May the winds of fortune sail you, may you sail a gentle sea. May it always be the other guy who says, This drink's on me!
Slàinte, friends!
So, maybe you're Irish: full-blood or a fraction? Maybe you're as far from the Isle as DNA can be. Maybe you're a beauteous gingers who looks freaking amazing in Kelly-green. Go on, tabby kitten! Get your green going! At the end of the Day, DNA matters not; so fret not, fair readers! Like Oktoberfest, St. Patrick's Day, and Irish Heritage Month altogether, is a time to find your inner European and celebrate those Motherlands we cherish so. It's a fab excuse to buy summat fun and new to wear. Best of all, it's a time to gather with friends, anywhere around the globe, and join in all the good cheer, great craic and, of course, fine beer ... the finest. What's that, my dear? You no likey beer? No worries! 'Tis also a grand old time to try summat new: JennyPop's gin, whiskey and vodka drinx hop the log for a crisp and malt-y March.
JennyPop's Irish Cocktail Reipes!
Dust off your hipster mixology set, or simply polish your phone screen - fingerprints are nasty - and show your bartender your favourite JennyPop Irish cocktails. Of course, when in doubt ... just order a Guinness. Always, Guinness.
"There can be nothing more frequent than the occasional drink."
- Oscar Wilde
- Oscar Wilde
Guinness: Pure and Simple
Ingredients
- Guinness
- Not Guinness Blonde
To Craft
Order a Guinness, Draught Is Best
Drink your treasure properly: eyes straight ahead, on the horizon (or at yourself, esp if you're looking super cute, in that long, bar mirror). Do not look down into the pint glass. If you do, you could die. No, you'll just drink foam and miss all that yummy, dark, red beer underneath it all. (Yes, Guinness is red, not black; Red Rub is the actual colour.)
A perfect pint should take you 7 - 9 sips. Foam residue lines will denote your progress.
Watch your bartender. If they pull about 3/4 of your glass, at about a 45-degree angle, then wait - what seems like - about 90 seconds for the top-off, they likely know what they're doing. (Don't really watch the like a hawk, though; don't actually time them. Don't be a dick, you know?) If they do none of that, it'll probably still be tasty, if not a tad foamy and you'll probably still be okay. Maybe patronize a bar or pub you know does it right, next time.
Drink your treasure properly: eyes straight ahead, on the horizon (or at yourself, esp if you're looking super cute, in that long, bar mirror). Do not look down into the pint glass. If you do, you could die. No, you'll just drink foam and miss all that yummy, dark, red beer underneath it all. (Yes, Guinness is red, not black; Red Rub is the actual colour.)
A perfect pint should take you 7 - 9 sips. Foam residue lines will denote your progress.
Note to the Fair Reader: (I know, I have a lot to say about Guinness. Moi loves Guinness.) So, sans doute, Guinness is Nomnomnom! no matter where you take your pint. It is myth it tastes better in Ireland; it is myth it tastes better in a pub vs. a bar; it is myth it must be room temperature and served in a warmed glass.
Now, Guinness is better enjoyed in some places than others. This is not myth! A perfectly pulled pint atop the Guinness Stoerhouse in Dublin is an experience worth the tour. Elbow-to-elbow pints in a Copenhagen pub, accidentally catching an Ireland vs. Denmark soccer match on telly? Superduper fun! A rich pint with too much foam and too many fingerprints on your glass, standing next to a likely ex-con at a biker-bar in Cardiff-by-the-Sea? Perfection.
Even Guinness in cans and bottles is yum-o and briliant for camping, hiking, beach-days, pool parties and anywhere draught is just not an option.
Go on then. Go find your Guinness!
Now, Guinness is better enjoyed in some places than others. This is not myth! A perfectly pulled pint atop the Guinness Stoerhouse in Dublin is an experience worth the tour. Elbow-to-elbow pints in a Copenhagen pub, accidentally catching an Ireland vs. Denmark soccer match on telly? Superduper fun! A rich pint with too much foam and too many fingerprints on your glass, standing next to a likely ex-con at a biker-bar in Cardiff-by-the-Sea? Perfection.
