Make An Apple Drop Irish Whiskey Cocktail This St. Patrick's Day

This St. Patrick's Day celebrate with a pour of Irish whiskey or maybe a flight, perhaps a pint of Guinness, or might we suggest elevating your festivities with an Irish whiskey cocktail?

“Lighter, blended, and younger-aged whiskeys, with their smooth and approachable profiles, effortlessly blend with fruity and herbal notes,” says Aaron Wells, bar director at Chicago's Celeste. Try them in brighter cocktails, he suggests, where you'll appreciate the whiskey's nuanced flavors.

The Apple Drop is a tribute to the Irish countryside, where the fruit is grown. Smooth Irish whiskey meets the refreshing embrace of Granny Smith apples, while lemon adds a zing of citrus. Topping with foam bitters leads to a velvety mouthfeel. Sláinte!

Apple Drop

• 1 1/2 oz. Bushmills Original (or other blended Irish)
• 2 oz. Granny Smith apple juice
• 3/4 oz. lemon juice
• 3/4 oz. simple syrup
• 3 dashes Fee Brothers foam bitters
• Fresh apple slices for garnish

In a shaker tin, combine all ingredients except bitters. Fill the shaker with ice cubes. Vigorously shake for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a coupe. Add bitters on top. Place apple slices on the rim of the glass or float them on the surface of the cocktail as a garnish.