If thirsty thoughts are conjuring up something green, the super-potent Shamrock will solve the problem. For a less-spirited cocktail cousin, the Clover Club, will spread a nice rosy glow throughout your next cocktail party. Both these cocktail recipes are sure to please.

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Shamrock Cocktail Recipe

An unlikely mix of ingredients gives the Shamrock cocktail a unique flavor that may seem odd at first sip but is sure to have your party guests coming back for more. Make by the pitcher to keep the green flowing as smoothly as the River Shannon.

1 jigger Irish whiskey
1 jigger dry (white / clear) vermouth
1 pony green Chartreuse
1 pony green creme de menthe

Garnish: green olive

Mix all liquid ingredients together in a shaker cup filled with ice. Shake till shaker is cold on the outside, strain, and pour drink into a cocktail glass. Garnish with the olive

For Shamrocks for a crowd, mix enough of the liquid ingredients together to half-fill a pitcher. At serving time, add ice and allow beverage to chill for a few minutes before pouring the liquid only into cocktail glasses garnished with olives.

This one, without the olive garnish, would make a nice shooter-style drink also.

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Clover Club Cocktail Recipe

The Clover Club is named after a famous Chicago speakeasy of the same name in the 1920s, at the height of the Prohibition Era. This one isn’t green but rosy pink, light, and airy.

2 jiggers gin
1 jigger grenadine
juice of half a lemon
1 egg white

Garnish: half a lemon round


Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake until the egg white is thoroughly incorporated. Pour into an ice-filled rocks glass garnished with the lemon slice.

To make Clover Club cocktails for a crowd, use a blender instead of a cocktail shaker to blend up the drink. Egg whites can be separated and held in the refrigerator to use during your party. Save the yolks for scrambled eggs for breakfast.

The egg white makes the drink slightly frothy but doesn’t affect the flavor of the booze. If using raw egg whites is a concern, use the pasteurized egg whites sold in cartons in supermarket dairy cases or simply omit this ingredient.

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The shamrock is a clover-like plant native to Ireland and adopted as its national emblem. Both shamrock and clover have three leaves although finding the occasional four-leaved clover is said to bring good luck. Saint Patrick made the plant famous when he described its three leaves as representing the Holy Trinity.