Big holidays usually mean big celebrations. But sometimes you want a smaller fun get-together at home, and we’re here to help. Let's look at the snacks, the drinks, and the atmosphere to make your St. Patrick's Day party perfect.

How could a party celebrating The Emerald Isle not include Irish whiskey? 

Whether enjoyed straight, on the rocks or as the base for a delicious cocktail, whiskey is the ideal choice. Its warm and oaky flavor is perfect when the air is still a bit chilly. And Irish whiskey is some of the best around.

Shop our Irish Whisky Selections now!

Guinness Stout will be your go-to beer for this celebration. It’s a light, creamy stout with light coffee notes. Magners Cider features crisp, sweet apple flavor. Both are great by themselves, but you can combine the two into a classic bar drink: the Snakebite!

Shop all Guinness here!

Jameson is a classic with everything you could want in an excellent blended Irish whiskey. It features notes of fruit and vanilla with a pleasant finish of spice and honey. The Jameson Black Barrel line is a more full-bodied whiskey, with notes of dates and walnuts. If straight whiskey isn’t your jam, we still have you covered with Jameson premixed cocktails; Cola, Ginger & Lime, Orange Spritz, and Lemonade flavors.

These tips will get you off to a good start. You can always incorporate your favorites and get inspiration from Colonial's Party Planning and Mixology pages. And remember to ask a Colonial Celebration Specialist for their suggestions. They can recommend many more Irish drinks, and creative ideas to create your signature St. Patrick's Day party. We’re here to help you have fun, enjoy good company, and Celebrate More. Celebrate Responsibly!

Treat your guests to a Bourbon Tasting or Beer Tasting. Come by Colonial, and one of our Celebration Specialists can help you create an amazing sampling event.

Visit our Tastings & Pairings Blog page here for lots of tasting ideas!

Here's where you can make some choices. If you go for a traditional charcuterie board, you can make it a St Patrick's theme by choosing Irish cheddar or Dubliner cheese. Crackers are always welcome, but Irish Soda Bread can give extra authenticity. Solid meat choices include salami, pastrami, corned beef, and pan-seared sausage.

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tsp caraway seeds or powder
• ½ cup butter
• 1 egg
• 1 cup sour cream
• ½ cup milk
• 1 ½ – 2 Tbsp flour for dusting

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 and grease an 8" round cake pan.
2. Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, caraway seeds or powder, and salt.
3. Cut in butter and set aside.
4. Beat together egg, sour cream and milk
5. Blend dry and liquid ingredients until you have a lumpy dough.
6. With wet hands, press the dough evenly into the pan.
7. Sprinkle lightly with 1 ½ – 2 tbsp of flour and cut a light x into the top of the dough.
8. Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes. Let cool before slicing.

• ½ lb. frozen shelled edamame (green soy beans), about 1½ cups
• ¼ cup tahini (sesame paste)
• ¼ cup water
• ½ tsp freshly grated lemon zest
• juice of 1 lemon (about 3 Tbsp)
• 1 garlic clove, smashed
• ¾ tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• ¼ tsp ground coriander
• 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

DIRECTIONS

Boil beans in salted water for 4 to 5 minutes, or microwave, covered, for 2 to 3 minutes.

In a food processor, puree edamame, tahini, water, lemon zest and juice, garlic, salt, cumin, and coriander until smooth. With motor running, slowly drizzle in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and mix until absorbed.

Transfer to a small bowl, stir in parsley and drizzle with remaining oil. Serve with pita bread wedges or with fresh cucumber slices, baby carrots, zucchini and celery sticks, sliced colored bell peppers and radishes.

Serves 10 - 12

• 8 oz. package cream cheese (very soft but not melted)

• ½ tsp. garlic powder (optional)

• cayenne pepper (optional or adjust to taste)

• 2 Tbsp. sour cream

• ½ cup Thousand Island dressing

• 1¾ cups shredded Swiss cheese, divided

• 4 oz. sliced pastrami, chopped (or use deli corned beef, chopped)

• ½ to ¾ cup sauerkraut, well drained (hand-squeeze out any excess moisture)

• Cocktail size pumpernickel or rye bread slices, toasted

DIRECTIONS

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9 or 10-inch glass pie plate. 

