There are a lot of green drinks and beer drinks out there for St. Patrick's Day... The cocktail I came up with features Irish whiskey so that's plenty Irish in my book. Plus this recipe got a big thumbs up from the guys and the girls alike making it perfect for spring and summer BBQ's, lake parties, and yes, even wedding celebrations. Since Bushmills, my favorite Irish whiskey, is made close to the Irish city of Belfast, I named it Belfast Lemonade. I used just a little Limoncello to smooth out the cocktail, but it is very good without it if you want to keep your cost down.

IRISH WHISKEY LEMONADE

Makes 1

INGREDIENTS

4 ounces fresh lemonade (fresh squeezed lemon juice plus simple syrup to taste)

1 1/2 ounces Bushmills Irish Whiskey

1/2 ounce Limoncello

DIRECTIONS:

Mix and serve in a tall glass over ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint or a lemon wheel.

For a crowd:

Serves 15+ guests depending on serving size

INGREDIENTS

1 gallon fresh lemonade

1 bottle (750ml) Bushmills Irish Whiskey

2 cups Limoncello or other lemon liqueur

DIRECTIONS:

Add more or less whiskey to your taste. Mix ingredients in a large dispenser. Add lots of ice to the dispenser but also provide clean ice along side the dispenser because the drink tastes best served over ice. If it is a hot day, make sure to freeze lemonade and use that in place of the ice so you don't water down or dilute the drink. Add mint or lemon wheels to the dispenser to add some color and style to the presentation.

What tastes better than icy cold lemonade on a hot day? My sweet Southern variation... Vanilla Bean Lemonade, which is fresh lemonade infused with vanilla. It's simple, delicious and the perfect foundation for many adult mix-ins: sweet tea vodka, raspberry vodka, spiced rum, and even bourbon.

MARTIE'S VANILLA BEAN LEMONADE

2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 cup sugar (to taste, add more if you like a sweeter lemonade)

7-8 cups water (based on how strong you like your lemonade)

1-2 vanilla beans (I like a very vanilla flavor so I use 2 beans)

Split the vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds. Make a simple syrup: Add 1 cup of the water, the sugar, and the vanilla bean and seeds to a pan. Bring to a boil and turn off heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Let cool completely. Remove the bean once the simple syrup is cooled. In a large pitcher add the vanilla simple syrup, lemon juice, and water.

Lemonade Serving Tips: On a hot day, I will use 1 cup less water because I know the lemonade will become diluted with the melting ice. Often, I will freeze lemonade into ice cubes or freeze large plastic containers of lemonade. I put the lemonade into a large plastic milk jug or other repurposed plastic bottle. Freeze solid. A few hours before the party, I remove them from the freezer and allow them to become slushy. Soooo good on a hot day!