The Emerald Cocktail

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I don’t have a lick of Irish in me, nor do I typically go out on St. Patrick’s Day, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t celebrate in my own, small ways.

Last year I went to Rick’s house for corned beef, cabbage, and some Irish Cheer cocktails.

The Irish Cheer is essentially a Manhattan made with Irish Whiskey instead of bourbon or rye. And no bitters.

This is the Manhattan No. 2 from the Savoy Cocktail Book (1930):

If the Manhattan is named after the island on which New York City stands, it makes sense that the same drink made with Irish whiskey would be named after the Emerald Isle. Right?

So I made a Manhattan. But instead of Angostura bitters, I used orange bitters because orange is one of the colors of Ireland’s flag.

Here it is:

Emerald Cocktail

• 2 jiggers Irish Whiskey (I used Jameson’s)
• 1 dash orange bitters
• 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth

Shake. Strain. Garnish with cherry. 

It would have been super-cool if I had green Maraschinos on hand, but I did not. And I don’t recall seeing those as of late.

Anyhoo, cheers! And don’t drink too much green beer!