, pour in hot coffee and stir in a teaspoon of sugar until dissolved. Lightly whip fresh cream and gently pour it over the back of a spoon so it sits on top.
Why you’ll like it: Strong, smooth and warming – ideal for a cold March 17th or a post-dinner treat.
5. The Irish Slammer
The Irish Slammer is one of the most potent St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails in this guide. Made by dropping a shot of Irish cream and whiskey into a glass of stout, it’s simple to assemble but needs to be drunk quickly to avoid curdling.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need Guinness (or another Irish stout), Baileys Irish Cream and Irish whiskey.
To make, half-fill a glass with stout. In a shot glass, add equal parts whiskey and Baileys (whiskey first). Drop the shot into the stout and knock it back immediately.
Why you’ll like it: Bold, boozy and guaranteed to kick – just be ready for the strength of it.
6. The Irish Lemonade
The Irish Lemonade is one of the easiest and most refreshing Irish drinks for St. Patrick’s Day that you can make. Light, crisp and ideal for parties, it’s quick to assemble and the ingredients are easy to find.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need Irish whiskey, fresh lemonade, ginger beer or club soda, bitters, ice and fresh mint.
To make, half-fill a glass with ice and add whiskey, fresh lemonade and a dash of bitters. Top with ginger beer or club soda, stir gently and garnish with fresh mint.
Why you’ll like it: Simple, crowd-friendly and perfect for batching in a big jug when friends are over.
7. The Irish Espresso Martini (with Baileys)
The Irish Espresso Martini with Baileys is rich, indulgent and perfect for after dinner. It looks impressive but is surprisingly easy to make once you have fresh espresso ready to go.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need Baileys Irish Cream, vodka, freshly brewed espresso, ice and a couple of coffee beans for garnish.
To make, add Baileys, vodka and fresh espresso to a shaker half-filled with ice. Shake hard until chilled and strain into a glass. Garnish with a couple of coffee beans and serve.
Why you’ll like it: Creamy, bold and ideal as an after-dinner pick-me-up with a kick.
8. Irish Gold
The Irish Gold is a punchy, fruit-forward easy St. Patrick’s Day cocktail recipes that’s handy to throw together and surprisingly smooth to sip.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need Irish whiskey, peach schnapps, a splash of fresh orange juice, ginger ale, ice and a slice of lime.
To make, fill a glass with ice and add 2 ounces of whiskey, 1/2 ounce of peach schnapps and a splash of orange juice. Top with ginger ale, give it a light stir and finish with a squeeze of fresh lime.
Why you’ll like it: Fruity, slightly fizzy and strong without tasting overpowering.
9. The Irish Trash Can
The Irish Trash Can is big, bold and not for the faint-hearted. It’s bright blue, topped with energy drink and loaded with multiple spirits, making it one of the strongest cocktails on this list.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need 1/2 ounce each of gin, light rum, vodka, peach schnapps, blue curaçao and triple sec, plus a can of Red Bull and plenty of ice.
To make, fill a tall glass with ice and pour in all six spirits. Give it a quick stir, then either gently pour in the Red Bull or rest the can upside down in the glass for the full effect.
Why you’ll like it: Loud, strong and built for parties – but definitely one to try with caution.
10. The Irish Whiskey Ginger
The Irish Whiskey Ginger is one of the easiest and most refreshing Jameson cocktails you can make. With just whiskey, ginger ale and fresh lime, it’s light, fizzy and dangerously easy to drink.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need 35.5ml of Irish whiskey, premium ginger ale, a fresh lime and ice.
To make, fill a glass with ice and add the whiskey. Top with ginger ale, give it a gentle stir and finish with a squeeze of fresh lime (drop the wedge in if you like).
Why you’ll like it: Simple, crisp and perfect when you want something refreshing without any fuss.
11. The Irish Margarita
The Irish Margarita is one of the few green St. Patrick’s Day cocktails worth making. It swaps tequila for Irish whiskey and blends it with fresh flavours.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need 2 ounces of Irish whiskey, the juice of 1 fresh lime, 1/2 ounce of orange liqueur, 1/2 ounce of simple syrup, ice and optional green food colouring.
