Emerald Isle

What a stunning drink for St. Patrick's Day! I've said before that a drink isn't good just because it is green. You have to think about the flavors involved and whether or not they clash. That's why drinks like Everybody's Irish and the Irish Flag fall short. They somehow think that Irish whiskey, creme de menthe and Green Chartreuse will fit together well. They don't, but gin and green creme de menthe do, especially with a heavy dose of Angostura bitters.

So my verdict on this St. Patrick's Day cocktail is it is better than most. A little bracing, however. It's just strong on mint flavor and gin, the other Irish spirit.

I wanted to point out that the cherry in the photo is green. It took me a good while and many shops to find green maraschino cherries, but, unlike other drinks that call for them, I couldn't use anything but a green cherry for the Emerald Isle. I know that they are full of dye and nearly toxic, but so is the celebration of St. Patrick's Day in America.

• 2 1/2 oz. gin
• 2 tsp. green creme de menthe
• 3 dashes Angostura bitters
• green maraschino cherry

Combine liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish only with a green maraschino cherry.