May your elbows still bend freely on St. Paddy’s Day

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/03/2020 (2367 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

So it goes without saying that this St. Patrick’s Day is going to be quite different than any in the past. With pubs shuttering and social isolation in full effect, the chance to raise a pint with pals to celebrate all things Irish just isn’t in the cards.

That’s not to say St. Paddy’s Day has to be boring, or without appropriate libations. Here are five drinks — some Irish, some local and one that’s just plain weird — to toast the feast day of the famed Irish saint.

On the beer side of things, there are plenty of local craft options that tip the hat to Ireland. The Stone Angel Brewing Co. Redhanded Irish Red Ale ($3.71/473ml can, brewery, Liquor Marts and beer vendors), for example, is one of the Pembina Highway brewery’s core beers, and is deep copper in colour, offering rich malt and caramel notes on the nose and a very subtle herbal hops note. There’s just a touch of bitterness on the medium-bodied, dry red ale, with those roasted malty notes working front and centre. It’s a very solid brew that’s ideal for hoisting on St. Paddy’s Day — no green food colouring required.

For those who love their Guinness but are looking for a local (and more exciting) dark beer, the Torque Brewing Co. Diesel Fitter Stout (Winnipeg — $3.71/473ml can, brewery, Liquor Marts and beer vendors) is deep, dark brown in colour with a light beige head, and aromatically brings roasted malt, dark chocolate, mocha and secondary herbal and white pepper aromas. It’s rich and full-bodied, with a bit more bite (and character) than Guinness thanks to the 65 IBUs and 6.5 per cent alcohol, as well as the brighter roasted malt, espresso bean and pronounced bitter note.

There’s perhaps no better way to toast the patron saint of the Emerald Isle than with a dram of Irish whiskey. The country produces some of the world’s best blended whiskies, which were among the most popular samples for folks who attended this year’s Winnipeg Whisky Festival.

One of the highlights among the blended Irish whiskies was the Bushmill’s Black Bush ($37.99, Liquor Marts). There’s a toastiness here, with hints of underlying dried fruits and white pepper on the nose; on the relatively creamy, medium-bodied palate, the vanilla, white pepper and malty notes work well with that dried fruit component that comes from the whiskey having been aged in casks previously used to make oloroso sherry in Spain. Smooth and delicious.

If you’re hunkering down for some extended Netflix-watching during social isolation this March 17, it seems fitting to try The Irishman Small Batch Single Malt Irish Whiskey ($75.99, Liquor Marts). It’s triple distilled and aged in both oloroso sherry and bourbon casks, which heighten the floral, caramel and tropical fruit aromas, and impart all manner of pear, vanilla and spice on the slightly spicy palate. An incredibly smooth and sophisticated single malt from Ireland.

Last but not least (well, maybe least) is the Tippy Cow Rum Cream Shamrock Mint (U.S. — $29.99, Liquor Marts). A blend of Wisconsin dairy cream and Caribbean rum (how Irish!), consider this Franken-drink to be the grown-up equivalent of the similarly named green-ish milkshake served up by McDonald’s. The company’s website says it need not be refrigerated, even after opening. Yikes. Try this minty madness over ice.

uncorked@mts.net

Twitter: @bensigurdson