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Celebrate the 'Spirits' of St. Patrick's Day Expert Advice on St. Patrick's Day
Drinks from the Publisher of
BARTENDER Magazine and Author of 'The Spirits of Ireland' -
NEW YORK, March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Forget the parades and the green shamrocks,
St. Patrick's Day is about celebrating Irish history and tradition. And nobody
knows this subject better than the foremost Irishman (and bartending expert),
Ray Foley, publisher of BARTENDER Magazine and author of ' The Spirits of
Ireland' and 'Bartending for Dummies'*.
From authentic Irish cocktails, to popular Irish whiskeys, to delicious Irish
cream liqueurs and coffees, to fun and traditional Irish toasts, there's no
shortage of ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Foley, a bartender for over
20 years and an authority on cocktails for twice that long, offers expert
advice on what cocktails or Irish beer to order in a bar or restaurant, or how
to mix an authentic Irish drink at home, and how to celebrate the Irish way
with friends and family.
Why is the fun and excitement of St. Patrick's Day across the U.S. often
celebrated with spirits? The answer may lie in the origin of the holiday
itself, Foley explains. Ireland has been famous for its distilleries for
centuries, dating back some say to the 5th Century when a young St. Patrick
pocketed the formula for distillation on a visit to "the East." The complete
history of the Irish spirits and celebrations can be found in 'The Spirits of
Ireland' (published by Foley Books), along with more than 300 Irish cocktail
recipes and traditional Irish toasts. Celebrate your St. Patrick's Day with
one of Ray Foley's recipes, or create your own!
Irish Cocktail Recipes:
Nutty Irishman :1/2 shot Carolans Irish Cream ;1/2 shot Hazelnut Liqueur
(Frangelico) ;Serve as a shot or on the rocks
Westside Manhattan:
2 ounces Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
Splash of sweet vermouth
Couple drops of Angostura Bitters and 3 oz. 7-Up
Bushmills O'Thentic Irish Kiss:
1-1/2 oz. Bushmills Irish Whiskey
1 oz. Peach Schnapps
2 oz. Orange Juice
5 oz. Ginger Ale
smidgen ground mustard seed
Add ice and garnish with a wedge of lime.
Dublin Handshake:
1/2 oz Baileys Irish Cream
1/2 oz Irish Whiskey
3/4 oz Sloe Gin
Shake and serve.
Irish Lover:
1 oz Irish Whiskey
4 oz Irish Breakfast Tea
2 tsp honey
lemon wedge
Celtic Kiss:
Celtic Crossing
Splash of Irish Cream
Serve over ice
Irish Prince:
1-1/4 oz Jameson Irish Whiskey
3 oz tonic water
Stir.
Irish Eyes:
1 oz Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey
1/4 oz Green Creme de Menthe
2 oz heavy cream
Shake, garnish with maraschino cherry
Erie Tour:
1/3 Irish Mist (Irish Liqueur)
1/3 Carolans Irish Creme
1/3 Irish Whiskey
Serve over ice.
Stage Irish:
2 oz Power's Irish Whiskey, straight up
Irish Boilerman:
1 oz irish Whiskey dropped in one large glass Irish beer
If Irish Coffee is your preference, Ray Foley recommends only the original
Irish recipe:
Into a stemmed glass, put two teaspoonfuls of sugar, preferably brown; add
one-third Irish Whiskey and two-thirds really hot, really strong black coffee,
preferably freshly brewed, not instant. The glass should be filled with this
mixture to within half an inch (1cm) of the brim. Stir well at this point to
ensure all of the sugar is dissolved, and then carefully float over the back of
a spoon a collar of lightly-whipped cream, so that the cream floats on the top
of the coffee and whiskey. Do not stir any more. Serve the drink without a
spoon or a straw, as part of the pleasure comes from sipping the hot coffee
and whiskey through the cool cream.
Of course what would St. Patrick's Day be without Irish Beer?
The Irish are known for their immensely popular stout and amber ales. The most
popular Irish beers, whether in a bar or buying for your home party, are
Murphy's Irish Stout and Murphy's Irish Amber, Guinness, Beamish, Harp Lager,
and Killian's.
And once you've selected your St. Patrick's Day cocktail (or two or three), the
most important thing to remember is the Irish toast. Numerous traditional and
clever toasts can be found in Foley's 'The Spirits of Ireland', including some
of his favorites:
"May the dust of your carriage wheels Blind the eyes of your foes."
"May you live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live."
"May your fire never go out."
"May your poteen blind your enemy"
"May your harp strings nver go out of tune"
"May your well never run dry."
"May you drink as long as you love"
"May your shilalegh never break"
"The Irish, with their music and their stories and poetry, have conquered our
hearts," says Ray Foley. "And with their wonderful beer and spirits they have
banished our thirst. Happy St. Patrick's Day!"
(* '... For Dummies' is a registered trademark under exclusive license to IDG
Books Worldwide, Inc. from International Data Group Inc.)