This year, St. Patrick's Day falls on a Friday! Bearing that in mind, expect your bar, nightclub or restaurant to be slammed with not only rowdy revelers clad in green from head to toe on March 17, but also the usual Friday night cocktail crowd.
Tradition has designated January 1 as National Hangover Day, but we'd argue that March 18 should be the day we "celebrate" this painful "holiday." Of course, another option would be to offer more than just the expected shots of Irish whiskey and pints of Irish beer to your guests. The following St. Patrick's Day cocktails are supremely sippable and may just result in a good night's rest and a Saturday of brunch (mostly) without regrets. Of course, healthy servings of delicious corned beef and cabbage, St. Patrick's Day-inspired shareable bites, and plenty of water will help as well. Raucous, responsible and fun? Absolutely!
Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant in Las Vegas is spicing things up with its lucky Green Jalapeño Margarita.
Green Jalapeño Margarita
- 2 oz. Zarco Silver tequila
- 1 oz. Gaetano Triple Sec
- 0.5 oz. Organic agave nectar
- 1.5 oz. Housemade sweet & sour mix
- 5 slices Fresh jalapeño
- Tajin seasoning
- 1 Lime wedge
Directions: Garnish 16oz margarita glass with tajin rim. Shake tequila, triple sec, agave, sweet & sour,jalapeño slices and ice in a cocktail shaker. Pour (ice and all) into 16-oz. margarita glass. Garnish with lime wedge.
At BANKERS HILL BAR + Restaurant, find your gold on top of a new cocktail: Paddy’s Poitín
Paddy’s Poitín
- 1.5 oz. Mad March Hare Poitín
- 0.5 oz. Dolin Genepi
- 0.5 oz. Garden Syrup (sorrel, cucumber, mint)
- 0.5 oz. Honey syrup
- 0.75 oz. Lemon juice
- 1 Cold egg white
Directions: Shake all ingredients except egg whites with ice. Strain back into tin and discard ice. Add egg white and dry shake. Pour into glass and garnish with wood sorrel leaf and gold leaf.
At Bleu Bohème, the restaurant’s signature green drink, the Basil Martini, is nicely balanced with sweet and citrus flavors, and a fresh herb aroma.
Basil Martini
- 3-5 Fresh basil leaves
- 1 tsp. Sugar
- 2.5 oz. French vodka
- 1.5 oz. Housemade sweet & sour mix
- 0.5 oz. Lime juice
Directions: In cocktail shaker, muddle fresh basil and sugar. Add other ingredients and fill with ice. Shake and strain into martini glass and garnish with a single basil leaf.
Therapy restaurant located in Downtown Las Vegas will be selling a St. Patrick’s Day cocktail called the Shamrocked.
Shamrocked
- 1.5 oz. Midori Liqueur
- 1 oz. Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
- 0.5 oz. Irish Crème
Directions: Shake and strain over ice into a DOF (double old fashion) glass. Top with homemade whipped cream and fresh mint garnish.
Sláinte!