As if we needed an excuse to have a wee dram of the water of life, St. Patrick’s Day faithfully arrives each March to encourage us to indulge in a little Jameson, Proper No. Twelve or Tullamore DEW.
But what happens when St. Paddy’s Day rolls around and *gasp* you aren’t a whiskey drinker? Or *double gasp* not a Guinness lover?
Some may call it blasphemy, but there are plenty of Irish spirits to enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day if you’re not a fan of whiskey. If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that the Irish will find you SOMETHING to drink! ;)
Keep reading for our favorite Irish spirits and liqueurs that AREN’T whiskey to sip this St. Patrick’s Day.
Gin may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Irish spirits, but the Irish gin scene is alive and well, thanks to its 68 currently operating distilleries.1 One of them is The Shed Distillery, which makes the award-winning Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin. It’s made with the traditional blend of botanicals, then vapor-infused with a mixture of Chinese lemon, grapefruit, lime and gunpowder tea (hence the name) for a smooth, citrusy gin. Pour a little elderflower tonic on top to meet your new favorite cocktail.
If the strong stuff isn’t your jam, there’s always old reliable: Irish cream. Sweet, creamy and delectable, Michaels Irish Cream is definitely what’s in that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Plus, there are so many different flavors to choose from: salted caramel, apple pie, strawberry shortcake and more. Try it in an Irish Cookie for the perfect sweet, boozy St. Paddy’s Day treat.
The rosé all day mindset is expanding to the spirits world, and while many of these spirits get their pink hue from resting in red wine barrels, Glendalough Rose Gin is vapor-distilled with actual wild rose petals. If you’re a fan of floral tastes, this Irish gin is a must-have on your bar cart. The lovely bottle design and petal-pink color is just the cherry on top.
Vodka may be a Slavic spirit, but if you think about it, it’s made out of potatoes...and what’s more Irish than potatoes, right? The Muff Irish Potato Vodka is distilled a whopping six times for a remarkably pure, crisp spirit. Mix it with sparkling water (and maybe a cucumber ribbon for that essential pop of green) if you prefer a drink that’s light and refreshing rather than creamy and sweet. Want a spirit with a bit more zest? Reach for a bottle of The Muff Irish Gin instead.
Is it really a St. Patrick’s Day celebration without Baileys? Just like Michaels, Baileys has been nailing it with the flavors: cinnamon churro, s’mores and even an almondmilk variety for the vegan and lactose-intolerant leprechauns among us. Try mixing the vanilla mint shake flavor with a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream for a homemade, boozy Shamrock Shake.
If you prefer a smooth, milk chocolatey Irish Cream, Saint Brendan’s is your new drinking buddy. Made with triple-distilled The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey, Saint Brendan’s is a rich, indulgent treat that goes perfectly in an Irish coffee. Just take it from user BigKahuna in his 5-star review on our site: “Bought this to make St. Patrick's Day cocktails and it was delicious!!”
Looking for a classic, high-quality gin to keep on your spirits shelf on St. Patrick’s Day and beyond? Pick up a bottle of Dingle Distillery Pot Still Gin. You’ll get angelica and juniper on the nose off the bat with minty herbs and cool spice on the palate. Professor Randy said in his 5-star review on our site: “Tried Dingle Gin on my last trip to Ireland and loved it in my G&T's. Even bought a bottle at duty free to bring home with me. So happy that I found it here at ABC!”
Ok, one more Irish cream recommendation for the road: Carolans is a double gold medal winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, made with fresh Irish cream, honey and of course whiskey. When you’re done paddying it up on St. Patrick’s Day, pour this over some vanilla ice cream for a perfect Irish goodbye to the holiday.
