40 St. Patrick's Day Cocktails That'll Have You Feeling Pretty Lucky
Find a pot of gold (or a Gold Rush cocktail) at the end of the rainbow this year!
On St. Patrick's Day, if you're just home drinking...a boring PBR, allow us to introduce you to a few upgrades. Even if you're avoiding the bar crawl (we totally get it), you can still have a little fun with your drinks at home. This holiday is all about the drinks, so don’t let it pass by without jazzing up what you’re imbibing (even it's just adding a little green to your beer). Lucky you, we’ve got everything from bright green cocktails to boozy milkshakes. Check out our list of 38 St. Patrick’s Day drinks to get some inspiration (and likely feel the luck of the Irish as well). And who knows, you just might find a pot of gold (or a Gold Rush cocktail) at the end of the rainbow!
If you want to make it a whole day affair, you can start your morning off right with an Irish coffee or a green Bloody Mary (no green dye here, just tomatillos!). From there, you’ve got almost too many options (why can't it be St. Patrick's Week, right?). We’ve stuck with some classic St. Patrick’s Day alcohols and flavors, like Baileys Irish Cream, Irish whiskey, and plenty of mint. We've even nailed down the best way to make a homemade Irish cream liqueur you'll absolutely want to keep on hand!
Mint is often used because creme de menthe turns drinks that classic green color, but we love using fresh mint too. While some people may only imbibe mint-infused cocktails to cool off in the summertime, we say enjoy them early! What better time to bust out the juleps and mojitos than St. Patrick’s Day? Really, any light and fruity drink can be perfect for this holiday— just use lots of fruit and turn it into a rainbow, like in our layered fruit sangria. And you can’t forget shots! From Lucky Charms shots to pickleback Jell-O shots, we’re busting out all our creativity for shooters that’ll have you feeling extra lucky. Feeling overwhelmed? No judgment, just grab a Guinness and call it a day.
Want more St. Patrick’s Day inspiration? Check out our best St. Patrick's Day appetizers, Irish side dishes, and St. Patrick's Day desserts too.
Shamrockaritas
Margarita lovers, rejoice! The Shamrockarita has arrived. Backed with tequila and lime, then spiked with sour apple liqueur, this festive take on the classic cocktail will add the perfect flair to your St. Patrick’s Day party.
Get the Shamrockaritas recipe.
Irish Mules
We figured it was only a matter of time before we took the Moscow mule on a road trip to another country. We settled on Ireland because we loved how the oaky, vanilla-y flavors that come from your favorite whiskey are so well complimented by the fresh ginger and lime. It’s the perfect slight twist on the classic that will surprise your guests and have them singing your praises (or maybe writing a limerick about you).
Get the Irish Mules recipe.
Green Mimosa
Have the (liquid) luck of the Irish with our shamrock version of a brunch classic! This festive St. Paddy’s Day cocktail has all the flavors of the classic Champagne drink, but the added green color and rainbow candy garnish will have you feeling like you struck your own pot o’ gold.
Get the Green Mimosa recipe.
Pot o' Gold Shots
These shots are so cute, we'd absolutely silly not to follow that rainbow. Want a nonalcoholic version? Swap out the whiskey for another 1/2 cup cold water.
Get the Pot o' Gold Shots recipe.
Shamrock Smash
This St. Patrick’s Day, let’s all shamROCK and roll with a Shamrock Smash in hand. This minty green apple is the perfect St. Patrick's Day cocktail to cheers with this holiday: It's so easy to make, but uses some of our favorite bartender tricks to make it extra special.
Get the Shamrock Smash recipe.
Sour Patch Jell-O Shots
First they're sour, then they're sweet, then they're boozy. If you love Sour Patch Kids as much as we do (we'll never get over our Sour Patch grapes), then this grown-up version of your favorite candy should be a must-have at any celebration. To create these shots, we're using different flavors of packaged Jell-O, vodka, and of course, Sour Patch Kids. They're a little sweet, a little sour, and a whole lot of fun.
