St. Patrick's drinks

On St. Patrick's Day, you might get pinched for not wearing green. Does drinking a green cocktail count?

Guinness may be the libation of choice in Irish pubs, but we found a few specialty cocktails in honor of St. Paddy's Day this weekend. Just don't drink too many — the bartender doesn't want to see you actually turn green.

Alberto's Leprechaun Mor-jito

The place: Morton's The Steakhouse, 1511 Sixth Ave., 206-223-0550 ($11)

Quote: "We serve it straight up with green crème de menthe, and for a garnish it's got a mint leaf. It's kind of like a martini/mojito/leprechaun." — Alberto Espino, bar manager

Alberto's Leprechaun Mor-jito

2 oz. Bacardi light rum

Several mint leaves

Juice from two limes

Two splashes soda water

Dash green crème de menthe

Marinate mint in rum and lime juice in a pint glass for 30 seconds. Dip rim of cocktail glass in crème de menthe, then dip in extra sugar. Fill pint glass with ice, add soda water, sugar and crème de menthe. Shake. Strain into cocktail glass, garnish with mint leaf.

Irish For The Day

The place: McCormick & Schmick's Harborside, 1200 Westlake Ave. N., 206-270-9052 ($15)

Quote: "It's really, in a sense, a martini. You can drink a martini and still feel Irish." — Catherine Mirabile, general manager

Irish for the Day

½ oz. of green crème de menthe

2 oz. Stoli Elite

Lime garnish

Rinse a martini glass with crème de menthe, shake out any excess. Pour Stoli Elite over ice in a pint glass. Stir, then strain into martini glass. Float clover carved out of lime skin as a garnish.

Shamrock

The place: Union Square Grill, 621 Union St., 206-224-4321 ($7)

Quote: "Irish Mist is a derivative of Irish whiskey, so it really has that Irish flavor. It's not fruity, but it has that effervescence. It's kind of crisp." — Zach Shelton, bar manager

Shamrock

3/4 oz. Irish Mist

3/4 oz. Blue Curaçao

Soda

Ice

Edible clover (optional)

Combine Irish Mist and Blue Curaçao in an 11 oz. tall glass filled with ice. Top off with soda. Garnish with fresh edible clover, if you can find it.

Nicole Tsong: ntsong@seattletimes.com

Pamela Sitt: psitt@seattletimes.com