Spirits Explained

A History of St. Patricks's Day and Your Guide to Going Green

Brett Fieldcamp, CSS, ReserveBar Spirits Contributor

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As springtime wafts in, so does the greenest and greatest of all Irish holidays: St. Patrick's Day.

Observed each year in countries and communities around the world, it's a celebration of all things Irish — including requisite green clothing, traditional Irish folk music, and of course, some great drinking.

But why do we celebrate the Emerald Isle on March 17th, and who was Saint Patrick? Hint: he didn't actually drive the snakes out of Ireland.

Most importantly, how did the imbibing of Irish beers, whiskies, and liqueurs become such a staple of the holiday, and which are the best for your own St. Paddy's party? Strap on your kilt and pin a shamrock to your jumper because we're breaking it down for you.

WHO WAS SAINT PATRICK?

Born in Roman-ruled Britain in the 5th Century, Patrick was captured by pirates at age 16 and taken to pre-Christianity Ireland, where his love for religion steeled his spirits and eventually helped him escape back home.

As an adult, Patrick took up the priesthood and returned to Ireland, where he devoted his life to spreading Christianity and converting the island's population to the faith. Patrick was granted sainthood for his lifelong efforts in spreading Christianity and for the countless myths and legends that had swirled around his life.

To commemorate his holy life and works, an annual day of feast and celebration was declared For March 17th, the day of his death. As Irish natives traveled and moved all over the world, the holiday came to celebrate their home and culture no matter where they were.

PATTY'S OR PADDY'S?

As St. Patrick's original Gaelic name is Pádraig (pronounced in modern English as "pod-rig") it's considered correct to retain the "d" and to refer to him as Paddy.

So it's actually "St. Paddy's Day," not "St. Patty's Day."

WHY DO WE DRINK ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY?

The holiday's traditional encouragement of drinking and feasting actually comes from the fact that March 17th falls right in the middle of Lent.

Though Lent is considered a holy Christian period of fasting — with many also abstaining from alcohol — the church declared an annual one-day exception to celebrate the saint's life.

Unsurprisingly, this meant that thirsty revelers took the opportunity to enjoy the exception as much as they could, and alcoholic beverages quickly became a hallmark of the holiday.

WHAT ARE THE BEST IRISH DRINKS FOR ST. PADDY'S?

Though Irish beers, particularly legendary stouts like Guinness and Murphy's, are mainstays among St. Paddy's celebrations, there's just nothing like a great Irish whiskey to get the party flowing like an Irish stream.

Far and away, the most popular Irish whiskies worldwide are the bold, subtly spicy Jameson and the lighter, softer, and endlessly mixable Bushmills. Don't be taken in by the many age-old rivalries and urban legends that pit the two famed brands against one another. They're as Irish as the Blarney Stone, and either is a perfect addition to your Paddy's party.

If you can't decide between Irish whiskey or beer, you can always split the difference with Jameson's Caskmates line, featuring their golden spirit aged in flavorful Irish beer barrels.

WHAT IS IRISH POT STILL WHISKEY?

If an Irish whiskey says "Single Pot Still Whiskey" on the label, you can be certain that it's made to the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. It also carries one extra special trait that makes it unique.

Not only is Single Pot Still Whiskey batch-distilled in classic copper pot stills, but it's also some of the only whiskey anywhere in the world that traditionally uses a blend of both malted barley (like scotch) and unmalted or "green" barley. This gives the spirit a uniquely dry, spicy, velvety character found only in Ireland.

Redbreast Irish Whiskey is the torchbearer of the Single Pot Still style, and one sip of their acclaimed 12 Year Old will show you why.

WHAT ABOUT SOMETHING SWEETER?

If you want something rich, sweet, and infinitely crowd-pleasing for your St. Paddy's party-goers, look no further than Baileys Irish Cream, blended from real Irish whiskey and sweetened cream.

As the world's best-selling liqueur, Baileys knows a little something about partying the Irish way, pairing perfectly with coffee, beer, chocolate, and even ice cream. This year, they take your tastebuds to a new level with their Vanilla Mint Shake expression.

You can easily try this in a classic cocktail like an Irish Coffee, but we recommend you make yourself an adult milkshake with this one — you won't be disappointed!

A SMART AND SAFE ST. PADDY’S DAY

Whether you'll be at home or surrounded by friends at your favorite pub, always remember to be respectful, drink responsibly, and have a celebratory St. Patrick's Day!