Get the Sour Patch Jell-O Shots recipe.
Nutty Irishman
The sweetness and subtle nuttiness of the hazelnut liqueur Frangelico is the perfect partner to rich Irish cream. The almost inevitable whipped cream mustache that follows is highly worth it.
Get the Nutty Irishman recipe.
Green Apple Moscato Sangria
Super packed with fresh strawberries, apples, and oranges, this Olive Garden copycat is the perfect fruity green cocktail to welcome in spring.
Get the Green Apple Moscato Sangria recipe.
Gold Rush Cocktail
Fans of the whiskey sour to the front, please! The Gold Rush cocktail is the whiskey drink you’re already in love with, with just a few changes that make it easy enough to make on St. Patrick's Day. It calls for honey instead of simple syrup, and doesn't call for any egg whites (so it's even easier to whip up).
Get the Gold Rush Cocktail recipe.
Frozen Espresso Martini
By freezing concentrated cold brew, blending it with Kahlúa and vodka, and topping it with an instant espresso Baileys whipped cream, we’ve created a frozen espresso martini that is not only perfectly balanced, but also incredibly easy to make and super-impressive. With only a few steps, this is a drink that you’re going to want to make again... and again and again.
Get the Frozen Espresso Martini recipe.
NOjito!
NO booze, no problem is the name of the game with this NO-jito! This mojito-inspired mocktail is light and refreshing and has all of the flavor and none of the alcohol. You can have as many as you want without worrying about the headache the next day.
Get the NOjito! recipe.
Rainbow Sangria
Layering fruit in your glasses makes for the best presentation, but don't worry—you can chuck it all into a pitcher and still call this sangria a rainbow!
Get the Rainbow Sangria recipe.
Midori Sour
Get ready to expand your bartending repertoire with this classic cocktail from the ’80s. It's fizzy, tangy, and best of all, electric green. Though it's far from traditional, we think this light and sweet bubbly drink is perfect for St. Patrick's Day.
Get the Midori Sour recipe.
Irish Coffee
The combination of sweetened coffee, Irish whiskey, and whipped cream makes this double hit of caffeine and booze perfect for the start or end of the night.
Get the Irish Coffee recipe.
Hot Toddy
A toddy is the perfect hot cocktail to sip on when it's chilly out on St. Patrick's Day (or any old afternoon when you're feeling under the weather) Best part? You almost definitely have all the ingredients in your kitchen right now.
Get the Hot Toddy recipe.
Espresso Mocha Crunch Mocktail
Looking for a St. Patrick's Day mocktail option? Everyone is espresso martini-crazed these days, but you don’t need to drink alcohol to enjoy this decadent trend! Our espresso mocktail packs a punch with an espresso base, creamy top, and tons of Oreo crunch with none of the alcohol.
Get the Espresso Mocha Crunch Mocktail recipe.
Last Word Cocktail
This gin-based classic cocktail is sharp, sour, slightly sweet, and best of all, the loveliest shade of green (perfect to avoid getting pinched!). It also only requires 4 ingredients—gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice.
Get the Last Word Cocktail recipe.
Spiked Hot Chocolate
We’ve all been there—you think you have *one* more pack of instant hot chocolate mix left, only to discover it was mixed up and consumed many cold days ago. Save the heavy sigh and make a batch on the stove for you and your boo with creamy whole milk, rich semisweet chocolate chips, and a little bit of whiskey to keep you warm on a chilly St. Patrick's Day.
Get the Spiked Hot Chocolate recipe.
Green Beer
You can't celebrate St. Paddy's without a pint of green beer. All it takes is a little green food coloring to keep you safe from any pinching!
Get the Green Beer recipe.
Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur
To make a quick and easy homemade Baileys, you need: whiskey, half-and-half, sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, vanilla, and a blender. THAT'S IT. Who knew you could make something so deliciously boozy at home?
Get the Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur recipe.
