Try one of these green beer alternatives this St. Patrick’s Day

Sure, Ireland’s known for Guinness, Kilkenny, Smithwick’s, and Harp (at least, those are the beers most often on tap at Canadian pubs), but the country is known for another, richer brew: whiskey. This recipe takes a traditional Derby cocktail (bourbon, lime juice, sweet vermouth, orange curaçao, and bitters) and substitutes Irish whiskey for a slightly sweeter drink.

Perk up your hot chocolate with a dollop of Irish cream—Bailey’s is the best known brand for adding a kick to a warming drink. Add a swirl of spiked whipped cream for an even more delectable treat.

The only thing that’s Irish about this drink is its colour and name, but it’s delicious, so just go with it. Combine equal parts Midori melon liqueur and coconut rum and add six parts pineapple juice. Sure, it tastes like you’re on a tropical island—but we have to assume that even leprechauns take vacations.

Consider this drink the cocktail version of your granny’s home remedy. Fizzy seltzer gives it a little bit of bubbly, while the honey, lemon, and whiskey create the perfect smoky-tart-sweet combination.

This rather involved cocktail echoes the flavours of an Irish raisin bread traditionally served at Halloween. If you’re hosting an elegant cocktail party in honour of St. Patrick, this drink is worth the extra effort.

How can you possibly go wrong with caffeine and whiskey? Classic Irish coffee is a nice way to give yourself a boost during a day-long celebration. Hot coffee, sugar, whiskey, and whipped cream are the go-to ingredients, but you can add Bailey’s and a maraschino cherry if you want to.

If you like beer, there’s a better way to enjoy it than making it glow like a swamp creature. Simply combine three parts of a light lager—like Harp—with one part ginger ale or Sprite, and you have a traditional shandy.

It’s not St. Patrick’s Day without Guinness, but if the beer that drinks like a meal is a little too heavy for you, offset that malty stoutness with a lighter lager. Just a warning, don’t order one if you’re actually in Ireland. The term “black and tan” carries unfortunate reminders of the early days of the Troubles, and isn’t well received.

If you want to drink something green, here’s a cocktail that’s supposed to be the colour of Emerald City, courtesy of green crème de menthe. Serve this pretty drink in your fanciest cocktail glass—just make sure the colour can shine through!

If your tastes run more to the champagne flute than the pint glass, never fear—we’ve got a drink for you. Simply combine equal parts Guinness and champagne, and watch your whole party become that much classier. Truth be told, this drink isn’t actually Irish—when Prince Albert died in 1861, the bartender at Brook’s Club in London decided that even the drinks should be in mourning, and added the dark stout to the champagne to dull its sparkle.