To make, add the lime juice, whiskey, orange liqueur, simple syrup and ice to a shaker. Shake well, strain into a sugar-rimmed glass and garnish with a slice of lime.
Why you’ll like it: Zesty, slightly sweet and perfect when you want something with a citrus bite and a whiskey backbone.
12. The Irish Mule
The Irish Mule is a refreshing twist on the Moscow Mule, swapping vodka for a smooth Irish whiskey.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need Irish whiskey, premium ginger beer, fresh lime and ice.
To make, half-fill a glass with ice and add 35.5ml of whiskey. Squeeze in fresh lime, top with ginger beer and stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.
Why you’ll like it: It’s crisp, refreshing and very easy to sip. Perfect for those looking for light Irish whiskey cocktails
13. The Irish Mudslide
The Irish Mudslide is one of the more indulgent Irish drinks for St. Patrick’s Day, and it doubles up nicely as a dessert.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need Irish whiskey, Baileys, Kahlua, chocolate syrup and either whipped cream or ice cream (for the frozen version).
To make, blend equal parts whiskey, Baileys and Kahlua. For the classic version, pour into a glass drizzled with chocolate syrup and top with whipped cream.
Why you’ll like it: Smooth, chocolatey and dangerously easy to sip – perfect as an after-dinner treat.
14. The Irish Martini
The Irish Martini is a strong, spirit-forward twist on the classic. Made with vodka, Irish whiskey and dry vermouth, this one packs a punch and is best suited to those who enjoy strong St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need vodka, Irish whiskey, dry vermouth, fresh lime or lemon and ice.
To make, add 2 ounces of vodka, 1/2 an ounce of whiskey and 1/2 an ounce of dry vermouth to a shaker half-filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Why you’ll like it: Clean, sharp and boozy – perfect for slow sipping before dinner.
15. The Irish Negroni
The Irish Negroni will only suit those of you hankering for strong St. Patrick’s Day cocktails. This is a bold twist on the classic, swapping gin for smooth Irish whiskey.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need Irish whiskey, Campari, sweet vermouth, fresh orange and ice.
To make, add equal parts whiskey, Campari and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass with ice and stir well. Strain into a fresh glass half-filled with ice and garnish with a twist of orange.
Why you’ll like it: Deep, complex and unapologetically strong – ideal for slow sipping.
16. The Irish Mojito
The Irish Mojito is a refreshing twist on the classic, swapping rum for smooth Irish whiskey.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need Irish whiskey, fresh lime, fresh mint, sugar, simple syrup and ginger beer or club soda.
To make, gently muddle lime slices, mint leaves and sugar in a glass. Add simple syrup and whiskey, half-fill with ice and top with ginger beer or club soda. Stir gently and garnish with lime.
Why you’ll like it: Fresh, crisp and easy to sip – even those who aren’t big whiskey fans tend to enjoy this St. Patrick’s Day drinks recipe
17. The Irish Old Fashioned
The last of our St. Patrick’s Day drinks is the Irish Old Fashioned – a simple twist on one of the world’s best-known cocktails.
Ingredients wise, you’ll need Irish whiskey, sugar syrup, orange bitters and Angostura bitters.
To make, half-fill a chilled glass with ice and add 2 ounces of whiskey and 1/2 an ounce of sugar syrup. Add 2 dashes of orange bitters and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters, stir gently and garnish with a twist of orange.
Why you’ll like it: Strong, smooth and perfect for slow sipping before or after dinner.
Traditional St. Patrick’s Day drinks
Photos via The Crosskeys Inn on FB
If cocktails aren’t your thing but you fancy adding some Irish drinks for St. Patrick’s Day, there’s plenty of choice. Irish beers, like Guinness, are an easy addition and can be grabbed from most stores.
If you’re feeling fancy, there are some great Irish whiskey brands, like Tullamore DEW, that range from budget-friendly to pricey.
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.