Which St. Patrick’s Day enthusiast are you? The one that’s been planning their shamrock-themed outfit for months? Or the one that takes the day off work to hit the pub as soon as it opens, or the one that strictly drinks green beer? 

Wherever you land, celebrating St. Paddy’s Day is a ton of fun. 

To help kick your Celtic celebrations up a notch, we’ve put together a list of thirteen of the most fun and festive Irish shots to test out. You can make them yourself to surprise your clan, or you can search them out at your favorite Irish pub. Keep reading to find out how to make this the most memorable St. Patrick’s Day yet. 

13 Fun and Festive Irish Shots to Take Your St. Paddy’s Day to the Next Level

If you’re Irish, think you’re Irish, or just want to be Irish, St. Paddy’s Day is a lively way to show your spirit and celebrate with friends. 

Here are some of the most popular Irish shots to spice up your festivities.

#1 The Irish Flag Shot

Since you’re celebrating Irish culture and heritage, it only makes sense to start with a layered shot that resembles the Irish flag, right? It’s a shot recipe that is easy to make, and when done properly, the Irish Flag Shot will pop with the green, white, and orange colors of the national symbol. You’ll need:

• ½ ounce green crème de menthe
• ½ ounce Irish cream, like Baileys
• ½ ounce Grand Marnier 

To really nail this drink, it’s important to pour the shots in the right order. Layer green crème de menthe on the bottom, followed by Irish cream in the middle, and top it off with a little Grand Marnier.¹

You can always eyeball the amount you use depending on the size of the shot glass. Just try and keep them equal, so everyone knows it’s the Irish flag and not a jumble of three liqueurs. 

#2 The Nutty Irishman 

There’s bound to be a few nuts out on St. Paddy’s Day, so the Nutty Irishman is a fitting shot recipe to include. Most of the flavor comes from the Frangelico, a hazelnut-flavored liqueur. It’s a 50/50 mix, so start with the Frangelico and top it off with some Baileys Irish Cream.²  Use the following measurements: 

• ¾ ounce Frangelico hazelnut liqueur 
• ¾ ounce Baileys Irish Cream

To help with the layering, it can be useful to grab a bar spoon and slowly pour the Irish cream over the back and into the shot glass. This way, you’ll have a perfectly layered nutty shot that’s nice and smooth. 

#3 The After Eight

Need a bit of a coffee kick with a slightly minty taste? The After Eight combines coffee liqueur, Irish cream, and crème de menthe—essentialy, a delectable box of After Eight Mints in liquid form. Need we say more? Here’s what you’ll need: 

• ½ ounce coffee liqueur, like Kahlua
• ½ ounce green crème de menthe 
• ½ ounce Irish cream, like Baileys 

Start by layering the coffee liqueur on the bottom, followed by the crème de menthe, and finish with the Irish cream.³ Not only does this shot taste delicious, but it gives off a festive St. Paddy’s Day feel.

#4 The Grasshopper 

This could be the number one choice for all the leprechauns out there, but it’s sure to be a hit amongst leprechauns, lads, and ladies alike. Plus, the fact that it’s shamrock green makes it the perfect St. Patrick’s Day drink. 

Make sure you have the following ingredients on hand:

• ½ ounce light cream
• ½ ounce green crème de menthe
• ½ ounce crème de cacao

Grab your cocktail shaker and mix in some crème de cacao, a little bit of cream, and green crème de menthe.⁴ Throw in some ice and shake it up well, then strain directly into your shot glass. 

#5 The Mini Irish Coffee

An Irish Coffee is a super popular cocktail, so what better way to keep the tradition than scaling it down a notch into shot-form? All you need to do is mix together:⁵ 

• A wee bit of Irish whiskey
• Some coffee liqueur to taste

Then top it off with a dollop of whipped cream.

It’s the perfect combination of coffee and whiskey—just leprechaun-sized.  

#6 The Carrot Cake Shot

Yes, you can have your cake and eat it too—or, in this case, shoot it. This shot is a clever way to combine your love of a tasty drink and a dessert—a two-for-one deal that truly hits the spot.

It includes mixing vodka, Irish cream, some heavier cream, a little carrot juice, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. You can even take it a step further by rimming the shot glasses with cream cheese frosting and a few chopped walnuts.⁶ 

Combine these ingredients to make around 4 shots because let’s face it; you’re going to want to share this with friends. 

• 3 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce Irish cream
• 1 ounce think and heavy cream
• 4 ½ ounces carrot juice 
• ¼  tsp cinnamon 

#7 The Lucky Leprechaun 

St. Paddy’s Day wouldn’t be complete without a little leprechaun love. This combination of fruity flavors will immediately transport you to the tropics—and it goes down oh-so smooth.

• ½ ounce pineapple juice 
• ½ ounce Midori melon liqueur 
• ½ ounce Malibu Coconut Rum  

There’s no real prep work required or bar tools needed. Simply combine all the ingredients, consume, and repeat.⁷ 

#8 The Irish Frog

Prepare yourself for your Saint Paddy’s pub crawl by combining two easy-to-love liqueurs. Similar to several other shots on this list, it’s also layered. But the density of both liqueurs makes it incredibly easy to concoct. However, you’ll find it even easier to perfect by making sure they’re both chilled before mixing. 

