Celebrate the luck of the Irish with food and drink.

Irish Whiskey

St. Patrick’s Day—when it comes to this day of days, many people become Irish, wearing a bit of green, having a pint and singing a song.

To best celebrate the snakes being driven from Ireland, tradition is what I prefer—but I do have fun beverage suggestions.

Beer: Stout is the way to go. Guinness, “the mother milk” of the Emerald Isle, is a must. Give Wexford Irish cream ale or Murphy’s Irish stout a try, too.  For lighter beers, Harp Lager or Smithwick’s (pronounced smiddicks) are a good bet.

Cocktails:

Johnny Jump Up: Pour a shot of Irish whiskey over a glass with ice; fill it with Irish cider.

The Melon Ball: Add a shot of melon Schnapps, a shot of Haskell’s vodka and orange juice to a shaker. Mix, and pour over a tall glass with ice.

Irish Whiskey: For some, you can’t have a true St. Paddy’s Day without a bit o’ whiskey. There are many to choose from, but any of the following would be great: Jameson, Bushmills, Tullamore D.E.W., 2 Gingers, Powers, Paddy’s, The Irishman and Redbreast.

John Farrell III is the vice president of Haskell’s The Wine People. Find more at haskells.com.