Irish Mix

Step away from your usual Irish Coffee this St. Patrick's Day and try one of these intriguing cocktails made with the whiskey of the Old Sod

-  JACK BETTRIDGE

Every March 17, it's incumbent upon the Irish (and those just claiming to be) to show allegiance to Erin with some kind of drink. Most aren't very creative in their choices, which usually runs the spectrum from Irish stout (don't even get us started on beer dyed green) and Irish Coffee, the most famous mixed drink to either come out of Ireland or contain java.

But it doesn't have to be so limiting. The whiskeys of Ireland are so smooth and amicable that they invite combinations with almost anything. From the blends typically triple-distilled in a column to the heartier single-pot-still and single-malt whiskeys and even the occasional peated offering, the spirit of Ireland offers many mixing possibilities. Here are a few of our favorites.

Elderflowers of Meath

Named for Meath, the ancient seat of Irish kings and a county flush with elderflowers, this highball in a Collins glass is the creation of Teeling whiskey. While the whiskey comes from urban Dublin, the cocktail evokes Ireland's lush countryside. Developed as a Gin & Tonic alternative, it claims a life of its own. The lilt of Irish whiskey colludes with the floral sweetness and pears of elderflower as well as the tangy berries and caramel depth of vermouth to create an ode to the Emerald Isle. We've slightly altered the original recipe to express quantities in ounces rather than in parts.

1 1/2 oz. Teeling Irish whiskey

1 oz. St. Germain elderflower liqueur

1/2 oz. sweet vermouth

Soda water