Make your own luck of the Irish

Whether or not you have Irish roots, St Patrick’s Day, on Friday, March 17, is a perfect excuse to imbibe the Irish spirit. These cocktails and spirits will get you in the green groove ...

Molly Malone Mule

Named after the ballad that has become Dublin’s unofficial anthem, there could be plenty of renditions spanning bars and pubs across the British Isles (and the Aviva Stadium in Dublin) when revellers start counting down. With a good kick and plenty of cheer, try this using the aptly named The Dubliner Irish Whiskey (£23.72, 70cl, masterofmalt. com) A perfect introduction to Irish whiskey, it is “approachable, warm and smooth”, much like the welcoming manner of the Irish. A blend of single malt and grain whiskies, matured in bourbon casks, it is honey scented with hints of caramel, orchard fruits and a touch of sweet spice.

Ingredients: 50ml The Dubliner, juice of a quarter of a lime, ginger beer, lime wedge and a slice of ginger (optional)

Method: Add ice to a copper julep cup. Pour in the whiskey lime juice. Top up with ginger beer and garnish with a sprig of mint, wedge of lime and ginger. Bushmills Spiced Marmalade Sour With a long history – Bushmills is Ireland’s oldest working distillery – and triple distilled for a light, pure spirit, Bushmills Black Bush Whiskey (£23.50, 70cl, Sainsbury’s) is the front runner of Irish blends with its fruity, spicy, nutty notes, silky smooth palate and long, sweet finish. Made with a high proportion of malt whiskey, aged in sherry casks, and a small portion of grain whiskey, it can be sipped or mixed. Here’s a zesty cocktail to try at home...

Ingredients: 50ml Bushmills Black Bush, 20ml lemon juice, 20ml marmalade, 1ml angostura bitters, 2 individual ginger slices, 1 orange

Method: Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the ingredients, shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass, filled with ice. Garnish with shredded orange zest. Pictures: PA Photo Taking Liberties

Named after one of the oldest (and most raucous) streets in Dublin, ’tis the luck of the Irish to have this limited release as only 31 sherry casks of The Dublin Liberties Copper Alley Irish Whiskey (£65, 70cl, harveynichols.com) have been produced. A 10-year-old single malt that’s finished in 30-year-old oloroso sherry casks, it’s the second release in The Dublin Liberties range of premium Irish whiskies. Worth making a song and dance about, it’s rich and complex with dried fruit, orange peel and spice on the nose, a raisiny, nutty character and a woody sweetness from 10 years in bourbon casks before a finishing dose of sherry.