Grab the following two ingredients:

• ¾ ounce Irish cream, like Baileys 
• ¾ ounce melon liqueur, like Midori 

All you need to do is pour some melon liqueur into a shot glass and layer a little Irish cream on top.⁸ 

#9 The Irish Slammer

Combining three Irish staples, the Irish Slammer has been a popular shot for a long time because it brings a little extra flair to the party.

Make sure you have the following ready to prep:

• ½ pint of Guinness Irish Stout
• ¾ ounce Irish whiskey, like Jameson Irish Whiskey
• ¾ ounce Irish cream, like Baileys 

Got em? Fantastic. Now, all you need to do is fill a half-pint of Guinness and mix a shot of Irish whiskey and Irish cream. Then, you drop the shot directly into the Guinness and chug it right away. 

One of the most important things to remember with the Irish Slammer is that once you slam the shot into the Guinness, you need to drink it immediately. If you wait too long, the acidity of the beer mixed with the cream will cause it to curdle.⁹ 

#10 The Pickleback

No one really knows why the combination of Irish whiskey and pickle juice pair so well together. But when it tastes this good, does it even matter? 

Plus, this is one of the simplest shots you can whip up this St. Paddy’s Day since all you need is a shot of Irish whiskey and a shot of pickle juice to go with it.¹⁰ 

Down one, then down the other—that’s all there is to it. 

#11 The Green Tea Shot

A common theme throughout this list is Irish whiskey, and this shot is no different. But why would it be? Irish whiskey is practically a requirement on St. Paddy’s Day. 

Contrary to the shot’s name, there’s actually no tea included, and it’s not really green. Instead, it’s a mix of Irish whiskey, peach schnapps, sour mix, and a little soda.¹¹

• 1 ounce peach schnapps 
• 1 ounce Irish whiskey
• 1 ounce sour mix
• A little soda, like lemon-lime

Combine all of the ingredients except the soda together in a shaker. Shake, strain, and pour into a shot glass of your choice. Finish it off with a splash of fizzy seltzer. 

#12 The Melon Ball

This summery fruit-forward shot might not seem like the ideal pairing for a chilly, mid-March day. But its clover-colored appearance and extreme drinkability make it a must-have for any St. Patrick’s Day celebration. 

Here’s what you’ll need for the Melon Ball Shot:

• 1/4 ounce pineapple juice
• 1/4 ounce melon liqueur, like Midori
• 1/2 ounce vodka 

Simply mix the ingredients together, add some ice, and stir.¹² Strain the mix directly into a shot glass, and you’re good to go. 

 If you need more Irish drink recipes, we’ve got you covered from an Irish Car Bomb to an Irish Maid Cocktail to make St. Patrick’s Day the drinking holiday it was meant to be.

Take Your Bar Game Up a Notch with DRNXMYTH

You don’t just have to stick to Irish shots this St. Paddy’s Day. If you’re looking for ready-to-mix drinks and fresh, handcrafted cocktails, DRNXMYTH has your bar covered from top to bottom. 

Our clever bottling technology and mouthwatering menu—featuring everything from strawberry mojitos to our one-of-a-kind apricot rye smash—are sure to get your taste buds buzzing. 

DRNXMYTH—where premier bartenders and drink technology meet. 

 

Sources:

1. The Spruce Eats. Irish Flag Shooter. https://www.thespruceeats.com/irish-flag-shooter-recipe-759704 
2. The Spruce Eats. The Nutty Irishman. https://www.thespruceeats.com/4-recipes-for-the-popular-nutty-irishman-drink-759747
3. Dishes Delight. After Eight Shot | 12 Shots of Christmas. https://dishesdelish.com/after-eight-shot/
4. The Spruce Eats. Grasshopper Shot. https://www.thespruceeats.com/grasshopper-shot-recipe-759684 
5. Taste of Home. 11 St. Patrick’s Day Shots. https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/st-patricks-day-shots/ 
6. Cake N Knife. Carrot Cake Shots. https://www.cakenknife.com/carrot-cake-shots/
7. Boulder Locavore. Lucky Leprechaun Shots: Fruity Shots Perfect All Year. https://boulderlocavore.com/lucky-leprechaun-shots-recipe/
8. The Spruce Eats. Irish Frog Shooter. https://www.thespruceeats.com/irish-frog-shooter-759700
9. The Spruce Eats. Irish Slammer. https://www.thespruceeats.com/irish-slammer-recipe-759701
10. The Spruce Eats. How to Make a Pickleback Shot. https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-make-a-pickleback-shot-4156982 
11. The Spruce Eats. Green Tea Shot. https://www.thespruceeats.com/green-tea-shot-recipe-5087830
12. The Spruce Eats. Melon Ball Party Shooter. https://www.thespruceeats.com/melon-ball-cocktail-recipe-759735
13. The Spruce Eats. Guinness and Green Jelly Shot for St. Patrick’s Day. https://www.thespruceeats.com/guinness-and-amp-green-jelly-shot-recipe-4129357