SeeCalifornia.com

Each year SeeCalifornia.com focuses on St. Patrick’s Day festivities in California (there are plenty of them!) Sometimes we take a look at the green drinks and Irish beverages served, a matter of special interest to celebrants. Here are some favorite drink recipes!

Like so many Heinz 57 Americans, I have a bit of Irish in me and really love St. Patty’s Day food, drinks, music, and the color green.

Something really caught my attention for St. Patrick’s Day when smokin’ chef Steven Raichlen (author of Barbecue Bible) said, “I believe there are better ways to celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick (March 17) than by emptying a vacuum-sealed pouch of corned beef brisket into a pot of boiling water with cabbage wedges. Even if you’re a homesick Irishman, it doesn’t sound like anything to, well, write home about.”

The gray-haired gent seen on PBS offers up a recipe for the ultimate home-cured, home-smoked pastrami for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s time to start prepping soon! Recipe and instructions found here: barbecuebible.com/recipe/home-smoked-pastrami/

Now, for those willing to try smoking hot cocktail recipes, check out Raichlen’s Bacon Bourbon or Dragon’s Breath.

Dragon’s Breath Cocktail

2 ounces (4 tablespoons) bourbon
1 teaspoon St-Germain
1 teaspoon Cointreau
1 teaspoon simple syrup
Small ice cubes (smoked cubes optional)

Raichlen loads up his hand-held smoker and inserts the tube into a brandy snifter, tightly covering the glass with a coaster to hold in the smoke. He uncovers it and immediately pours the mixed cocktail into it. The smoke still spills from the glass as it is served!