What to Drink When You're Not Drinking, This St. Paddy's Day
Mar 03, 2021
I love St. Paddy’s Day!
Leprechauns and rainbows.
Parades and debauchery.
Irish music, Irish dancers, and Irish pubs.
Corned beef and cabbage.
Bagpipes.
I am all into the festivities.
I used to, of course, love green beer too.
I loved the excuse for daytime drinking, on a chilly but sunny, almost Spring afternoon, in the midwest.
I no longer love green beer, rude drunken folks in a bar, getting spilled on, or the darkness of a pub on a sunny day, but I still love St. Paddy’s Day.
Here are a few ideas for what to drink when you don’t drink green beer.
You can enjoy “green” drinks and skip the hangover, drunken antics, and shame.
Beer
If beer is your beverage of choice, Gruvi Stout will give you a Guiness like feel. It’s dark and bold with a chocolate malt and tastes of coffee. If dark beer is not your thing, then Gruvi IPA might be the gold at the end of the rainbow for you! The can is green so it’s perfect for St. Paddy’s Day. It has tastes of citrus and hops for a lighter taste.
Whiskey
If you want something other than beer, Whiskey is a great Irish alternative and there are two options on my cocktail cart right now: Ritual Whiskey and Lyre's American Malt.
They are both great for a sophisticated sip. You can make a special craft cocktail by adding cola, or mixing an Old Fashioned or Manhattan. Alcohol is not necessary.
Cucumber, Mint, and Lime Garnish
If you are looking for a lighter drink with green garnishes, get creative! Cucumber, mint, and lime make any drink delicious, in my opinion. You can get a non-alcoholic margarita mix, make a no-jito in a copper mug, or just garnish your soda water. These flavors are a perfect match and add a healthy twist to any drink.
Bailey’s Irish Cream
This is a fan favorite! You can start drinking in the morning and not worry about passing out before dinner! Non alcoholic Bailey’s Irish Cream coffee creamer is in my grocery store and maybe yours too! If not, you can buy it online in time for St. Paddy’s Day and enjoy it with your corned beef and hash for breakfast or mint brownies for dessert.
Shamrock Shake
I saved the best for last. This is my absolute favorite St. Patrick’s Day Drink. Many places offer these, including the original, Mc Donald’s. They are also super easy to make at home. I add vanilla ice cream, milk, green food coloring, mint extract, etra whipped cream, and rainbow candy to the top. Sipping a milkshake beats standing in line getting spilled on at a bar.
My first St. Patrick’s Day sober was a bit of a disappointment. You can read about it my blog post Slainte.
Now however, at 3 years sober I no longer look for good times in a bar. I am not missing out on anything, read about it in my blog. 3 Years Sober is Luxury, not Deprivation
However you decide to celebrate, I hope these drink ideas inspire you to have a happy, healthy, and fun St. Paddy’s Day!
