K&L Newsletter: Festive St. Patrick's Day Picks

St. Patrick’s Day may be famous for green pints (and, if you’re in Chicago, the green river!), but there’s a whole world of Irish and Irish-inspired liquid culture in addition to the iconic stout. Ireland’s drinking traditions stretch from the ancient monasteries that first distilled uisce beatha (“the water of life”) to today’s inventive bartenders shaking up proper cocktails with whiskey, gin, and even Irish poitín. Whether you’re raising a pint, savoring a collectible dram, or mixing something spirited at home, this is the moment to toast Ireland and all the craft beverages it has inspired.

At K&L, we love St. Patrick’s Day not for the kitsch, but for the craftsmanship—those meticulously made whiskeys, the world‑class stouts, the modern Irish spirits driving a new wave of cocktail culture. This guide is your passport to all of it: the bottles worth hoarding, the pours worth sharing, and the proper cocktails that prove Irish spirits can do far more than fuel a party.

So pull up a barstool and dive into our picks for celebrating the holiday with style, substance, and a bit of good craic.

• Irish Whiskeys
• American Beers for St. Patrick's Day
• Shaking Up St. Patrick’s Day with Cocktails
• Irish Whiskey Auctions Closing on March 14th
• A Scotch Salute to Ireland
• Single-Barrel Bourbon for a Trans-Atlantic Toast
• Upcoming Events At Your Local K&L

When it comes to Irish whiskey, there’s really nothing wrong with that familiar green bottle, which accounts for about 75% of the U.S. market for Irish whiskey. It’s fine as a shot, serviceable mixed with ginger, and acceptable in a classic Irish coffee. But there is so very much more to the world of Irish whiskey.

Once the global capital of whiskey, Ireland had almost 90 licensed producers and provided 70% or more of the whiskey consumed worldwide around the end of the 18th century. This is the birthplace of uisce beatha, or water of life, after all. Due to socio-economic and political issues, however, that industry contracted to only three distilleries by the mid 1900s. Thankfully, they’re experiencing a renaissance today similar to that of American whiskey, and the quality of product keeps getting better. Read More On the Trail.

Ireland is famous for its rich, bone-warming stouts and easy‑drinking red ales, but you don’t need to limit yourself to imports to get into the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. Some of the best American craft breweries are turning out beers that channel the classic styles of Ireland—with creativity, precision, and plenty of character.

This year, we’re spotlighting a handful of U.S. brews that make fantastic stand‑ins (or intriguing upgrades) to the traditional Irish lineup. Whether you love the dry snap of a classic stout, the subtle sweetness of an Irish red, or the crisp refreshment of a well‑built lager, these bottles and cans deliver all the comfort and craft you could want for the holiday. Read More On the Trail.

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Item Name	Retail	Link
Russian River Brewing Co. "Velvet Glow" Helles Lager, California (12oz can) *NO SHIPPING/TRANSFERS OUTSIDE BAY AREA*	$2.49	View
Ghost Town Brewing "Verlust" Schwarzbier, California (16oz cans)	$4.24	View
There Does Not Exist "Tsanta" Red Ale, California (16oz can)	$3.99	View
There Does Not Exist "Return To Earth" Oatmeal Stout, California (16oz can)	$3.99	View
Moonlight Brewing Co. "Death and Taxes" Black Lager, California (16oz can)	$4.49	View
Fort George Brewery "Cavatica Stout" American Double Stout, Oregon (16oz can)	$3.99	View

TASTING: American Beers for St. Patrick's Day

Tuesday, March 17^th
$5 per ticket
4:00PM - 6:00PM — K&L San Francisco
4:00PM - 6:00PM — K&L Redwood City

Though we often think of tucking into a glass of whiskey or stout in a cozy Irish pub, many Irish are known to enjoy a proper cocktail now and again. In fact, Ireland’s relationship with cocktails runs deeper than you might think. While classic Irish drinking culture centered on whiskey, stout, and a distilled spirit dating to the 6th century called poitín,Ireland eventually embraced cocktails during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when European and American bartending trends filtered into Dublin’s grand hotels and celebrated pubs. Ireland’s own spirits shaped its early mixology: poitín frequently appeared in mixed drinks, and by the mid‑1900s, Irish whiskey had taken its place in international classics like Irish Coffee, born in 1943 at Foynes Airbase.

Today, as Irish whiskey experiences a renaissance, modern bartenders are revisiting century‑old recipes and giving them new life—making St. Patrick’s Day the perfect moment to shake (or stir) something a bit more refined. Below, two historic Irish whiskey cocktails—the over‑100‑year‑old Tipperary and the 1917 Brainstorm—offer a classy, spirit‑forward way to toast the holiday without a drop of neon green in sight. Read More On the Trail.

This month’s auction lineup offers an exceptional chance to secure some of Ireland’s truly rare and collectible bottles. From once‑a‑year releases to cask‑strength icons and historic anniversary editions, these lots showcase the artistry and heritage that put Irish whiskey on the world stage. Bidding closes March 14th.

Ireland and Scotland share centuries of intertwined distilling heritage, maritime trade, and monastic tradition, so there’s no reason not to raise a glass to Ireland with a tipple from its neighbor to the north. Reaching for a single malt Scotch is a nod to the broader Gaelic whisky story and a chance to savor flavors that Irish whiskey’s softer, triple‑distilled style doesn’t always explore. Whether it’s peat‑kissed coastal malt, honeyed Highland richness, or sherry‑soaked Speyside depth, Scotch brings a captivating counterpoint to Ireland’s own spirits—and offers a deliciously nuanced way to toast the holiday. Sláinte, in every dialect.

Who says St. Patrick’s Day has to be a one‑spirit holiday? Sure, Ireland gave us uisce beatha, but the Irish diaspora helped shape American whiskey too—especially in Kentucky, where generations of Irish immigrants laid the groundwork for the bourbon tradition we love today. Reaching for a single‑barrel bourbon is a toast to that shared heritage. With its bold flavor, rich oak sweetness, and one‑of‑a‑kind barrel character, single‑barrel bourbon brings a celebratory energy that fits the holiday perfectly. Think of it as turning St. Patrick’s Day into a truly trans‑Atlantic party: one glass, one barrel, one unforgettable pour at a time.

Thursday, March 12^th – Blind Wine Tasting (All Locations)
Friday, March 13^th – Grower Champagne Tasting (All Locations)
Saturday, March 14^th – Bordeaux Tasting (All Locations)
Tuesday, March 17^th – St. Patrick's Day Happy Hour Beer (San Francisco & Redwood City)
Thursday, March 19^th – Tablas Creek Wine Tasting (All Locations)
Friday, March 20^th – Islands of Italy: Sicily & Sardinia (All Locations)
Saturday, March 21^st – Loire Wine Tasting (All Locations)
Tuesday, March 24^th – Leflaive, Moreau, Hugel, and Pol Roger Tasting (San Francisco)
Wednesday, March 25^th – Beer Tasting (San Francisco & Redwood City)
Thursday, March 26^th – Bird Snapper Non-Alcoholic RTDs (San Francisco)
Friday, March 27^th – Highlighting Rioja's Best Vintages (All Locations)
Saturday, March 28^th – Australia & New Zealand Wine Tasting (All Locations)
Thursday, April 2^nd – Wine Club Tasting (All Locations)
Friday, April 3^rd – Tête de Cuvée Champagnes (All Locations)
Saturday, April 4^th – Domestic Tasting (All Locations)
Thursday, April 9^th – Blind Wine Tasting (All Locations)
Saturday, April 11^th – Riesling Tasting (All Locations)

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