10 Brilliant Green Cocktails for St. Patrick's Day

Go Green With a Great Drink Recipe

Green cocktails are too much fun! They're perfect for celebrating St. Patrick's Day, but they also fit any special occasion that has a green theme.

Behind the visual allure of these drinks, you'll find a myriad of flavors, a good deal of Irish whiskey, and plenty of fresh green herbs and fruits. Each green drink recipe is a new experience, and there's sure to be one that's a perfect match for your party.

  • 01 of 10

    Grasshopper

    Grasshopper Cocktail

    The Spruce Eats

    The grasshopper may have been the first trendy green cocktail. It's been around for years and still holds a magical appeal. This modern classic is a creamy martini with a delicious mint-chocolate taste. Be sure to pick up white crème de cacao and green crème de menthe, or your drink won't have the signature green look.

  • 02 of 10

    Cucumber Wasabi Martini

    Cucumber Wasabi Martini
    Bill Boch / Photolibrary / Getty Images

    When you want to get a little spicy, turn to wasabi. If you typically reserve it for sushi, you'll be amazed at what it does in the cucumber wasabi martini. The crisp taste of fresh cucumber offsets the spicy green paste, creating a surprisingly pleasant combination. Backed by a high-end gin as well as sweet and sour hints, it's an impressive little cocktail.

  • 03 of 10

    Irish Eyes

    Irish Eyes Cocktail

    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

    If you want to add a little whiskey to St. Patrick's Day, you'll find it in the Irish eyes. This creamy lowball is terrific in its simplicity and requires just three ingredients, including green crème de menthe and your favorite Irish whiskey. Give that pairing a cream background and enjoy this green delight.

  • 04 of 10

    Green Dublin Apple Cocktail

    Green Apple Martini

    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

    A few simple twists transform the popular sour appletini into what is arguably a better tasting cocktail. This recipe follows the Irish theme because it prefers Irish whiskey over vodka. You'll also need white cranberry juice for the green Dublin apple cocktail, which allows the green apple schnapps to take over the drink's color. The sweet cranberry may also be what appletinis have been missing all along.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below.
  • 05 of 10

    Emerald Isle

    Emerald Isle Cocktail

    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

    Admittedly, this green martini will not be to everyone's liking. Yet, if you have that extraordinary palate that can appreciate its unique flavor, it is a wonder to behold. The Emerald Isle is extremely simple, nothing more than a mix of gin and green crème de menthe, accented with a dash of bitters. Give it a try before you judge it. Who knows, it may be your new favorite.

  • 06 of 10

    Shamrocker

    Hornitos Shamrocker Cocktail
    Janice Lin / Moment / Getty Images

    There's always room for tequila in the St. Patrick's Day scene. When you want something unique for the party, the shamrocker is the way to go. This recipe creates a fun and fruity green margarita. The color and main flavor come from a melon liqueur, and triple sec and orange juice play a fruity backup. While it may not have an Irish ingredient, in no way does it lack spirit.

  • 07 of 10

    Guinness & Green Jelly Shots

    Guinness & Green Jell-O Shots

    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

    What's a St. Patrick's Day party without a round of shots? One entertaining recipe is the Guinness & Green, and it works for both elegant and casual gatherings. It includes two layers of flavored gelatin: On the bottom, is a stout and Irish whiskey spiked gelatin, while the top is a sweeter, lighter Irish cream gelatin that's dyed green. It's a joy to make and "drink," and the flavor is quite surprising.

  • 08 of 10

    Green Bloody Mary

    An Easy Green Bloody Mary Cocktail

    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

    There is a bloody Mary recipe for every occasion, and this party calls for the green bloody Mary. It celebrates green ingredients, from the salsa and hot sauce to the bell pepper and vegetable juice. Make it with a vodka or tequila base, spice it to your preference, and don't forget the celery and lime garnish. You may even want to reserve it for your morning-after hangover cure.

    Continue to 9 of 10 below.
  • 09 of 10

    Sparkling Shamrock

    Sparkling Shamrock Cocktail

    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

    The sparkling shamrock is filled with green ingredients. Though the final drink is yellow, the fresh mint and cucumber garnish adds a brilliant splash of color. The recipe features pear vodka and elderflower liqueur, along with cucumber, mint, lemonade, and soda. It easy and tasty, you can make it with limeade, and it's a perfect way to welcome spring.

  • 10 of 10

    Irish Tea Party

    Irish Tea Party Cocktail

     Ther Spruce Eats

    It may be a good day for an Irish tea party. This is definitely not your average iced tea cocktail, though. Irish whiskey makes an appearance in this recipe, and the color theme continues with the freshly brewed, sweetened green tea and lime garnish. The drink gets a real lift with an absinthe rinse that coats the glass and leaves behind its signature "green fairy" taste.