Lemondrop

Ireland has given us so much: Cillian Murphy, Thin Lizzy and creepy human-seal monster people. But since it's St. Patrick's Day, one of the only holidays when it's socially acceptable to be drunk in public, we'd like to recognize Irish whiskey as one of the Emerald Isle's crowning achievements. (We officially forgive you for producing all those creepy ginger dudes.)

Unless you're one of those intellectual types who celebrates the occasion by putting on a chartreuse Dr. Seuss hat and peein' in the street, we suggest you skip the green beer and keep things classy with some St. Patrick's Day-themed cocktails guaranteed to drive away your sobriety like the snakes from Eire. We drink like wizened old sea captains and like our whiskey neat, but for you classy lassies out there, here are a few recipes for those guaranteed to fend off the shamrock shakes.

Click here for some seriously delicious Irish cocktails. (No Midori, we promise.)

Jameson and Ginger (from Jameson Co.)
1 1/2 oz. Irish whiskey
Ginger ale
Squeeze of lime
Pour whiskey into an ice-filled highball glass. Fill with ginger ale and garnish with a squeeze of lime.

Absinthe Frappe (from Imbibe)
1 1/2 oz. Pernod Absinthe
1/2 oz. simple syrup
2 oz. soda water
6–8 mint leaves
Muddle mint leaves in the bottom of mixing glass. Add absinthe and simple syrup to an ice-filled shaker and shake vigorously until outside of shaker begins to frost. Pour contents into glass filled with crushed ice, top with a splash of soda and garnish.

"Green" Sangria (adapted from AOL Food)
1 1/2 cups green apples, cored, chopped and sliced
1/2 cup honeydew melon balls
1 lemon, unpeeled, cut in thin slices
1/8 cup white rum
1/4 cup sugar
1 bottle Vinho Verde (or other dry white wine)
Combine fruit with sugar and wine. Cover and refrigerate at least an hour. Stir first five ingredients in a large bowl until sugar dissolves. Refrigerate to chill.

Puck Fair's St. Patty's Cocktail (from The New York Times)
1 oz. Irish whiskey
1/2 oz. cherry liqueur
1/2 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice
1 whole egg
Combine ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake very vigorously, at least 10 seconds, to emulsify the egg. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Tell us! What's your favorite way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day -- liquid or otherwise?