TOP OF THE MORNING
CELEBRATE THE ‘SPIRITS’ OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Expert Advice on St. Patrick’s Day Drinks from the Publisher of Bartender Magazine and the author of ‘The Best Irish Drinks.’
Forget the parades and the green shamrocks, St. Patrick’s Day is about DRINKING. And nobody knows this subject better than the foremost bartending expert (and consummate Irishman) Ray Foley, the publisher of Bartender Magazine and the author of The Best Irish Drinks, Bartending For Dummies*, Running a Bar For Dummies*, and The Ultimate Cocktail Book.
From authentic Irish cocktails to popular Irish whiskeys, to delicious Irish cream liqueurs and coffees, 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, and how to mix an authentic Irish drink at home.
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 Irish spirits and celebrations can be found in The Best Irish Drink (published by Sourcebooks, Inc., Naperville, IL) along with more than 300 Irish cocktail recipes and traditional Irish toasts – and you don’t even have to be Irish.
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. Numbers traditional and clever toasts can be found in Foley’s The Best Irish Drinks, 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 well never run dry.”
“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!”
Ray and Jackie are available to make these cocktails for TV.
FOR MORE ON THE HISTORY OF IRISH SPIRITS OR ST. PATRICK’S DAY COCKTAIL RECIPES, OR TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW WITH BARTENDING EXPERT RAY FOLEY, PLEASE CONTACT JACKIE FOLEY AT (908) 766-6006.
SHAMROCKED
2 oz. Midori Melon Liqueur
1/2 oz. Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
1/2 oz. Carolans Cream Liqueur
Shake incredibly well. Serve in a 3 oz. shot glass.
PADDY PATRON
2 1/2 oz. Patron Tequila
1/2 oz. Green Creme de Menthe
Shake and serve on the rocks.
SLAINTE SOBIESKI
2 oz. Sobieski Vodka
1/2 oz. Irish Cream
1/4 oz. Marie Brizard Green Creme de Menthe
Shake and serve on the rocks.
IRISH SUNBURN
1 1/2 oz. Ke Ke Beach
1/2 oz. 360 Vodka
Splash grenadine
Shake with ice. Strain. Serve as a shot.
THE TULLY-TINI
2 oz. Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
2 oz. Sour Apple Schnapps
2 oz. Cranberry Juice
Pour Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey and Sour Apple Schnapps into a shaker with ice. Shake and pour into a chilled martini glass. Top with Cranberry Juice.
ORIGINAL IRISH COFEE
The recipe for Irish Coffee hasn’t changed. The original is still the best:
Into a stemmed glass, put 2 tsp. of sugar, preferably brown.
Add 1/3 Irish Whiskey
Add 2/3 really hot, really strong coffee, preferably freshly brewed, not instant.
The glass should be filled with this mixture within 1/2 inch (1 cm.) f the brim.
Stir well at this point to ensure all the sugar is dissolved.
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 the whiskey.
Do not stir anymore.
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.
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