St. Patrick’s spicy cilantro moscow mule

I have the perfect solution for a fun St. Patrick’s day that does not involve hoards of bros in Irish bars, tacky green costumes, or getting a vodka-cran spilled all over your new shirt. There is no rule that says you have to go out and party on St. Patrick’s day (I am talking to all of you who have FOMO). Let me give you permission to be ~~lame~~ super cool like me and stay home pretending you are a world famous mixologist. And by “world famous mixologist” I mean taking a pre-existing delicious cocktail (that someone already invented) and adding a twist. Just make sure to invite a friend over so you have someone to impress.

A teeny tiny history lesson: The day of St. Patrick’s death, March 17^th, year 461, was originally celebrated as a religious holiday and tribute to his Christian evangelism in Ireland. St. Patrick is said to have explained the Holy Trinity to the Irish people using the shamrock, or three-leaf clover. I found reading about St. Patrick quite interesting, and if you want to go down a Google rabbit hole with me I suggest starting with The History Channel or, unashamedly, Wikipedia.

P.S. : I would like the world to applaud me for the immense self-restraint I exerted while making (and photographing) these at noon on a Tuesday. You can probably tell where this is going. Sitting in front of me, all styled and refreshing looking, was this batch of spicy deliciousness. And I love all things spicy. Yet, I could not think of a legitimate reason to get tipsy on a Tuesday at noon. I exerted my (almost) 30 years of practiced self-restraint and saved the cocktails for later. You can’t see me right now but I am actually taking a bow.

ST. PATRICK’S SPICY CILANTRO MOSCOW MULE

makes 2 cocktails, with 1 shot of alcohol in each drink

1 heaping tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 inch of jalapeño, sliced with seeds intact (remove seeds if you prefer mild spice)
juice of one lime
3 ounces (6 tablespoons) vodka
one bottle ginger beer, I highly recommend Rachel’s
ice cubes

Muddle together cilantro, jalapeño, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Add vodka and a few ice cubes; stir for about 10 seconds. Prepare your mug or cocktail glass by filling halfway with ice. Strain cocktail into the glass and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a “three clover” sprig of cilantro.