In honor of Saint Patrick's Day, I will be drinking throughout the entirity of the day. I offer this guide for those who want to play along at home.
With Breakfast (Which should be Corned Beef Hash):
Drink:
Recipe:
1tsp Brown Sugar
6oz Coffee
Heavy Cream
Pour Whiskey into your favorite coffee mug. Top off with Coffee. Stir in Brown Sugar. Add Heavy Cream to taste.
Description:
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| The best part of waking up |
The two things I need every morning, coffee and whiskey, together at last. Beautiful.
Variants:
If you are strapped for time or just terrible at mixing things, go ahead and replace the Whiskey and Heavy Cream with some Irish Cream. Irish Cream is based on, you guessed it, Irish Whiskey and Cream. Not exactly the same, but close enough.
Mid-morning:
Drink:
Recipe:
6oz Irish Whiskey
Select your favorite Irish Whiskey (Mine personally is Bushmills Black Bush). Pour into rocks glass. That is it. Seriously, you are done, now go drink it.
Description:
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| Needs no mixer |
Truly, Irish Whiskey is a complex and delicious drink that deserves to be enjoyed on its own. You want to get this one early in the day, so you can get the full experience before you are too drunk to appreciate it.
Varients:
No, no variants. Just the whiskey. Seriously.
Alright, fine, if you have to at least have it chilled, I suppose that is ok. NO ICE THOUGH! Have it pre-chilled or use whiskey stones, you heathen.
With Lunch (Which should be Skirts and Kidneys):
Drink:
Recipe:
1 bottle George Killian's Irish Red
Open bottle (not hard, its a twist off). Consume.
Description:
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| Ok, yeah, a little deceptive. |
Ok, ok, before you beer snobs start giving me shit about this, yes, I know Killian's is an Amber Lager brewed by Coors and not really an Irish Red Ale like you should be drinking. And yes, I know that its only a shadow of its former glory as an authentic ale brewed in Ireland.
However, its still a decent beer that makes a fair attempt at emulating the flavor of an Irish Red Ale, and its more then smooth and tasteful enough to accompany a lunch. Furthermore, since it is a touch cheaper you can afford to have a couple of these for every one import you could get. Take advantage of this, and have at least four with lunch.
Afternoon:
Drink:
Recipe:
1pint Guiness Draught
Fill pint glass from tap. If in a pinch, purchase six pack from local liquor store.
Description:
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| Iconic |
Yeah, you knew this was coming. THE most well known Irish beer this side of the pond, Guinness is a delightful stout that, much like the whiskey above, deserves to be enjoyed without distraction.
Variants:
Extra Stout - Called "Original" in other locales, this is, as you would imagine, a stouter version.
Harp Lager - The same brewery also makes a pale lager. I can't comment on the taste because I have never actually tried it, but if all you can't handle a dark beer and want to stick to your lager (pansy), then I suppose this is a decent comprimise.
Foreign- There are a number of variants on Guinness not common or available here in the States. If you are from out of town consider being adventurous and giving one a try.
With Dinner (Which Should be Irish Stew):
Drink:
Recipe:
Ok, its a beer, you get the drill already.
Description:
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| The real deal. |
Here we go. Unlike Killian's, this is an authentic Irish Red Ale. Flavorful, smooth, and all around delicious, this is one of my favorite brews. Distribution is pretty wide, given that it is now owned by the same brewery as Guinness, but good luck finding it at a bar, and you indeed have the luck of the Irish if you can find it on tap.
Throughout the night:
Drink:
Recipe:
2oz Irish Whiskey
Juice of 1 to 2 Lemons
1/2 tsp Powdered Sugar
1 Cherry
1 to 2 slices of Lemon
-or-
2oz Irish Whiskey
3oz Sour Mix
Shake whiskey, juice of lemon, and powdered sugar with ice and strain into a whiskey sour glass. Decorate with the half-slice of lemon, top with the cherry, and serve.
Description:
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| MMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmm........ |
Alright, yeah, I know the Whiskey Sour isn't exactly a traditional Irish drink, and making sure to use Irish Whiskey only does so much. But, if you have been following along then by this point you have experienced a fair bit of traditional Irish food and drink.
Now it is time to get drunk.
I hung out at a mircobrewery's bar all day today... they had Irish Red on tap, their own brew though, not Smithwick's. Still delicious however.
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