St. Patrick’s Day — We’re Not in Ireland Anymore

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The Bushmills Irish Buck from FIVE restaurant in Berkeley, CA

The Bushmills Irish Buck from FIVE restaurant in Berkeley, CA

by AJ Rufus The fifth-century priest who is credited with banishing snakes from Ireland, converting multitudes by using the shamrock to symbolize the Holy Trinity, and having an ashwood walking stick that miraculously transformed into a living tree would no doubt be stunned to know that his annual feast day — March 17 — is now celebrated largely in bars. But he could at least draw comfort from the fact that all this glass-raising has kept his name very much alive, which is more than we can say for St. Narcissus, St. Mathilda and St. Julian of Antioch, who also have feast days this week. The patron saint of Ireland has also inspired mixologists to devise astounding St. Patrick’s Day cocktails, served only on or around March 17. This weekend, the Napa Valley Grille in Los Angeles will be serving the kale-based Jolly Green Machine. Lockwood at Chicago’s Palmer House Hilton will serve the Bubbly Emerald, fueled with Chandon Brut. San Francisco’s Absinthe Brasserie & Bar will serve the gingery Ginger Rogers. And Berkeley’s FIVE will serve the Bushmills Irish Buck. You can make it at home with 1-1/2 oz. Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey, 1/4 oz. fresh lime juice, 2 oz. ginger ale and a lime-wheel garnish. But why not make a night of it and check out Chef Banks White’s signature orzo mac-and-cheese, too? To get the most out of the holiday, check out our guide to St. Patrick’s Day, which includes the best parades and places near you to hoist a pint as well as the Top 10 Irish Beers. You can click on each photo to enlarge.