9 St. Patrick's Day Drinks Better Than Green Beer
Americans love St. Patrick’s Day—even those of us without Irish ancestry! It’s a day when we wear green, eat corned beef and cabbage, indulge in a few St. Patrick’s Day cookies, and drink green beer.
I’ve celebrated the March 17th holiday in Nashville, New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, San Jose, and San Francisco, and it’s always a festive day with fun beverages.
One thing I’ve learned: There are many more drinks for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations that I prefer to green beer or a pint of Guinness.
And although I’m not a bartender or a mixologist, I am a chef who’s an expert at tracking down recipes and creating my own copycats. So, from hot to cold, shakes to shots, and cocktails to mocktails, here are my favorite St. Patrick’s Day Drinks!
St. Patrick’s Day Drink Recipes
They may not all be world-famous cocktails, but these drinks will kick your St. Paddy’s Day celebrations up a notch!
1. Irish Coffee
Main ingredients: Brewed coffee, good Irish whiskey, sugar cubes, and heavy cream slightly whipped.
While Irish influences may be more common in the beverages and foods of Boston and New York, San Francisco is the city that helped popularize the Irish coffee in America.
In fact, one of our recommended foodie things to do in San Francisco is to visit the The Buena Vista, where this cafe’s quest to make the perfect Irish coffee made the beverage a must-have on every bar menu in the country.
Even though you’re pouring the whiskey into coffee and not drinking it neat, you’ll want to use a trusted brand like Jameson Irish Whiskey.
But Tennessee is also famous for whiskey. So, if a Tennessee whiskey is what’s in your liquor cabinet, go for it. Don’t skip the sugar cube!
Irish Coffee Recipe
2. Shamrock Shake
Main ingredients: Vanilla ice cream, mint extract, milk, green food coloring, and heavy whipping cream or ready-made whipped topping.
I grew up dipping my fries into vanilla milkshakes, and back then, that’s what a Shamrock Shake was—a vanilla shake. Nowadays, they are minty and have become synonymous with the Irish holiday.
Sure, you can purchase an overpriced fast food version. But if you’re looking for a homemade Shamrock Shake recipe, here’s my super yummy copycat. It also has something that the McDonald’s version doesn’t—a spiked option!
Shamrock Shake Recipe
3. Boozy Pistachio Milkshake
Main ingredients: Irish cream liqueur, vodka, pistachio ice cream, and whole milk.
Of course, this creamy pistachio milkshake is delicious even without the alcohol, but if you’re whooping it up, try the boozy version!
For St. Patrick’s Day parties, I like to serve these pistachio shake shots in a cordial or shot glass. They’re also one of my favorite St. Patrick’s Day desserts! Pro tip: Use a premium liqueur like Baileys Irish Cream or even the Costco knockoff.
Boozy Pistachio Milkshake Recipe
4. Irish Mule
Ingredients for 2 servings: 2 ounces of Irish whiskey, 1 ounce of fresh lime juice, 6 ounces of ginger beer, lime wedges and/or fresh mint for garnish.
A version of the classic cocktail, the Moscow Mule, this cocktail is so simple, I’ve listed the recipe above. Just mix it all together and serve in a chilled copper mug over ice.
The traditional copper mug for mules is not just a gimmick. It’s to keep your drink extra cold. However, if you don’t have a copper mug, a highball glass will do.
5. Frozen Grasshopper
Main ingredients: Crème de menthe, white crème de cacao, and vanilla ice cream.
If peppermint bark is your favorite Christmas candy, this Frozen Grasshopper cocktail will be your Number 1 St. Patrick’s Day drink. It has all of the mint chocolate flavor of the classic after-dinner cocktail recipe, but replaces heavy cream with ice cream.
I always go for the optional whipped cream and chocolate syrup garnish! Make it an extra festive cocktail by serving it in a martini glass.
Frozen Grasshopper Recipe
6. Pistachio Pudding Shots
Main ingredients: Pistachio pudding, milk, vodka, and Cool Whip.
Pistachio pudding shots are a great option for a make-ahead St. Patrick’s drink.
Served in shot glasses, they double as a mini St. Patrick’s Day dessert. They can sit on a dessert table for a couple of hours, then add the whipped cream topping just before serving.
Pistachio Pudding Shots Recipe
7. Lime Green Jello Shots
Main ingredients: Lime Jello, boiling water, vodka, whipped topping, and optional sprinkles or jimmies.
Ice cream shots, pudding shots, Jello shots—yup, green shots of any kind are perfect St. Patrick’s Day beverages.
This Jello shot recipe was originally created for game day. You can replace the football decoration with a shamrock, or take the easy way like I do and leave it off completely.
Lime Green Jello Shots
8. Coconut-Mint Green Tea Mocktail
Main ingredients: Coconut water, green tea bag, mint leaves, ice cubes, and liquid stevia (optional).
I know alcohol isn’t for everyone, and sometimes you want a fun drink without the kick. That’s where this St. Partick’s Day mocktail comes in!
It’s a refreshing mix of coconut, green tea, and mint over ice that looks like a party cocktail. Have a pitcher ready—even designated drivers can knock back a few.
Coconut-Mint Green Tea Mocktail Recipe
9. Shamrock Protein Shake
Main ingredients: Vanilla Greek yogurt, almond milk, mint extract, and spinach.
Drinks for St. Patrick’s Day don’t have to be laden with fat, alcohol, or sugar. Greek yogurt is high in protein, making this healthy shamrock shake a great meal or snack.
Make a batch for the office, and offer this low-fat festive breakfast alternative that contains less sugar than green doughnuts do.
Shamrock Protein Shake Recipe
Cheers! Hope you have a safe and happy St. Patrick’s Day!
