Ditch The Beer And Enjoy A Whiskey Cocktail This St. Patrick’s Day

Photo courtesy of Stanley Beer Hall

On St. Patrick’s Day, everyone knows what to do with green beer: guzzle it down and then carry on with their shenanigans. But many people are at a loss when it comes to whiskey, an Irish spirit that’s light years away from green beer. And while there’s nothing wrong with a shot to celebrate the holiday, there are many delicious ways to try it in a cocktail for a taste of the Emerald Isle. For inspiration here are ten spots in Denver to sample outstanding whiskey cocktails for a grown up St. Patrick’s Day:

Photo courtesy of Cantina Loca

Sip a bit ‘o’ the Irish at Little Finch, the brand new concept from Executive Chef/Owner Mary Nguyen in the LoDo neighborhood, with her creation the Earl Fashion. Mary’s cocktail includes whiskey and Earl Grey Tea finished with bitters; it’s a warming nod to the British Isles. Don’t miss a solo-sized chicken pot pie to pair with your cocktail for a traditional hearty meal.

For fans of Irish coffee, there’s a delightful new take available at Cantina Loca. The Cold Brew Fashioned turns your Irish coffee on its head with Four Roses Bourboun, blood orange liqueur, cold brew liqueur and orange bitters.

A killer whiskey drink from a taco joint? Absolutely. Find the Borbon y Coco, bringing together whiskey and coconut flavors at Guapo Taco. The cocktail is made with Mile High Spirits Whiskey, coconut water and orange for a refreshingly unique cocktail.

Photo courtesy of Comida

With a variety of restaurants and bars, Stanley Marketplace offers several whiskey cocktails in one stop for a taste of Ireland. Consider the James Beard award-winning Annette’s Put Your Pom Poms Down cocktail with whiskey, banana liqueur and black walnut. Drop into Create Kitchen and Bar for the Barreled Aged Sazerac with rye, bourbon, Campari, Angostura bitters, Peychaud’s and a splash of absinthe that turns it green. Sky Bar will have an Irish espresso martini on St. Patrick’s Day with Irish whiskey, Irish cream and cold brew from Logan House Coffee Co., and you can pick up a Whiskey Boba at Chi Lin with whiskey, sweet watermelon tea and tapioca pearls. Finally, Comida also shakes up some of the best whiskey cocktails outside of Ireland like The Big Buckle with bourbon, Carpano vermouth, Angostura bitters and Luxardo cherry or the Blackberry Sour No. Dos with whiskey, blackberry-cacao nib-sage shrub, simple syrup and fresh lemon.

Photo courtesy of Create Kitchen & Bar