Put down the green beer—you’re better than that.
Every year, St. Patrick’s Day rolls around, and suddenly the world is awash in green everything—beers, outfits, rivers, and even some deeply questionable food choices. People chase gold at the end of rainbows, swap stories about leprechauns, and toast to luck, laughter, and a little mischief. But let’s be real: if leprechauns were picking their drink of choice, they wouldn’t be knocking back neon-green beer… they’d be sipping on mead.
Mead is ancient, golden, and full of magic—just like the folklore surrounding this legendary holiday. So, whether you're celebrating with a hearty Irish feast or just looking for the perfect St. Paddy’s Day cocktail, we’ve got the ultimate guide to pairing Dragonfire’s finest with your favorite Irish traditions.
Because let’s face it—if you’re looking for liquid gold, you won’t find it in a pint of green beer.
First a touch of history:
St Patrick's day is celebrated in America as more of an Irish American Pride day. Irish-Americans in Boston held the first celebration in 1737: a dinner hosted by the Charitable Irish Society, which remains an annual tradition nearly three centuries later. In 1762, New York City held its first parade, which has become the largest and oldest St. Patrick's Day parade in the world.(for more info and the source of this info click here)
The color green may have become associated with the Irish back in 1700's during the Irish Rebellion where the Irish wore green to differentiate themselves from the English.
Leprechauns....
The leprechauns were generally considered to be small, varying from the size of a thumbnail to the size of a child. This is usually due to the circumstances of where they were detected. They have the ability to be invisible, especially when hanging around humans. Tipping your hat or curtsying to a dust swirl was common practice as it was believed that could be a leprechaun passing by.
They enjoyed festivals and feasts (such as St Patrick's Day) because much food and drink was spilled and they would take any dropped food as their own. Leaving cream or honey on your threshold for the fae can be seen as a peace offering and a way to foster positive relationships with the fae, Leprechaun’s included.
Leprechaun's were also known as the distillers of the Faeries. The brews they would provide to the fae feasts and parties would make the fae more joyous and but if a human were to drink any they would forget about their human life and stay with the faeries forever. They were also exceptional musicians. Harp, fiddle and pipes are what they are best known for. With long memories and long lives they have a large repertoire of songs and stories.
It's no wonder that Leprechauns are a big part of the celebrations this time of year.
Here’s how to pair Dragonfire’s finest with Irish favorites and some mead-based cocktails that’ll leave your friends green with envy.
Mead Pairings: Feast Like a (Drunken) Leprechaun
1. Muirdris + Corned Beef and Cabbage
Corned beef is salty, savory, and downright delicious, but let’s be honest—it can get a bit heavy. That’s where Muirdris comes in, strutting onto the plate like the hero we didn’t know we needed. Its deep elderberry flavor cuts through the richness and makes cabbage feel fancy (which is a hard thing to do). Not a fan of cabbage, try the Irish Nachos from our post last year.
2. Storcie + Irish Soda Bread and Aged Cheddar
Soda bread can be a little… dry. Like “did I just swallow sand?” dry. I found a great recipe that I altered slightly and it was actually not dry! I used homemade buttermilk from our fresh goat milk (and added a little bit extra milk) fresh egg from our chickens and added dried cranberries.
(Find it online: https://alexandracooks.com/2016/03/11/irish-soda-bread-two-ways/)
Ingredient
4 cups (510 g) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons (12 g) kosher salt
1 tablespoon (13 g) sugar
1 teaspoon (5 g) baking soda
1 cup dried cranberries
1 egg
1¾ cups (410 g) buttermilk, (we made our own with fresh goat milk and 2 tablespoons of vinegar.)
2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Whisk together the flour, salt, sugar, baking soda, and currants (if using).
In a medium bowl, beat the egg and buttermilk. Add the melted butter and stir to combine. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until combined. Mixture will be sticky. Grease a 9- or 10-inch cast iron skillet (or other similarly sized vessel) with softened butter. Set aside.
Lightly flour your hands and sprinkle a little flour over the sticky dough ball. Use your hands to scrape the dough from the sides of the bowl and to quickly shape the mass into a ball, kneading lightly if necessary. Transfer to a prepared skillet. Sprinkle with a teensy bit more flour. Use a sharp knife to make an X across the top of the dough ball. Place in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until lightly golden and bottom sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from the oven, transfer to the cooling rack, and let cool for 15 minutes before slicing.
To store Irish soda bread, tuck it into an airtight bag (such as a ziplock) or an airtight vessel. You can store it at room temperature for about 3-4 days or freeze it for up to 2-3 months.
Slap some Irish butter on it, add sharp cheddar, and wash it down with Storcie, and suddenly you’re living your best life. The cranberry notes bring a zingy contrast that’ll have you saying, “Another slice, please!”
3. Ekhidna + Chocolate Guinness Cake Chocolate, raspberries, and a hint of booze—need we say more? This combo is basically dessert perfection. If Ekhidna were a person, it’d be the one wearing sunglasses indoors and sipping espresso at 10 p.m.—cool, mysterious, and just a little dangerous.
Cocktails: Shamrocks and Shenanigans
1. Elderberry Irish Mule For when you want to look sophisticated but still be able to party.
Ingredients:
2 oz Muirdris
1 oz Irish whiskey (because you’re not a quitter)
½ oz lime juice
Ginger beer
Lime wedge and fresh mint for garnish
Directions: Mix it up, sip it down, and try not to tell everyone it’s “so much better than beer.” You’ll fail, but it’s worth a shot.
2. Raspberry Chocolate Espresso Martini Perfect for that moment when you’re three cocktails in and think, “I should open a coffee-mead bar.”
Ingredients:
1 oz Ekhidna
1 oz vodka
1 oz espresso (cooled, but let’s not get too fussy)
½ oz coffee liqueur
Fresh raspberries for garnish
Directions: Shake it like you mean it, strain it into a glass, and channel your inner James Bond, but with more Irish swagger.
3. Cranberry Mint Spritz Fancy enough for brunch, strong enough for St. Paddy’s Day.
Ingredients:
3 oz Storcie
1 oz vodka or gin (optional, but are we really doing this halfway?)
½ oz simple syrup ( or Fafnir)
Sparkling water
Fresh mint leaves and cranberries for garnish
Directions: Muddle some mint, pour everything into a glass, and top with sparkling water. Take a sip and suddenly you’re the kind of person who says things like, “It’s pronounced Sláinte.”
Make your own Irish Cream for this St. Paddy's day!
How to Party Like a Mead-Loving Leprechaun
Bring a bottle of mead to the party and become an instant legend. Grab your bottle today!
Pair your mead with every carb-loaded Irish dish you can find.
Try not to end the night dramatically dancing a jig or a reel… but if it happens, blame the mead.
So this year, ditch the green beer. Raise a glass of mead, feast like a king, and let the good times (and the mead) flow. Sláinte, you beautiful creatures! 🍀🍻
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