St. Patrick's Day Shopping List

It's Pi Day, but we prefer talking about St. Patrick's Day. After all, a pint is much easier to measure than pi, especially because pints don't require anything to the right of the decimal point.

If your beverage of choice for St. Patrick's is beer, we certainly have suggestions for you. If you're adding some Irish Whiskey to your shopping list, click here for an in-depth discussion of that topic.

Great Lakes Brewing, Conway's Irish Ale. Ok, we're cheating a little here, as this is a domestic craft beer. A pint for Pa Conway! Great Lakes Brewing's co-owners’ grandfather and policeman who’d likely uphold that an Irish Ale with full-bodied caramel malt flavors is just the ticket. It's arrestingly smooth with a rap sheet of toasty biscuit and caramel malt flavor. This is a seasonal item, brewed fresh for the 2016 St. Patrick's Day. 6.5% ABV, 25 IBU's.

Murphy's Irish Stout. Murphy’s is an internationally recognized Irish stout,

brewed since 1856 in the iconic Lady’s Well Brewery, Cork. Classified as an Irish Dry Stout, Murphy’s is dark in color and medium-bodied. It is silky smooth with toffee & coffee undertones, almost no bitterness, and a irresistible creamy finish. 4.0% ABV.

Killian's Irish Red. In 12-packs or 6-packs. Properly called George Killian's Irish Red.

Appearance: Deep ruby red in color with a dense off-white foam.
Aroma: Roasted and toasted caramel characteristics with ale-like fruit esters.

Taste: Toasted/roasted caramel malt introduction with nice bready characteristics.
Mouth Feel: Full-bodied with medium carbonation.
Finish: Well-balanced with slight lingering citrus rind and subtle sweetness.

Harp Lager is a delicious, continental lager first brewed in 1960 by Guinness. Brewed using pure water from the Cooley Mountains in Ireland, the beer has retained its trademark crisp taste, with a slight buttery aroma. Mix Harp with Guinness Draught to create the authentic Half & Half. 5.0% ABV.

You may also want to consider Innis & Gunn Irish Whiskey Cask. A Scottish beer, aged in Irish Whiskey casks. That's a movie plot, isn't it? And there's always Guinness.

We also know that our readers enjoy a little Irish cream liqueur. This is an extremely versatile category, suitable on its own, in a cocktail, or in coffee (hot or iced!). Everyone knows about Baileys Irish Cream and its several flavors. We also carry Carolan's, Dream Catcher, Emmet's, Maloney's and St. Brendan's.

The basic premise of this category is the blending of Irish whiskey and Irish dairy cream. Each producer has their own recipe, and we recommend trying them all!

Irish Mist Honey Liqueur. If you want something different for St. Patrick's Day, stop here. Irish Mist was the first liqueur to be produced in Ireland and is currently the only brand worldwide to have the word "Irish" in its registered name. Commercial production began in 1947 at Tullamore, County, Offaly. Irish Mist is based on an ancient recipe for heather wine, a spirit blended with honey, herbs and spices. The chieftains and nobles of Ireland’s ancient clans drank heather wine for centuries. Irish Mist, Ireland’s legendary Irish whiskey liqueur, is a classical, premium liqueur made from a unique blend of Irish whiskey, honey, herbs and other spirits. Irish Mist can also be used in a range of cocktails, as well as in hot coffee.

"Sláinte" to all as we celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

We're Ready for the Green

With all the recent snow, some green leaves and green grass would be a welcome treat. But today we'll talk about the other important use of green, and that's the celebration of St. Patrick's Day. Whether it's just March 17, or whether you're stretching the celebration to the weekend, St. Patrick's is when most everyone feels a bit Irish.

At Joe Canal's, we sell a range of products that are either made in Ireland, or made in the Irish style. Over the course of several blog posts, we'll take you in-depth to our Irish products, to help you make the best selections for whatever way you want to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Our tour will start with Irish Cream Liqueurs. At their most basic, they are a blend of Irish whiskey and Irish dairy cream, and we carry a number of selections in that category. Irish Creams can be enjoyed chilled or on the rocks, in coffee, or as an ingredient in a mixed drink. As a general rule, enjoy these within a year or so of purchase, and within 6 months after opening a bottle. We'll explore them in alphabetical order.

