Tipperary Cocktail

The Tipperary Cocktail is a potent Irish whiskey cocktail that really packs a punch in the flavor department! It's along the lines of a Manhattan, but the addition of green Chartreuse liqueur gives it an herbal twist. Sweet vermouth rounds out the flavors and ties it all together. The combination of these powerful spirits gives this cocktail a deep and complex flavor profile that's perfect for sipping on a night out.

Despite its very Irish name, the Tipperary cocktail is was not actually developed in Ireland! It was created in New York City in the early 1900s, and first appeared in the cocktail book Recipes for Mixed Drinks by Hugo Ensslin. It was named after the popular World War I Irish ballad, "It's a Long Way to Tipperary", released in 1912 by Jack Judge and Harry Williams.

If you're looking for a classy cocktail to enjoy on Saint Patricks Day, you can't get any more Irish than this! Want more of a green-colored drink for your celebration? Try out this naturally green Sage Margarita, or a delicious Midori Sour.

For more Manhattan style cocktails, try out the classic Vieux Carré cocktail, or the Little Italy Cocktail featuring Cynar liqueur.

Ingredients

• Irish whiskey - Jameson is a great whiskey choice for this drink. It has a smooth and mellow flavor, with notes of oak, vanilla, and a hint of sweetness. It is well-balanced between sweet and spicy notes and has a pleasant, light finish.
• Chartreuse liqueur - This green liqueur is famous for its 130 herbal ingredients. It's pretty much irreplaceable in this drink, so I highly recommend giving it a try. It's also key in the Last Word cocktail if you're looking for something else to make with it!
• Sweet vermouth - Any sweet vermouth you have on hand will work great, but I used Carpano Antica Formula sweet Vermouth. This is my go-to sweet vermouth and is really rich, with a red wine base.
• Angostura bitters - You'll probably recognize this distinctive bottle with the paper that's too tall (although in the photo below I'm using them in a Viski bitters bottle). They're aromatic and add a distinctive bitter flavor, balancing out the sweetness in this drink.
• Orange peel garnish - try not to skip this garnish, since it brings a delicious aroma to the final drink.

Substitutions

Here are some ways you can substitute the ingredients in this cocktail:

• Irish Whiskey - a blended Scotch or even Canadian whiskey will work well if you don't have this on hand.
• Chartreuse - only a few options can be a suitable swap for Chartreuse, since its flavor is truly unique. Dolin Genepy Le Chamois is probably the closest, or you can try Benedictine D. O. M. These options will be slightly different, but bring some of the herbal complexity you get with Chartreuse.
• Sweet Vermouth - you can swap in sherry, port, or a sweet red wine if you don't have vermouth. You can add a little simple syrup and some extra bitters to try to replicate the flavor profile of the vermouth.

Variations

Here are some variations on this recipe:

• Different Liquor Base - If you're looking for a different flavor profile, play around with the main spirit. An aged spirit will be best, like bourbon or a Scotch whiskey. You can even try using reposado tequila for a tasty alternative.
• Keto Friendly - This is a pretty challenging drink to make keto-friendly, since two of the main ingredients are sugary liqueurs. In order to reduce the sugar, you can change the ratio of the drink to have more whiskey and less of the other ingredients. You can also try swapping the sweet vermouth for dry vermouth.
• Virgin Tipperary - To create a non-alcoholic version of this cocktail, swap out the Irish whiskey for a zero-proof option, like Ritual whiskey alternative. Lyre's Aperitif Rosso is a great option as a sweet vermouth substitute. To replicate the herbal flavors in Chartreuse, try a mix of lavender syrup and sage syrup.

Equipment

To make this drink, you'll need a jigger, a heavy-bottomed mixing glass, long bar spoon, and either a hawthorn or julep strainer.

For the garnish, you'll need a vegetable peeler, cutting board, and sharp paring knife.

I used a Nick & Nora glass (specifically, this Viski Raye Nick & Nora). It's the perfect size for this cocktail, and beautifully elegant.

If you need any new bar equipment, be sure to check out the products from A Bar Above! Their mixing glasses are gorgeous and top notch quality. You can get 10% off using my discount code, LKDrinks.

Instructions

Use a vegetable peeler to peel off a large piece of orange peel. Then, use a paring knife to clean up the sides of the peel.

Cut a slit down the center of the peel, which you’ll use to attach it to the rim of the glass. Set the peel aside while you make the drink.

Start making the drink by adding the whiskey and Chartreuse to your mixing glass.

Next add the vermouth and bitters to the mixing glass.

Fill the mixing glass with ice and use a long bar spoon to stir for about 30 seconds. This will dilute and chill the liquid. 

Then, strain the drink into your serving glass.

Gently squeeze the orange peel over the top of the glass to express the oils, and then attach it to the rim of the glass. Serve and enjoy!

Hint: When stirring the drink with ice, try to keep the back of the bar spoon pressed against the side of the glass, and rotate the ice around in a circle. This will help chill the liquid without over-diluting it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Top tip

Making a large batch of this cocktail is incredibly easy, and it can be made well ahead of time! All you have to do is multiply the ingredients, or use the handy calculator in the recipe below, and add a half ounce of filtered water per cocktail to the pitcher.

Keep the mixture in the refrigerator to chill. With this batching method, you can skip stirring with ice, so all you have to do is pour it into a glass and squeeze an orange peel over the top. You can keep it in the fridge for up to a month, and the flavors will actually meld together and improve over time. Perfect to serve at your St. Paddy's Day celebration!