By Julia Stacey
On St. Patrick’s Day, the local pub might be serving green beer with their corned beef and cabbage, or you may prefer to grab a pint of Guinness, the Irish dry stout that dates back to 1759.
You may also enjoy a classic Irish whiskey like Jameson, a tasty, easy-to-sip whiskey at a budget price. Or bump it up a notch to a single pot still whiskey like Redbreast 12 Year, a smooth, complex tasting whiskey that’s a great bang for the buck. Irish Mist, an aged whiskey with honey, aromatic herbs, and other spirits added, is traditionally used in Irish coffee but it also tastes great in tea. One of my favorite exports of the Emerald Isle is Baileys Irish Cream which was introduced to the international market in 1974. The manufacturer, Gilbeys of Ireland, has added eight different flavors to the line, so there’s a Baileys for everyone’s taste. I’ve sampled some of the brand’s imitators, such as Emmets and Merrys, but always find my way back to the original (and best), Baileys. Restaurants and bars often serve it on the rocks, but I prefer to sip it chilled from the refrigerator so as not to water down its creamy goodness.
You can show off your mixology skills by serving the B-52 cocktail for St. Paddy’s Day or any occasion. According to cocktail lore, the B-52 was created by Peter Fich, head bartender at the Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta, Canada. He liked to name his cocktail creations after his favorite bands, albums, or songs so the name is in reference to the B-52s band (remember “Love Shack” and “Rock Lobster”) and not the bomber plane. The tricky part to making a proper B-52 is building layers of three different spirits in the glass without mixing them. A technique to accomplish this layered look is to pour each spirit very slowly over a spoon.
B-52 Cocktail Recipe
1 part Kahlua
1 part Baileys Irish Cream
1 part Grand Marnier
Layer in a small glass in order (Kahlua, Baileys, Grand Marnier).
The B-52’s widespread popularity has resulted in many variations known as the B-50 series of layered cocktails. Here are a few:
B-51, a B-52 with Frangelico hazelnut liqueur rather than Triple Sec
B-52 with Bomb Bay Doors, a B-52 with Bombay gin
B-52 in the Desert, or a B-52 with a Mexican Tailgunner, a B-52 with tequila rather than Bailey’s Irish cream
B-52 with a Full Payload, a B-52 with a 4th layer of Frangelico and a 5th layer of Bacardi 151 rum lit on fire.
B-53, a B-52 with Sambuca rather than Irish cream
B-54, a B-52 with Amaretto almond liqueur in place of Triple Sec
B-55, a B-52 with absinthe rather than Triple Sec, also known as B-52 Gunship
B-57, a B-52 with peppermint schnapps rather than Irish cream
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Here’s an Irish toast to accompany your B-52 or what ever drink you choose to celebrate the day.
May the winds of fortune sail you,
May you sail a gentle sea,
May it always be the other guy,
Who says ‘this drink’s on me.’
Sláinte
Julia Stacey Reilly is a published author and blogger. Her book, Boozy Lifestyle, is available on Amazon and her blog can be found at BoozyLifestyle.com. She is the official Tony Mart sommelier and has earned a WSET Award in Wines. She can be reached at BoozyLifestyle@gmail.com.
