Like the fresh green fields of Ireland, the Irish Maid cocktail will enliven your spirit and freshen your day.
When I think of what cocktails I’ll be making over the summer, they usually involve gin or rum. Tequila and vodka sneak in there, of course, but I usually save my bourbon and whiskey sipping for cooler climes. Mixing those with a little Coke over ice is a refreshing choice, to be sure, but one usually doesn’t use the word crisp when describing those liquors.
But then there’s tonight’s cocktail, known as the Irish Maid. Now, this is a beverage you can say is crisp, and with a hint of minty freshness from the garnish. A riff on the classic Whiskey Sour, the Irish Maid starts with muddled cucumber that is then balanced out with a floral and sweet elderflower liqueur, along with simple syrup and lemon juice, all revolving around a smooth and golden brown whiskey. The result is invigorating, bright and a great concoction to sip poolside this summer.
Created in the early 2000s by New York City bartender Jack McGarry, the Irish Maid takes its inspiration not only from Sours, but from another modern classic, the Kentucky Maid. This cocktail, invented by another celebrity NYC mixologist, Sam Ross, utilizes bourbon and lime juice. So the next time you’re in the mood for a thirst-quenching tipple on a hot, sunny day, give the Irish Maid a spin.
What Is The Best Whiskey To Use In An Irish Maid Cocktail?
Don’t tell me you’re thinking of making an Irish Maid using Canadian, American or Japanese whisky, are you? Honestly, that’d be okay. I’m half Irish, so I’m fully cool with whatever choice you make. But for the sake of argument, let’s stick with a smooth and buttery Irish dram for this drink, like a stalwart Jameson or my new favorite, Tullamore D.E.W., which is quite good on its own as well, I might add.
Ingredients
- 4 cucumber slices each a quarter-inch thick
- 2 ounces Irish whiskey
- 1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur
- 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- Fresh mint for garnish
Instructions
- Place 3 cucumber slices in a cocktail shaker and muddle gently to release their flavor.
- Add the Irish whiskey, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and simple syrup along with a handful of ice. Shake well.
- Fine-strain into a chilled rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a cucumber slice and a fresh mint sprig.
Nutrition
WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?
Fill a rocks glass with ice and pour your Maid over and in. Garnish with a fresh cucumber slice and a sprig of mint, then start sipping.
DO YOU NEED A MUDDLER?
If you’re making and serving a fair amount of cocktails to your friends that require muddled ingredients, then yes, you should absolutely have a good muddler in your barware arsenal. If you’re in a pinch, the back of a spoon will work as a decent substitute, but your drink-mixing life will be so much easier with an actual muddler.
Similar Drinks To The Irish Maid Cocktail
Grab that bottle of Irish whiskey and come with me, we have a few libations to whip up and enjoy that take their inspiration from the Emerald Isle. If you’ve ever wanted to raise a parting glass or two with your friends and relish the golden liquid within, look no further than these tasty and powerful potions.
- Irish Mule – Whiskey joins with ginger beer and lime to give you a kick.
- Irish Old-Fashioned – A classic that comes with a bit of a brogue.
- Irish Coffee – The perfect after-dinner whiskey sipper.
- Nutty Irishman – Add some hazelnut liqueur to your Irish Coffee to craft this treat.
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