Baileys Original Irish Cream

Probably the best known in this category, and we also carry several different expressions/flavors of Baileys. Baileys Original is the perfect marriage of fresh, premium Irish dairy cream, the finest spirits, aged Irish whiskey and a unique chocolate blend.

In addition to the Original, look for Caramel, Chocolate Cherry and Vanilla Cinnamon flavors.

Try a Baileys Irish Coffee. Combine:

2 oz Baileys® Original Irish Cream
6 oz hot coffee
1 oz Bushmills® Irish Whiskey
Top (if desired) with 1 dollop whipped cream

Carolans Irish Cream

Carolans combines Irish spirits and whiskey with fresh cream and derives its superior taste from the subtle blending of flavors, including natural honey.

Honey is particularly appropriate for a drink produced in the Clonmel area in Ireland – the word “Clonmel” derives from the Gaelic “Cluain Meala” which means Vale of Honey. Clonmel, in County Tipperary, is also set in Ireland’s famed “Golden Vale”, recognized as a great natural dairy land.

Only the best cream suppliers are considered, since the cream is such a vital component (making up nearly one third of the product). It is this uncompromising quality and use of the finest cream that gives Carolans such a smooth consistency.

On the nose: Smooth toffee notes married with dairy scent and honey memories. On the palate: Vanilla flavor with a smooth texture. Creamy taste, accented with the burnished gold of aged spirits and wildflowers honey.

Carolans Irish Cream is named after celebrated 17th century harpist, Turlough O’Carolan, a legendary traveling musician of that time.

Emmets Ireland Cream

Creamier, smoother, and not as sweet. It is made with an infusion of vanilla and cocoa beans. Nougat and coconut fudge to the nose, coconut, pecan and dried fruits on the tongue. Smooth and creamy entry and finish, enjoyable on ice, in coffee, or your favorite cocktail. One of the best values in the category.

Irish Manor Legendary Irish Cream Liqueur

Truly a legendary Irish Cream made with only the finest Irish spirits and the richest Irish Cream.

At the end of a cold day, Irish hunters would return from the forest to their favorite manor house. They would sit by a fire and relax with an Irish Cream Liqueur. One recipe was so delicious it was praised as "Legendary". It is this elixir one finds in this bottle.

Made from Irish Manor Whiskey and exceptionally smooth Irish cream resulting in a rich spirit. Whether served chilled, in coffee, or in your favorite baked goods recipe, this creamy liqueur is sure to satisfy.

Maloney’s Irish Country Cream

Maloney’s Irish Country Cream is a smooth blend of rich Irish dairy cream, chocolate and vanilla flavors, wine and Irish spirits and has a low alcohol strength of less than 15% by volume.

Its smooth texture is derived from the quality of the pure and fresh Irish dairy cream, sourced locally from the surrounding dairylands.

Maloney’s is best consumed over ice, chilled or in coffee or mixed with your favorite spirit and as it contains fresh cream, it is not advisable to mix with citric based drinks.

We recommend that once opened, the product should be consumed within 3 months for optimal taste experience and that it should be stored away from temperature extremes and direct sunlight.

Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream

From the fields of Derry, Ireland comes the one true essence of the motherland. Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream is simple by design. All-natural cream. Aged Irish whiskey. It’s all you could want in an authentic Irish Cream Liqueur.

Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream is inspired by the sixth century monk, Saint Brendan the Abbot. Known for his remarkable travels, his adventurous spirit guided our quest for the most authentic, all-natural Irish ingredients to create our premium Irish Cream Liqueur.

Our all-natural cream comes from happy dairy cows dining on the richest green grasses of the Emerald Isle. Made with a richer butterfat content than most Irish Creams, it’s pure decadence. Plain and simple.

Aged, triple-distilled premium Irish whiskey brings warmth and smoothness straight from the barrel to finish this 34-proof premium liqueur the proper Irish way.

Slainte!