Though St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the most recognized patron saint of Ireland and is a national holiday of Ireland, the well-known holiday is celebrated in many countries.  Often referred to as ‘amateur night’ by seasoned drinkers, St. Patrick’s Day brings out the young and old touring pubs, watering holes and night clubs with Irish themes of green beer, cocktails and every sort of Jello shot or drinking game one could possibly imagine.  With cocktails and shots flowing freely on such a festive occasions, please keep in mind the need to consume responsibly and designate responsible drivers so everyone arrives home safely. 

March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day

Michael Collins Irish Whiskey Cocktails

Beginning shot for St. Patrick’s Day:

Collins Cream

3/4 ounce Michael Collins Blend

3/4 ounce Irish Cream Liqueur

Combine all liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake well.  Strain into a shot glass. Enjoy with a glass of stout.  You might also like the Irish Car Bomb.

“Michael Collins is the dawning of a new age of Irish Whiskey; combining the best of Ireland’s long history of distilling with today’s demand for premium quality and unique style. Distilled at the last Irish independently owned distillery, Cooley, Michael Collins Irish Whiskeys are double distilled to retain the flavor characteristics of their premium ingredients.  Aged in small bourbon seasoned casks, they are refined, flavorful and well-balanced.  Michael Collins Single Malt is bold with a distinctive and unexpected lightly peated style.  Aged for a minimum of eight to over twelve years, it has aromas of chocolate malt with light citrus and honeysuckle notes.  Well-rounded and complex with rich maltiness, it finishes long with a hint of chocolate and a wonderfully settled smoke that lingers on the palate.”  – Michael Collins Media Release Notation

Irish Smash

2 ounces Michael Collins Blend

3/4 ounce Simple Syrup

3 lemon wheels

6 – 8 mint leaves

Muddle 3 mint leaves, simple syrup and two of the lemon wheels in a cocktail shaker. Add Michael Collins Blend and shake well with ice. Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with the remaining lemon wheel and a sprig of fresh mint.

Frisky Whisky

1 ounce Michael Collins

1 ounce Honey Liqueur

1 ounce Orange Juice

1/4 ounce Simple Syrup

2 Dashes Classic Bitters

Lemon or Orange Spiral Garnish

Build over ice in a highball glass.  Garnish with lemon or orange spiral.

Irish Mint Julep

2 ounces Michael Collins Blend

1/2 ounce Simple Syrup

6 – 8 mint leaves

Dash of Classic Bitters

Place the simple syrup and three mint leaves in a cocktail shaker with the Angostura bitters. Using a back of a bar spoon, bruise the mint leaves. Add Michael Collins Blend and stir gently. Strain into a tall glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Irish fizz

2 ounces Michael Collins Blend

1 ounce Lemon Juice

1/2 ounce Premium Orange Liqueur

1/2 ounce Simple Syrup

2 ounces Club Soda

Lemon Wedge Garnish

Shake the Michael Collins Blend, fresh lemon juice, orange liqueur and simple syrup well over ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Top with soda water.  Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Irish Blond– created by Dale de Groff

2 ounces Michael Collins Irish Whiskey

3/4 ounce Orange Curacao 

1/4 ounce Fino sherry

Dash of Orange Bitters 

Flamed Orange Peel Garnish

Stir all the ingredients in a bar glass with ice.   Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a flamed orange peel.

Michael Collins Honeysuckle

1-1/2 ounces Michael Collins Blend

2 teaspoons Honey

1-1/4 ounce Sauvignon Blanc wine

1-1/2 ounce Apple Juice

1/4 ounce Passion Fruit Syrup

1/4 ounce Lemon Juice

Apple Slice Garnish

Combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake to blend and chill.  Strain into chilled glass.  Garnish with thin apple slice.

Collins Royale

2 ounces Michael Collins Blend

1 ounce Sour Apple Schnapps

1/2 ounce Lemon Juice

1 ounce Brut Champagne

Green Apple Slice Garnish

Combine Michael Collins Blend, sour apple schnapps and fresh lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake to chill.  Strain into champagne flute.  Top with dry sparkling wine.  Garnish with a green apple slice.

Michael Collins Old-fashioned

2 ounce Michael Collins Blend

2 dashes of Classic Bitters

1/2 ounce Simple Syrup

1/2 ounce Club Soda

2 Orange Slices

2 Maraschino Cherries

Muddle the simple syrup, bitters, one orange slice and one cherry in an old fash­ioned glass. Fill with ice and add Michael Collins Blend. Top with club soda.  Garnish with remaining orange slice and maraschino cherry.

Michael Collins Manhattan

2 ounce Michael Collins Blend

1 ounce Sweet Vermouth

2 dashes Classic Bitters

Maraschino Cherry Garnish

Combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Stir to blend and chill.  Strain into chilled martini glass.  Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Michael Collins Irish Ale

2 ounces Michael Collins Blend

3 Lime Wedges

3 ounces Ginger Ale

Pour Michael Collins Blend and two of the lime wedges over ice in a highball glass. Top with ginger ale. Garnish with remaining lime wedge. Try with fresh ginger beer for a spicier alternative!

Collins Apple-tini

2 ounces Michael Collins Blend

1 ounce Peach Liqueur

1 ounce Pressed Apple Juice

Squeeze of Fresh Lemon Juice

Green Apple Slice Garnish

Combine all liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake well.  Strain into a chilled martini glass.  Garnish with slice of green apple.

Irish Sunrise

2 ounce Michael Collins Blend

3 ounce Orange Juice

Splash of Grenadine

Squeeze of Lemon Juice

Orange Twist & Maraschino Cherry Garnish

Pour the Michael Collins Blend over ice in a rocks glass. Top with fresh orange juice and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Add a splash of grenadine and garnish with an orange twist and a maraschino cherry.

Irish Rose

2 ounces Michael Collins Blend

1 ounce Simple Syrup

3/4 ounce Lemon Juice

2 dashes Grenadine

Lemon Twist Garnish

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well.   Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon zest twist.

Cocktail recipes sponsored by representatives of Michael Collins Irish Whiskey.

All content ©2009 Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist. All Rights Reserved. Chat with Cheri @Intoxicologist on Twitter and facebook.com/Intoxicologist or str8upcocktails@gmail.com