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Celebrate St. Paddy's properly with our 4 favorite Irish whiskey cocktails and matching Irish drinking songs.

March 17, 2015

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Whether you’re playing hooky and day-drinking on a rooftop somewhere today, or looking to kick it up a notch at the local Irish pub after work, we want to help you get in the mood (we’re nice guys like that). That’s why we’re bringing you a few classic Irish whiskey cocktail recipes paired with the perfect songs for celebrating the most fun holiday in the calendar. Besides, isn’t it about time you graduated from green beer? Okay, maybe just one or two before you break out the good stuff...

1. The Pogues - Sally Mclennane  x The Emerald feat. San Francisco Maps

The Pogues are an inspiration for us all to drink whiskey now and ask questions later. Shane MacGowan’s fast-paced storytelling on top of a medley of banjo/mandolin/accordion will get things started nicely.

Ingredients
2 ounces Irish whiskey
1 ounce sweet vermouth
2 dashes orange bitters

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass and fill with cracked ice. Stir well for 30 seconds and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a piece of orange or lemon peel, or nothing at all.

2. Dropkick Murphys – Rose Tattoo x The Copywriter feat. DC Maps

Take it from James Joyce and Oscar Wilde: nothing gets the creative juices flowing like a couple stiff drinks. This next band, who cursed their way to punk stardom with a thrashing array of bagpipes, electric guitars, and iconic vocals, also happens to know their way around a bottle of whiskey. Just don’t get too carried away or you might end up with a rose tattoo of your own. Or maybe you already have one?

Ingredients
Honey Syrup:
1/2 ounce hot water
1/2 ounce honey
Cocktail:
2 ounces Irish whiskey
3/4 ounce freshly squeezed juice from 1 lemon
1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
1/2 ounce honey syrup
Seltzer, chilled
Garnish: lemon twist

Honey Syrup: Stir together hot water and honey until honey dissolves.
Cocktail: Add whiskey, lemon, sweet vermouth, and honey syrup to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake until well chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with seltzer and garnish with a lemon twist.

3. Mychael and Jeff Danna - The Blood of Cu Chulainn x The Blarney Stone feat. Philly Maps

Although not an Irish drinking song in the traditional sense, this tune from 1999’s cult classic film The Boondock Saints will make even the Debbie Downer at your party get up and jig with revelry. Pour yourself one of these tasty little beverages and you’ll be joining her in no time.

Ingredients
2 ounces Irish whiskey
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice, from about two limes
Ginger beer, chilled
Garnish: lime twist
 
Add whiskey and lime juice to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake until well chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with lime twist.

4. The Rumjacks – An Irish Pub Song x The Irish Derby feat. LA Maps

This last pairing will have Irish eyes a smiling again and again and again. The Rum Jacks bring a pulse-pounding, Dublin street sound that echoes tales of battles won, loves lost, and journeys taken. Top it off with this Irish Derby recipe and you will be off to more than just the races.

Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces Irish whiskey
1/2 ounce Carpano Antica sweet vermouth
1/2 ounce Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao (or Cointreau)
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice from 1/2 lime
2 dashes Angostura bitters
4-inch lime twist for garnish

Add whiskey, sweet vermouth, curaçao, lime juice, and bitters to a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake until well chilled, about 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lime twist.
 
Looking for more great tunes for your St. Patrick’s Day festivities? You can hear all the songs listed above by checking out our SoundCloud page: https://soundcloud.com/theuncommongreen.  
 
So from all of us at UCG – Sláinte!