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Emerald Cocktail

The Emerald cocktail is proof that there are many roads to cocktail bliss. It’s also a fine Irish whiskey cocktail that’s as easy to craft as it is to sip.

Emerald Cocktail with White Background from Above
 Image: ©2foodtrippers

Crafting Emerald cocktails reminds us that mixology is a deep sea with a bottom that’s practically impossible to reach. Every time we craft one cocktail, we discover ten more that are similar. In this case that cocktail is the Manhattan.

The Emerald is so similar to a classic Manhattan cocktail that some people refer to it as an Irish Manhattan. But we prefer the cocktail’s original name since we’re fans of both the color and the gem.

What Is An Emerald Cocktail?

Emerald Cocktail with Green Background from Avove
Spoiler Alert – The Emerald cocktail isn’t green. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

There’s no need to adjust your screen.

While you might expect an Emerald cocktail to be green, its hue is actually amber. This cocktail’s moniker has everything to do with the heritage of its primary ingredient and nothing to do with the cocktail’s color.

Crafted Emerald Cocktail
The Emerald cocktail channels Ireland in every sip thanks to its primary ingredient – Irish whiskey. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

To nobody’s surprise, Irish whiskey hails from Ireland. Unlike the Emerald cocktail, Ireland is known as the ‘Emerald Isle’ due to its abundance of grasslands and general greenery. Thus, think of the cocktail as more of a tribute to the Irish nation than a color.

If your heart is set on imbibing a green cocktail, the Emerald is not for you. However, you’re in the right place if you’re looking for a simple yet sophisticated sipper featuring Irish whiskey. You can imbibe Emerald cocktails at pubs in Dublin but you can also craft them at home.

Check out our Grasshopper and Absinthe Frappe recipes if drinking green is your goal.

Ingredients

Emerald Cocktail Ingredients
The Emerald cocktail’s ingredient list can be counted on one hand – Irish whiskey, sweet red vermouth, orange bitters and orange peel for garnish. You’ll also need ice for the recipe’s mixing step. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The Emerald cocktail’s ingredients are similar those in a Manhattan but with a few twists. Here are the ingredients you’ll need to craft an Emerald cocktail at home:

  • Irish Whiskey
  • Sweet Red Vermouth
  • Orange Bitters
  • Ice (for stirring)
  • Orange Peel (garnish)

None of these ingredients are exotic. In fact, you probably have them all in your liquor cabinet and pantry.

Emerald Cocktail Liquor Bottles
Irish whiskey, sweet red vermouth and orange bitters provide the liquor in the Emerald cocktail recipe. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

In addition to Irish whiskey, the Emerald cocktail recipe calls for two more liquors – sweet red vermouth and orange bitters.

To craft our Emeralds, we use Jameson Irish whiskey from Ireland, Carpano sweet red vermouth from Italy and Angostura orange bitters from Trinidad and Tobago. Pushing the cocktail’s ‘internationality,’ we use oranges grown in Portugal’s Algarve for garnish.

How To Craft An Emerald Cocktail

Emerald Cocktail Mise en Place
Arranging the mise en place will speed up your Emerald cocktail recipe. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The first step is to measure the Irish whiskey and sweet red vermouth. We use a Japanese jigger in this and other cocktail recipes to ensure accurate measurements and clean pours.

Buy a Japanese jigger from Amazon if you need a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.

Measuring Irish Whiskey for an Emerald Cocktail
We used a Japanese jigger to measure both the Irish whiskey and the sweet red vermouth. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

You’ll want to pour both liquors directly into a mixing glass as you measure each. You can use a shaker or tall glass if you don’t have a mixing glass.

Pouring Irish Whiskey for an Emerald Cocktail
Pouring the liquor directly into a mixing glass reduces muss and fuss. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The next step is to add a dash of orange bitters.

Don’t skip this step as it completes the cocktail’s flavors!

Dashing Bitters for a Emerald Cocktail Recipe
One dash of orange bitters is the cocktail’s final touch. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Add a handful of ice and stir until the ingredients are combined and chilled.

Stirring an Emerald Cocktail
The Emerald cocktail is stirred, not shaken. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Strain the cocktail into a glass of your choice. We used a lowball glass but a coupe glass would work too.

Straining an Emerald Cocktail
Amber is the new green when it comes to the Emerald cocktail’s color. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Express the glass rim with an orange peel.

Expressing Orange Peel for an Emerald Cocktail
Expressing an orange peel releases the fruit’s flavors and aromas. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Finally, drop the peel into the glass as garnish.

Alternatives

Crafted Emerald Cocktail Next to Liquor bottles
Crafting an Emerald cocktail is so easy that you’ll have time to craft another cocktail or two. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The following two cocktails are both similar to the Emerald. We say craft all three to find your personal favorite.

  • Craft a Manhattan cocktail with whiskey, sweet red vermouth and angostura bitters.
  • Replace the orange bitters with angostura bitters and add green chartreuse to craft a Tipperary cocktail.

Discover 10 essential bar tools for the home mixologist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Emerald cocktail?

The Emerald cocktail is a whiskey cocktail crafted with Irish whiskey, sweet red vermouth and orange bitters.

Is the Emerald cocktail green?

No. Despite its name, the Emerald cocktail is amber.

What are the ingredients in an Emerald cocktail?

Irish Whiskey, Sweet Red Vermouth, Orange Bitters, Ice (for stirring) and Orange Peel (garnish)

What’s the best whiskey to use in an Emerald cocktail?

Using Irish whiskey is the way to go when crafting a Emerald cocktail. We like to use Jameson Irish Whiskey but you can use your favorite bottle.

Is the Emerald cocktail shaken or stirred?

The Emerald cocktail is stirred, not shaken.

What type of glass is best for an Emerald cocktail?

We use a lowball class when we craft this cocktail and we recommend that you do the same.

When’s the best time to drink an Emerald cocktail?

While it’s always a good time to drink an Emerald cocktail, it’s an ideal cocktail to serve at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Did you craft this cocktail? If so, please rate the recipe below.

Emerald Cocktail with White Background Up Close
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5 from 2 votes

Emerald Recipe

The Emerald cocktail is so easy to craft that you'll want to craft this cocktail on St. Patrick's day and all year long.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Drink
Cuisine: Cocktail
Servings: 1
Calories: 194kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Irish whiskey
  • 1 ounce sweet red vermouth
  • 1 dash orange bitters
  • orange peel (garnish)
  • ice cubes (for mixing)

Instructions

  • Pour Irish whiskey and sweet red vermouth into a mixing glass.
  • Add a dash of orange bitters.
  • Add a handful of ice cubes and stir until liquids are mixed and chilled.
  • Strain into a glass of your choice.
  • Express the glass with orange peel.
  • Drop the orange peel into the glass as garnish.

Estimated Nutrition

Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 0.1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 28mg | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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About The Authors

About The Authors

Daryl & Mindi Hirsch

Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers their unique taste of the world.

Disclosures

Article Updates
We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article.

Funding
We purchased the ingredients and tools used to craft this cocktail.

Original Publication Date: March 11, 2022

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