St Patrick's Day 2016: Where to get the best Paddy's Day cocktails in London

With St Patrick's Day coming down on Thursday, 17 March, things are likely to get a bit beery. A lot of pubs and bars around the capital will be showing off their Guinness credentials and a few will probably be serving off-green B-52s to sit alongside them. But don't worry, for those who prefer a drink that took a bit longer to make, here are some of the best St Patrick's Day cocktails around the capital to keep whistles wet, ready for whatever Pogues' number you can remember half the lyrics of (yes, some are still green).

The Irish Rover at Whiskey Ginger

If you're going for Irish whiskey, it's probably good to find somewhere known for Irish whiskey. Even better that bar just happened to have joined forces with The Pogues' Irish whiskey and created a cocktails called the Irish Rover.

Ingredients: 50ml The Pogues Irish whiskey, 12.5ml green Chartreuse, 10ml gomme, 25ml lime, 50ml apple juice, eight mint leaves

Arch 2, Green Dragon Court, Borough, London SE1 9AW

The Green Bastard at Kurobuta

Staying with the green theme (if it's St Paddy's, it's green), then match up your celebrations with delicious Japanese food. This green quencher is also a bit off the beaten Paddy's track, being a gin and Midori drink, refreshingly fruity.

Ingredients: Gin, Medori and bitter lime

Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RJ

312 King's Rd, Chelsea, London, SW3 5UH

17-20 Kendal Street, Marble Arch, London, W2 2AW

Bán in the Forge at Victory Mansion

For a real taste of the old country, you'll need a poitín cocktail – the famously banned Irish moonshine, that's heading for a comeback. If that poitín cocktail also has peated bitters made from Irish soil and Irish grass nectar, you're probably celebrating right.

Ingredients: Bán Poitín, Irish grass nectar, lemon, Kilkenny red ale and Nana Scannall's peated bitters

18 Stoke Newington High Street, London, N16 7PL

The Mountain Dew at The Sun Tavern

Sticking with poitín and the authenticity that only a spirit brewed secretly can bring, The Sun Tavern's array of Irish whiskeys and poitíns will leave you happy you picked there to find out what Irish drinking is really about.

Ingredients: Poitín, Lillet Blanc, Triple Sec, violette and lemon juice

441 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 0AN

The Dubliner Honeycomb Bees Knees at The Gallery

If it's all a bit much for you and you need someone to walk you through it, The Gallery is hosting Whiskey 101, an event taking you through Dublin-based whiskey brands and why they're great. You'll also be able to get a cocktail or two while you're there, honeycomb whiskey is almost always a plus.

Ingredients: 50ml The Dubliner Irish Whiskey & Honeycomb Liqueur, 20ml honey syrup, 20ml Llemon juice

The Gallery, 190 Broadhurst Gardens, London NW6 4AY