Add a wee bit of fun to your St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans with the Lucky Leprechaun cocktail! This Irish whiskey sour is infused with Midori a naturally green-colored liqueur made from melons. And speaking of green, have you ever wondered why you’re supposed to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day (besides so that you won’t get pinched)? It is so you will be invisible to Leprechauns and therefore they can’t pinch you. Here are some other Leprechaun fun facts: 1. Leprechauns are fairies. 2. There are no female Leprechauns. 3. There is actually a Leprechaun colony in Portland, Oregon. 4. Leprechauns are sneaky and mischievous. 5. The word Leprechaun means small body. 6. Leprechauns have a drunk, surly cousin called a Clurichaun that likes to haunt breweries, pubs, and wine cellars. 7. Leprechauns are the bankers and cobblers of the fairy world who also loves gold coins, shamrocks, rainbows, and anything green. 8. Leprechauns live in the forest usually in hollow trees or underground caves. 9. Leprechauns drink whiskey and dandelion tea and eat mushrooms and nuts. 10. Someone in Ireland claims to have found the remains of an actual Leprechaun in a mountain.11. Since Leprechauns are cobblers if you hear a small tapping sound that means a Leprechaun is nearby. 12. According to Irish legend, if a lucky human catches a Leprechaun, the said Leprechaun will be forced to tell the human where his pot of gold is (which he hides at the end of a rainbow) or grant him three wishes, but don’t take your eyes off of him or he will disappear. Now that you’re all caught up on your Leprechaun fun facts, did you know Cheers in Irish is Slainte (pronounced slawn-che)? It means health. Slainte!
Ingredients-Serves 1
1 1/2 oz Irish Whiskey (Jameson or Tullamore D.E.W are both excellent choices)
1 oz Midori (melon liqueur)
1/2 oz Lemon or Lime Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
Ginger ale (to top)
Edible gold sprinkles
Lemon or Lime wedge
Lime twist
Ice (I used a shamrock ice cube mold)
Green food coloring for ice
Directions
- Start by making the green ice cubes. In a glass measuring cup, mix 6-8 drops of green food coloring with 2 cups of filtered water. Stir to combine and pour into ice cube mold or tray. Freeze for at least 4 hours.
- Boil 1/2 cup water to 1/2 cup sugar to make the simple syrup. Stir and let cool.
- Measure about 1 tsp of edible gold glitter onto a small plate. Run a lemon or lime wedge around the rim of a rocks glass and roll in the gold glitter.
- Place 2 green ice cubes in the rocks glass and set aside. (This will help your cocktail appear greener).
- In a cocktail shaker with regular ice, add the whiskey, Midori, lemon or lime juice, simple syrup, and a small amount of edible gold glitter. Shake to combine while doing an Irish jig.
- Strain into the rocks glass over the green ice. Pour Ginger Ale to the top.
- Using a channel or paring knife, cut about a 4-inch lime peel. You can also use a regular knife to cut a 1/4-inch(width) lime wheel, cut a small slit to stretch open the lime and cut or peel away the pulp leaving a little pith.
- Wrap the lime peel around a straw to create a curl. Slide off the straw and place it in the cocktail to garnish. Slainte!
This recipe is Vegan, Vegetarian, and Gluten Free.
Please drink responsibly and please don’t drink and drive.
