Irish Cocktails

The Saltee Sour is the IWSA version of the Trinidad Sour cocktail. Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a dual island Caribbean nation. We named the Irish version of the cocktail after the Saltee islands, which is also a pair of islands but located off the coast of County Wexford in Ireland. We tweaked the original recipe to give it more of an Irish flair, hence the name change. The Saltee islands are a large bird sanctuary which include our Puffin drinking buddies. This cocktail features bitters as the primary ingredient, making it unique and somewhat unusual. The herbal character...

Irish Wolfhounds are beautiful, gentle dogs that have inspired Irish literature, mythology, folklore, and whiskey. Brands like Tullamore Dew and Limavady feature the iconic dog as part of their brand image.  It's not surprising that an Irish Whiskey cocktail would be named for this magnificent animal. This cocktail is the perfect summer refresher utilizing sweet, tart grapefruit juice. Pour yourself a bowl to stay cool during the dog days of August. EQUIPMENT IWSA Cocktail Shaker  Rocks Glass INGREDIENTS 2 oz blended Irish Whiskey 2 oz ginger beer 1 oz Pink grapefruit juice INSTRUCTIONS Combine ingredients in shaker with ice Stir for...

Belfast Lemonade is simple but refreshing Irish Whiskey cocktail, perfect for cooling off during the hot summer months. The IWSA has a soft spot for Belfast having spent our annual member trip there in 2025. Belfast Whiskey Week, one of the largest Irish Whiskey festivals, celebrates each July since 2019. If you can't get to Belfast, you can kick back with the Belfast Lemonade.   EQUIPMENT IWSA Cocktail Shaker  Tom Collins Glass INGREDIENTS 1.5 oz blended Irish Whiskey .5 oz Limoncello 4 oz Lemonade INSTRUCTIONS Combine ingredients in shaker with ice Shake vigorously for 10 seconds Strain and pour into glass with...

Dad's Counsel is our chosen cocktail for celebrating Father's Day. This drink combines two famous cocktails: The Negroni and Boulevardier. Both of these utilize Campari and sweet vermouth with the main difference being the use of gin or whiskey. Dad's Counsel uses both spirits equally. Creation of this intriguing combination is credited to Simon Davidson during the Covid pandemic.  This is a spirit forward cocktail. A countless number of combinations are possible given the 3 types of spirit used in addition to the Campari. Use your favorite Irish Whiskey, Gin, and Sweet Vermouth and/or switch out different brands to derive...

Ireland and Mexico both have rich cultures with holidays that are celebrated in the United States, Saint Patrick's Day and Cinco de Mayo. The Good Cork Cocktail combines elements of both cultures. The cocktail is interesting for its use of the single pot still style of Irish Whiskey and Mezcal, the other Mexican agave spirit. The cocktail was originated in New York in 2013 by bartender Phil Ward. This is a spirit forward cocktail. The spice character from un-malted barley with smokiness from roasting the agave makes for a tantalizing union. There are countless combinations to be explored given the...