Happy St. Patrick's Day! This year, skip the green beer (go for green cupcakes instead!) in favor of a real Irish drink. You'll forget all about emerald-hued light beer when you taste this traditional Irish coffee. Here's how to make it, plus recipes for cocktails featuring Irish whiskey, Guinness, Irish cream and more.

Some restaurants get fancy with their Irish coffee: Chocolate shavings on top, Irish cream-infused coffee, a torched-sugar crust atop the whipped cream.  That's all great for the other 364 days of the year, but today, why not go traditional?  Use this recipe straight from Dublin for your post-Guinness nightcap.

Recipe courtesy Barman Dara Cruise, Four Seasons Hotel, Dublin Ireland

Fill a footed glass mug (or any mug) with hot water to preheat it, then empty. Pour piping hot coffee into warmed glass until it is about 3/4 full. Add the brown sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Blend in Irish whiskey. Top with a collar of the whipped heavy cream by pouring gently over back of spoon. Serve hot.

• Half and Half (Black and Tan)
• Madeline's Kiss
• DIY Irish Cream
• Stout Float
• Black Velvet
• Ali and Georgia's Luck 'O The Irish Whiskey
• Adult Shamrock Shake
• Beyond Guinness: Irish Beer Picks

Want some Irish grub alongside your cocktails? Of course you do! Check out our collection of Irish Recipes.