St. Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17th every year to honor St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It originated as a Catholic feast day in the 17th century and has since evolved into a celebration of Irish culture marked by parades, festivals, wearing green attire, eating Irish food and drinking Irish whiskey.
When did the tradition of drinking whiskey on St. Patrick’s Day begin?
The tradition of drinking Irish whiskey on St. Patrick’s Day began in Ireland many centuries ago. Since St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, March 17th was treated as a religious feast day honoring him. Irish monks are said to have distilled whiskey as early as the 6th century, and people would drink whiskey on St. Patrick’s Day as part of the celebrations. Irish immigrants later brought this tradition of drinking whiskey on the feast day to America and other parts of the world.
In more recent times, the surge in Irish whiskey consumption on St. Patrick’s Day really took off in the late 20th century. As the holiday became more widely celebrated globally, especially in the US, drinks companies promoted Irish whiskey as the perfect drink to celebrate with. Bars began stocking up on Irish whiskey to meet demand on St. Patrick’s Day, making it a great day for sales. So the tradition became further ingrained thanks to successful marketing campaigns.
What types of Irish whiskey are traditionally drunk on St. Patrick’s Day?
There are several classic styles of Irish whiskey that people traditionally prefer to drink on St. Patrick’s Day:
- Irish Single Malt – Made from 100% malted barley at a single distillery. Known for being rich and complex.
- Irish Single Pot Still – Made from a mash of both malted and unmalted barley. Fuller flavor and spicy notes.
- Blended Irish Whiskey – A blend of malt and grain whiskeys from different distilleries. Smoother and more approachable.
- Irish Cream Liqueur – Whiskeys like Baileys that are blended with dairy cream. Sweeter taste.
Of these, blended Irish whiskeys tend to be the most popular for St. Patrick’s celebrations as they are smooth, mellow and easy to drink. Top Irish whiskey brands like Jameson, Bushmills and Tullamore D.E.W. see massive sales spikes on St. Patrick’s Day.
Do people add anything extra to their Irish whiskey on St. Patrick’s Day?
There are a few traditional extras that people commonly add to their Irish whiskey when drinking on St. Patrick’s Day:
- Water – Adding a splash of water is popular as it opens up the flavors and aromas of the whiskey.
- Ice – Many prefer to drink their Irish whiskey on the rocks. The ice dilutes and chills the whiskey.
- Green food coloring – A very popular St. Patrick’s Day custom is adding a few drops of green food dye to whiskey cocktails.
- Irish cream – Floating a layer of Baileys or other Irish cream on top of whiskey shots.
- Cider – Making cocktails like Whiskey Cider by mixing Irish whiskey with apple cider.
These extras complement the flavor of the whiskey and also align with St. Patrick’s Day themes by adding green or Irish ingredients. The green coloring in drinks especially heightens the festive spirit.
What are some classic Irish whiskey cocktails for St. Patrick’s Day?
Some of the most popular Irish whiskey cocktails that bars tend to serve on St. Patrick’s Day include:
- Irish Coffee – Irish whiskey, coffee, sugar and whipped cream.
- The Shamrock – Irish whiskey, green Chartreuse, sweet vermouth.
- Green Beer – Beer with added green food coloring.
- Irish Mule – Irish whiskey, ginger beer, lime juice.
- Irish Flag – Layers of green creme de menthe, Irish whiskey and Baileys.
- Emerald Isle – Vodka, Irish whiskey, blue curacao, lemonade.
These cocktails incorporate Irish ingredients like whiskey and Baileys along with St. Patrick’s Day motifs using green ingredients. The green color is a fun, festive addition. Cocktails provide more variety for celebrating than just drinking whiskey neat or on the rocks.
Do people in Ireland also drink green beer on St. Patrick’s Day?
While green beer has become very popular in the United States on St. Patrick’s Day, it is not as commonly consumed in Ireland. Adding green food coloring to beer originated as an American tradition. Drinking green beer is not unheard of in Ireland, especially among tourists. However, it is nowhere near as ubiquitous as in the US during St. Patrick’s celebrations.
