The 3-Ingredient Trader Joe’s Cocktail I’m Making for St. Patrick’s Day
It’s green, springy, and mostly Irish.
Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Laurel Randolph
As a person who lacks Irish descent, I don’t tend to venture out for St. Patrick’s Day. I remember holing up in my apartment during my Boston days, hearing raucous groups pass by all day and night.
Even though I don’t live in a particularly Irish town anymore, I largely avoid the parades, parties, and all-day bars, swapping for a cozy night at home. Sometimes I make soda bread, sometimes I gather with a few friends to enjoy beef stew. And while I love a good Guinness, I only want one when it’s well-poured from a trusty pub, so I tend to stick to Irish whiskey when St. Patrick’s Day rolls around.
This year, I turned to Trader Joe’s (as I often do!) for St. Patty’s cocktail inspiration. I quickly snatched up a bottle of their Irish whiskey, which costs just $15.99 at my store and tastes strikingly similar to Jameson at half the price.
I filled my cart with some fun mixers and started experimenting. I ended up with a cocktail that’s not only ideal for St. Patrick’s Day, it’s perfect for spring and overall delicious. This year, ditch the green beer and make a naturally green cocktail instead!
Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph
How To Make My 3-Ingredient St. Patrick’s Day Trader Joe’s Cocktail
To make two cocktails, you’ll need:
1 packet Trader Joe’s Matcha Green Tea Powder
2 teaspoons water
4 ounces (1/2 cup) Irish whiskey, such as Trader Joe’s Special Reserve Irish Whiskey
8 ounces (1 cup) Trader Joe’s Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
2 lemon wheels or wedges, for garnish, optional
In a cocktail shaker or large jar with a lid, add the matcha and water. Stir until the matcha is mostly dissolved. Add the whiskey and lemonade and top with ice. Shake until the mixture is cold and the matcha has dissolved, about 10 seconds.
Fill two highball or cocktail glasses with ice. Strain the mixture over the top and garnish with lemon.
Tip
It’s easy to halve the recipe for one cocktail. Use 1/2 of a matcha packet.
Why This Cocktail Is Ideal for St. Patrick’s Day
This cocktail recipe was inspired by Food and Wine’s Matcha Highball. Matcha might not be the first thing you think of when you think of St. Patty’s Day, but it’s a natural way to add a distinctive green color to this cocktail. It also adds beautiful vegetal notes, which pair well with lemon and the natural sweetness of the whiskey. It really makes this drink taste like spring in a glass.
You can adjust the color and the amount of matcha flavor by adding or subtracting the matcha powder. If you’re not sure how you’re guests feel about matcha, you can use as little as 1/4 teaspoon per drink (about 1/4 of a packet) and still get a green hue. The flavor will be very subtle, letting the whiskey and lemonade shine.
The Irish whiskey keeps this drink St. Patrick’s Day-appropriate beyond the color. If you’re not a whiskey fan, it would be equally good with vodka. For a bubbly sipper, decrease the lemonade by up to half and top each glass with club soda.
Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph
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