Most area pubs and imbibing establishments will commemorate St. Patrick's Day on Saturday and through the night with tented festivals, live music, plastic beads and green beer. But since the patron saint's day of honor is actually Sunday, we decided to forgo the bar scene (green beer is for amateurs, anyway) and toast with home-made Irish-inspired concoctions instead. Before we break out the Baileys or pour a single drop of Guinness, let's learn more about the fellow we're toasting to in the first place.
Saint Patrick is noted for returning to Ireland, where he escaped from slavery as a young man during the fifth century, to bring Christianity to the island's people. The folklore surrounding his life is ingrained in Irish culture, including the story of how he used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the masses. An ordained bishop, Saint Patrick is believed to have died on March 17. Today, it is a day when folks around the world gather to celebrate their inner Irish-ness, regardless of ethnicity.So raise your glass to Saint Patrick with one of these five lucky libations provided by area cocktail gurus, including one local Irishman and pub owner. Your Irish eyes will smile upon the first sip.Leprechaun biteConlon's PubWestern Ireland native Liam Conlon opened his namesake pub, just west of downtown on White Settlement Road, in 2007, providing a comfy, somewhat off-the-beaten path retreat for pool sharks, soccer enthusiasts and jukebox heroes. By day, Conlon works for the city of Fort Worth, but he comes from "bar stock," he admits, as his father also once owned and operated a watering hole. Conlon calls his bar's green-hued, adult version of a frothy float the "leprechaun bite." It is playfully named for the covert kick of the alcohol mixed with tart lime ice cream sherbet. It's a dessert drink that is sure to bite back.Luck of the Irish 'tiniM LoungeLike most fans of the "magically delicious" Lucky Charms cereal, Katy Cox has always preferred the playfully shaped, sugary-sweet marshmallows to the boring frosted oats."My roommate in college used to be very upset when she would go to pour herself a bowl and the only thing left was the crunchy part," Cox says.The M Lounge general manager and martini maven enjoys an adult version of her cherished charms -- a creamy, minty martini that makes for one smooth dessert cocktail. She says the white chocolate imparts a marshmallowlike flavor that fondly reminds her of that treasured bowl of hearts, stars and clovers.Irish man-fashionedDublin SquareDublin Square hosts one of Tarrant County's most festive St. Patrick's Day parties -- so popular the pub does it again six months later to celebrate "halfway to St. Patrick's Day." While bar manager Alesha Smith admits to spending days leading up to the event preparing green Jell-O shots, she also created a sophisticated Irish twist on the classic Old-Fashioned and the Manhattan for our readers to make at home. The drink features Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey, first distilled in 1829 in the town of Tullamore in the heart of Ireland. The beverage balances sweet and sour with muddled orange wedges, cherries and bitters.Finn's morning brewFinn MacCool's"He is Ireland's version of Paul Bunion," says Robert Holt, Fort Worth native and owner of Finn MacCool's, an Irish-inspired pub near the hospital district just south of downtown Fort Worth. "We took a trip to Ireland, and I learned about the legend of Finn MacCool. He was a big giant that lived back in the Middle Ages and basically shaped the rivers and mountains and the landscape of Ireland."Holt says he grew up in south Fort Worth and always thought the 1920s era building at the corner of Eighth and West Allen avenues would be well suited for an upscale Irish pub, similar to those he visited in Ireland. The story of MacCool intrigued Holt, who says if the legendary giant had a morning beverage, it would be this Jameson-spiked coffee.Black IrishFlying SaucerWe went to the beer knurds at Flying Saucer for a Guinness-based beverage that spans beyond the basic two-toned black and tan. The bitter Dublin brew is drunk straight, by the pint, in Ireland, but some prefer their Guinness a little sweeter, be it served as an ice cream float or even disguised as chocolate cake. General manager Mark Castaldo offers a St. Paddy's play on the traditional black Russian cocktail, which resembles a glass of dark chocolate milk. Castaldo calls it the black Irish and recommends using Guinness Special Export. He promises that the less-familiar variety of the stout is "a bit sweeter than traditional Guinness." Careful, this one's potent.Leprechaun bite1 1/2 ounces vodka3 drops green food coloring (optional)8 ounces lemon-lime soda2 scoops lime sherbet1. In a 16-ounce glass, add vodka and food coloring (if using), and top with soda.2. Add the ice cream scoops and serve with a straw.Irish man-fashioned2 orange wedges with rind2 maraschino cherriesDash of bitters1 teaspoon sugar1/2 ounce Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey1. Muddle orange wedges, cherries, bitters and sugar together in a cocktail shaker.2. Add whiskey and fill with ice. Shake vigorously until ice breaks into small pieces.3. Pour entire shaker contents, rind and all, into a chilled Old-Fashioned glass.Luck of the Irish 'Tini1 ounce green creme de menthe1 ounce Baileys Irish cream1 ounce Godiva white chocolate liqueur2 ounces milk or half-and-half1. Shake all ingredients over ice and strain into a martini glass either lined with chocolate or rimmed with green sugar, or both.Finn's morning brew1 ounce Jameson Irish whiskey1/2 ounce Baileys Irish cream7 ounces coffeeDollop of whipped creamCreme de menthe and green sugar, for garnish1. Add whiskey and Irish cream to coffee and top with whipped cream, a drizzle of creme de menthe and a sprinkle of green sugar.Black Irish1 ounce Texas vodka, such as Enchanted Rock or Dripping Springs1 ounce KahluaSplash cola1 bottle Guinness Special Export1. Add vodka, Kahlua and cola, in the order listed, to a highball glass.2. Fill glass with Guinness, pouring slowly to prevent an excess of foam. Do not add ice.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
