Low Calorie Irish Drinks

Sure you can break your diet (dreadfully) on St. Patrick’s Day, but why?  There are plenty of traditional, festive, Irish drinks that don’t have all the calories and carbs of Irish Stout beers.

Hey, I’m not a green beer drinker but do love an Irish Stout on Patty’s Day. Well did you know one pint of Murphy’s Stout has over 200 calories?!  Not to mention, a ton of carbs – 22g per pint.

Here are a few traditional, and refreshing, Irish drinks without the carbs and calories.  These are mixed with Irish whiskey. You may not be a whiskey drinker, but these are very tasty and one ounce of Jameson only has 69 calories – with 0 carbs!.  By the way, did you know what they say about Irish whiskey?  God invented whiskey so the Irish wouldn’t rule the world!  I’ll have what the man on the floor’s having!

Blarney Stone

Tall, refreshing, and easy, this combination of Irish whiskey, ginger beer, and lime can be adjusted depending on the sweetness of your ginger beer. You could also try this with a combination of citrus if you have lemons or grapefruits on hand.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Irish whiskey
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice, from about two limes
• Ginger beer, chilled
• Garnish: lime twist

Add whiskey and lime juice to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake until well chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with lime twist.

The Emerald

Smooth and rich, this simple cocktail made with Irish whiskey, sweet vermouth, and orange bitters will appeal to anyone who drinks a Manhattan. An orange twist emphasizes the warm citrus aroma.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Irish whiskey
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes orange bitters

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass and fill with cracked ice. Stir well for 30 seconds and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a piece of orange or lemon peel, or nothing at all.

Irish Spring

Get your dose of St. Patrick’s Day green (and a sweet taste) without packing on the pounds. Simply mix 3/4 of an ounce of vodka, half an ounce of creme de menthe, and club soda for a cocktail that rings in at about 150 calories.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Irish whiskey
• 1/2 oz peach brandy
• 1 oz orange juice
• 1 oz sweet and sour mix
• 1 slice orange
• 1 cherry

Pour all ingredients (except orange slice and cherry) into a collins glass over ice cubes. Garnish with the slice of orange, add the cherry on top, and serve.

Dancing Leprechaun recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey
• 3/4 oz Drambuie® Scotch whisky
• 3/4 oz lemon juice
• ginger ale

Shake ingredients with ice. Strain into a glass with ice cubes, and garnish with a twist of lemon.

Irish Rickey recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey
• juice of 1/2 limes
• 1 lime wedge
• carbonated water

Pour irish whiskey and juice of lime into a highball glass over ice cubes. Fill with carbonated water and stir. Add the wedge of lime and serve.

Jameson & soda

It’s no-frills and, we admit, not the most exciting of cocktails, but it gets the job done with minimal damage to your calorie count. Simply mix Jameson with a splash of club soda and lemon and enjoy knowing you won’t wake up with a beer belly.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey
• Soda of choice (diet)

Pour whiskey in glass with ice. Fill with Soda, and garnish with lime.