It is March and that can only mean one thing... St. Patrick’s Day is on the way. This celebration of Irish Heritage and culture is one of this country’s most celebrated holidays. What better way to celebrate than to enjoy a nice Irish cocktail with a fine cigar. After much work late into the night, the Founders here at Cigars.com have come up with a solid list of pairings that'll make you feel as lucky as a Four Leaf Clover.

Snap, Chat & Rum – Caldwell BMB Connecticut Toro

 

This Rum-based drink is almost like a Daiquiri, but with a little twist. It uses aged rum, fresh limes, syrup, and then sugar snap peas with fennel. This not only gives the drink a sweet and citrus based profile, but gives it a nice green color which is perfect for St. Paddy's Day. This smooth and flavorful cocktail paired very nicely with the Caldwell Blind Man's Bluff Connecticut. The Honduran and Dominican filler tobaccos give a rich center with some light citrus notes as well while the Connecticut wrapper makes it smooth and slightly creamy. This is a great morning pairing before you head out to the parade.

Celtic Frappe – Valencia Connecticut Robusto

The Celtic Frappe is a complex yet smooth cocktail that combines a few different liquors for a unique and flavor experience. It combines Celtic Honey, an Irish based liquor that mixes Irish Whiskey with honey and spices. Combine that with some Vermouth, the anise flavored Pernod Pastis and some orange sherbet and you have a cold, light, and fruity drink that is still quite strong. We went with the brand new Valencia Connecticut. This smooth yet flavor smoke has notes of citrus, spice, licorice, and cream, making it a great lunchtime pairing, along with your corned beef.

Greenhouse – Rocky Patel Java Mint Robusto

Another green cocktail, the Greenhouse combines a few different spices and liquors for a fresh, crisp, yet strong drink. It uses Blanco tequila, a green French-based liquor known as Green Chartreuse, dry vermouth, pea shrubs, and mint leaves. It is incredibly refreshing, with notes of mint and the French liquor mixing with the tequila for a powerful yet clean-tasting drink. Once we heard the words mint, we went right for the Rocky Patel Java Mint, and it worked perfectly. The rich yet minty flavors paired up beautifully, make this perfect for an early afternoon pairing.

Irish Coffee – Nub Café Espresso

After celebrating most of the day and enjoying a nice meal, it is the perfect time to sit back and enjoy the classic after dinner cocktail, the Irish Coffee. It is as simple a drink as they come. Simply combine Fresh coffee, some sugar, some Irish whisky and some whipped heavy cream on top. This is the gold standard of Irish drinks as well as a signature dessert cocktail. The Nub Café Espresso matched up very well, delivering nice notes of cream, coffee, and a bit of strength to compete with the whiskey.

Bee's Knees – Montecristo Classic #2

For our nightcap, we went for this Prohibition Era favorite, the Bee's Knees. It's a combination of Gin, lemon juice, honey syrup and a lemon twist. It has the green appearance you want on St. Patrick's day but with a nice smooth and sweet flavor. The Montecristo Classic #2 is the perfect way to end your day with this drink. Its smooth and creamy flavor along with a dash of sweetness creates a beautiful symphony with the beverage.