Even Guinness in cans and bottles is yum-o and briliant for camping, hiking, beach-days, pool parties and anywhere draught is just not an option.
Go on then. Go find your Guinness!
“St. Patrick's Day is named for St. Patrick, the first guy to feed Guinness to a snake.”
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Massey's Cocktail
Ingredients
- 25ml Irish Whiskey
- 25ml Gin
- 20ml Sweet Vermouth
- 5ml Green Chartreuse
- 3ml Campari
- Orange Twist
To Craft
Pour equal parts Irish whiskey, and gin, into a shaker. Dingle Irish Gin is a perfect choice for St. Patrick's Day! (Esp if you have the opportunity to order this cocktail whilst in the gorgeous, seaside town of Dingle. Order up at The Dingle Pub, Dick Mack's or An Droichead Beag. Walking-distance hotels are a good idea in Dingle and, please, please, don't try to climb atop the statue of Fungie, the Dingle Dolphin. Fungie is universally beloved.) Isn't it fun to say Dingle, then?!
Add your lovely green chartreuese and bright Campari. Pretend it's orange, rather than red, to round off your Irish colour palette. Shake vigorously, preferably whilst listenng to some Dropkick Murphys on your Bose.
Polish your Irish crystal martini, coupe or highball glass with, first, a linen or flour sack dishtowel and then, a - very clean - swatch of leather. Polish until perfectly shiny. Like, make-a-raven-happy shiny.
Coat shiny glass with a swirl of sweet vermouth, pour in your wll-shaken mélange and add an orange twist for flair ... and for William of Orange and the Battle of the Boyne.
Add your lovely green chartreuese and bright Campari. Pretend it's orange, rather than red, to round off your Irish colour palette. Shake vigorously, preferably whilst listenng to some Dropkick Murphys on your Bose.
Polish your Irish crystal martini, coupe or highball glass with, first, a linen or flour sack dishtowel and then, a - very clean - swatch of leather. Polish until perfectly shiny. Like, make-a-raven-happy shiny.
Coat shiny glass with a swirl of sweet vermouth, pour in your wll-shaken mélange and add an orange twist for flair ... and for William of Orange and the Battle of the Boyne.
Did You Know?
Massey's Cocktail is not to be confused with the Raymond Massey cocktail. The fomer was crafted first by Portland mixologist Jacob Grier and named for his Iriish grammy. The latter is named after the late, Canadian actor and crafted with rye whiskey, ginger syrup and Champagne. The Raymond Massey is, supposedly, raw-ther popular in Toronto, hometown to its namesake.
Irish Gold
Ingredients
- 2oz Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
- 1/2oz Peach Schnapps
- splash Orange Juice
- 4oz Ginger Ale
- Lime Wedge
To Craft
Fill a very shiny, preferably Waterford crystal, highball glass with artisan ice, or at least ice made from filtered water or bagged ice "untouched by human hands". It matters.
Pour your shot of Tullamore Dew over the ice; watch it drizzle down and listen to the ice crack as it makes its way. (You might have to mute your Blaggards Botany Bay for this aural bit.)
Add Schnapps, top off with your yummy, spicy ginger ale - Fever Tree is always preferable - splash with some flash your fave OJ and garnish with a srisp, bright green lime wedge.
Unmute your Blaggards and enjoy the day!
Note: If you get your cocktails on the outside, as opp to home-crafted, Irish Gold is a perfect light, harbourside drink if you're in the mood for a bit o' whiskey, but in a Yacht Rock, lean back, let the sun kiss your face state-of-mind.
May your bank account always be bigger than your troubles. - Irish toast
Blackberry Malt
Ingredients
- 2oz Single Malt Irish Whiskey
- Sparkling Water
- Fresh Blackberries
- Cinnamon Sticks
To Craft
Into a short cocktail glass, the general shape of Charles Durning, filled with quality ice - the glass, not Charles Durning - pour your fave, Single Malt Whikey, with an "e" ... we're not celebrating Robbie Burns Day.
