Shamrock Cocktail recipe
A sophisticated vintage blend of Irish whiskey, dry vermouth, and subtle herbal liqueurs.
Method: Stir ·
Glass: Coupe glass ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Martini Family
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Irish whiskey
- 1.5 oz Dry vermouth
- 0.25 oz Green Chartreuse
- 0.25 oz Green crème de menthe
How to make a Shamrock Cocktail
- Chill a coupe glass in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Combine Irish whiskey, dry vermouth, green Chartreuse, and green crème de menthe in a mixing glass filled with ice.
- Stir briskly for thirty seconds until thoroughly chilled and properly diluted.
- Fine strain the mixture into the pre-chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a green olive dropped into the glass or a fresh mint leaf.
Garnish
Green olive or fresh mint leaf
Pro tip
Stirring with large, cold ice cubes ensures proper chilling without over-diluting the delicate herbal botanical notes.
History of the Shamrock Cocktail
First documented in Hugo R. Ensslin's 1917 volume Recipes for Mixed Drinks, the recipe was later featured in Harry Craddock's 1930 publication The Savoy Cocktail Book. It stands as a classic amber-and-emerald libation bridging Irish whiskey tradition with continental aperitif style.
Flavour profile
Herbal, Dry, Complex, Warming
Variations
- Tipperary — Substitute sweet vermouth for dry vermouth and add Angostura bitters for a richer profile.
- Emerald Sour — Add fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, shaking the ingredients instead of stirring.
- Bijou Irish — Equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and green Chartreuse with a dash of orange bitters.
Practise making the Shamrock Cocktail in the free Virtual Bar game.