This is because Ireland has much stricter laws regarding food additives and food coloring compared to the US. Under Republic of Ireland food safety laws, adding any unauthorized coloring to food or drink for sale is prohibited. So pubs and breweries cannot legally make and serve green beer. There are some exemptions for temporary festive foods, but these do not generally apply to beers. While some people may add coloring at home, green beer hasn’t really caught on as a must-have St. Patrick’s drink in Ireland.
Do Irish people object to green food coloring in whiskey and beer?
Most Irish people don’t have a major issue with green food coloring being added to drinks for St. Patrick’s Day. They see it as a bit of harmless fun and part of how other countries celebrate Irish culture. However, there are a few objections that come up:
- Some see it as promoting artificial colors in food and drink which they try to avoid.
- Others feel it perpetuates stereotypes that all Irish drinks must be green.
- Many think it ruins the flavor and integrity of quality beers and whiskeys.
- Some feel it treats Irish culture as a novelty rather than appreciating traditions.
But these objections aren’t overwhelmingly strong among most Irish people. They recognize the intent is celebratory rather than derogatory. If foreigners want to dye their beers green once a year to feel more immersed in Irish tradition, most see no reason to get offended. However, there is a sentiment that relying too heavily on green gimmicks can reduce St. Patrick’s Day to a drinking holiday based on stereotypes.
Have Irish distilleries ever released special green-colored whiskeys?
There are a handful of examples over the years of Irish whiskey brands releasing special green-colored versions just for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations:
- The Teeling Whiskey Company released a green bottle of their whiskey in 2016 finished in rum casks.
- Tullamore D.E.W. launched a green apple-flavored whiskey liqueur in 2017 called DEW Cider.
- Jameson released a bright green bottle of their classic whiskey with citrus notes in 2020.
- Slane Irish Whiskey introduced a green bottle aged in virgin oak barrels in 2021.
However, these are occasional limited releases. Most Irish whiskey companies don’t make green versions year after year. The green color usually comes from adding permitted natural coloring during production rather than artificial dyes. The flavors also complement the color, like citrus or green apple, rather than just using color for novelty. So there is an emphasis on quality as much as creating an eye-catching St. Patrick’s Day product.
Do people drink anything non-alcoholic on St. Patrick’s Day?
While alcoholic Irish drinks dominate St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, there are some great non-alcoholic options people enjoy too:
- Green tea – Irish breakfast tea is popular, sometimes with added milk.
- Green smoothies – Blending green fruits and vegetables like spinach, kale, apple, lime, avocado.
- Milkshakes – Adding green coloring or matcha powder to milkshakes.
- Green soda – Sprite, ginger ale, lemon-lime soda.
- Shamrock shakes – Bright green mint milkshakes from McDonald’s.
For people who don’t drink alcohol or just want to pace themselves, having festive non-alcoholic drinks helps them feel part of the St. Patrick’s Day spirit. Kids can also enjoy shamrock shakes or green sodas to celebrate. Non-alcoholic options allow the holiday to be more inclusive.
Conclusion
Drinking Irish whiskey has become an integral tradition on St. Patrick’s Day. People began drinking whiskey to honor Ireland’s patron saint centuries ago, a custom Irish immigrants spread globally. Today, adding extras like water, ice or green food coloring allows drinkers to put their own spin on Irish whiskey for the holiday. Cocktails incorporating whiskey or other green ingredients help create a festive spirit. While not as popular in Ireland, Americans especially have embraced green beers and cocktails as St. Patrick’s Day must-haves, which Irish people take in good humor. Some distilleries have released special green whiskeys, but these are occasional limited offerings rather than annual products. Beyond alcohol, green tea, smoothies and soda offer non-alcoholic options so everyone can feel part of the St. Patrick’s celebrations.