Muddle as many blackberries as you love; scoop those seedy little bastards into your glass. Top off with Ballygowan Sparkling Water. Bewarned, it's fizziness has been described by The Irish Times as, startling. Stir vigorously to further startle and garnish with a fresh, whole blackberry and a cinnamon stick.
The cinnamon is to remind you of Christmas, which you know you're missing and is so very far away from today.
Muddle as many blackberries as you love; scoop those seedy little bastards into your glass. Top off with Ballygowan Sparkling Water. Bewarned, it's fizziness has been described by The Irish Times as, startling. Stir vigorously to further startle and garnish with a fresh, whole blackberry and a cinnamon stick.
The cinnamon is to remind you of Christmas, which you know you're missing and is so very far away from today.
Did You Know?
Whilst Single Malt is most oft associated with Scotch Whisky (no "e"), Irish Whiskey (yes "e") distillers are casking their own smooth gold. Try Bushmills, Glendalough, Knappogue Castle or Waterford for some cool sipping worthy of a good Irish novel.
Pretty in Pink GinnyPop
Ingredients
- 2oz Pink Gin
- Soda Water
- Cucumber Slices
- Lemon Wheel
- Fresh Raspberries
To Craft
First of all, Yours Truly has learned Pink Gin is best imbibed in Ireland. It suits the cheery vibe of the Isle and most establishments stock it, thus dispensing with the odd squints from bartenders when requesting it; to boot, the gin glasses are, without fail, très elegantes balloon glasses. No stubby highballs for this Pretty in Pink drink
Second, it is magical to drink in Paris, in any weather, in any arrondissement.
Third, pink gin is raw-ther difficile to find in the States, esp in SoCal, notably in San Diego and Ventura. One can find it at BevMo, however: Beefeater's or Gordon's.
Now, fill your highly-polished globe to the halfway mark, with quality ice. (Trust me, a fine polish and Windex-clear ice will make this gem of a drink shine like a Christmas ornament.) Pour out your lovely pink gin and top the globe completely with your choice of soda water. Garnish with a cucumber slice, lemon wheel, raspberries, or any combination thereof. A fanciful straw, pref bio-degradable, adds a final touch of whimsy and beauty.
Sip delicately, taking your time to observe the fineries and, hopefully, happy folks surrounding you.
*In a pinch, make your own Pink Gin. Simply add three drops of Angostura Bitters to 2oz of any quality gin. Hendrick's, or any London dry gin is generally grand; but for St. Patrick's Day, why not try some Dingle Irish Gin, Gunpowder Irish Gin or Feckin' Unbelieveable Irish Gin?
Second, it is magical to drink in Paris, in any weather, in any arrondissement.
Third, pink gin is raw-ther difficile to find in the States, esp in SoCal, notably in San Diego and Ventura. One can find it at BevMo, however: Beefeater's or Gordon's.
Now, fill your highly-polished globe to the halfway mark, with quality ice. (Trust me, a fine polish and Windex-clear ice will make this gem of a drink shine like a Christmas ornament.) Pour out your lovely pink gin and top the globe completely with your choice of soda water. Garnish with a cucumber slice, lemon wheel, raspberries, or any combination thereof. A fanciful straw, pref bio-degradable, adds a final touch of whimsy and beauty.
Sip delicately, taking your time to observe the fineries and, hopefully, happy folks surrounding you.
*In a pinch, make your own Pink Gin. Simply add three drops of Angostura Bitters to 2oz of any quality gin. Hendrick's, or any London dry gin is generally grand; but for St. Patrick's Day, why not try some Dingle Irish Gin, Gunpowder Irish Gin or Feckin' Unbelieveable Irish Gin?
Pink Gin On-Screen
In BBC's Agatha Christie's Poirot "Triangle at Rhodes" (S1e6), a poisoned potion is prettily proffered via a pink gin drink.
In BBC's 1970s, cult-hit, Brit-com, Are You Being Served, Cap't Peacock's preferred drink is learned to be pink gin: evidenced in S8e6.
In BBC's 1970s, cult-hit, Brit-com, Are You Being Served, Cap't Peacock's preferred drink is learned to be pink gin: evidenced in S8e6.