In a bowl, combine soft cream cheese with garlic powder, cayenne pepper (if using), sour cream and Thousand Island dressing; mix vigorously until very smooth. 

Mix in 1¼ cups Swiss cheese and chopped pastrami or corned beef. Spread mixture into a pie plate. Top with sauerkraut, then sprinkle remaining ½ cup Swiss cheese on top.

Serves 4

• 9 oz. spreadable cream cheese

• 2 Tbsp. dill sprigs, chopped

• 2 Tbsp. chives, chopped

• 1 Tbsp. capers, drained, chopped

• ½ lemon rind, finely grated

• 4 slices light rye bread

• 4 butter lettuce leaves

• 7 oz. smoked salmon

• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

• lemon wedges

PREPARATION

Place cheese, dill, chives, capers and lemon rind in a bowl. Mix well. Toast bread on both sides until light golden. Cool slightly. Spread a thick layer of cheese mixture over bread. Top bread with lettuce, salmon and onion. Season with pepper. Serve with lemon wedges.

Shamrock Martini

• 2 oz. Five Farms Irish Cream

• 1½ oz. 360 Double Chocolate Vodka
  or substitute Pinnacle Whipped

• 1½ oz. Dekuyper Creme de Menthe

Add ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. Stir until mixed well and strain into a Martini glass.

Garnish can vary greatly – a piece of your favorite chocolate bar with a mint leaf on top, a drizzle of chocolate syrup or chocolate crumbles on the rim and whipped cream optional.

Alternate option: Serve in a rocks glass over ice.

St Patty Smash

• 8 fresh mint leaves,
• additional for garnish
• ¼ lime, cut end to end,
• then cut in half
• 2 tsp. simple syrup
• 2 oz. Sexton Single Malt Irish Whiskey
• crushed ice

Place mint leaves, lime wedges, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Muddle enough to release juices and oils. Add Sexton and top with a small handful of crushed ice. Cover and shake vigorously to combine. Transfer to a rocks glass. Add more crushed ice on top. Garnish with additional mint sprigs. Serves 1. Sláinte!

Irish Gold

• 1 oz. Proper Twelve Irish Whiskey
• 1 oz. Dekuyper Peach Schnapps
• splash of orange juice
• Fever Tree Ginger Ale

Combine whiskey, schnapps, and juice in a highball glass and stir.

Add ginger ale to top off and garnish with lime.

Pear of Irish

• 1 ½ parts Absolut Pears Vodka
• ½ part St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• 2 parts juiced cucumber
• ½ part lemon juice
• ½ part simple syrup
• Club Soda or other Sparkling Water
• Garnish: mint leaves cucumber slices, and lemon zest

Add the first 5 ingredients to a cocktail shaker, shake vigorously. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with mint, cucumber slices and lemon zest.Top with club soda or sparkling water.

Tip: If you like your drink a little sweeter, substitute club soda with lemonade or lemon/lime soda.

Irish Negroni

• 1.5 oz. Irish whiskey – Bushmills recommended
• 1 oz. Averna Amaro
• 3/4 oz. freshly squeezed juice from 1 lemon
• 1/4 oz. demerara syrup*
• Luxardo cherry, for garnish

Combine whiskey, Averna, lemon juice, and syrup together in a shaker filled 2/3 with ice.

Shake until thoroughly chilled, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with cherry and serve.

Baby Guinness

• 2 oz. Grind Coffee Liqueur
• ½ oz. St. Brendan’s Irish Cream Liqueur

Fill a shot glass almost to the top with coffee liqueur.

Top off with Irish cream.

It should float perfectly on top making the ''head'' of your shot.