Irish Whiskey Margarita

Sub out the tequila for some Irish Whiskey with this Irish Whiskey Margarita, that’ll add a new cocktail to your St. Patrick’s Day fun!

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This Irish Whiskey Margarita was created to pair with the Crispy Corned Beef and Potato Tacos. And it is so good! The idea came to me because margaritas are typically served with tacos. I wanted a margarita but I wanted it a little different. I also wanted to use some Irish whiskey to go with the corned beef, so I figured why not give a margarita with Whiskey a shot. It worked so well!

I thought this recipe would be good, but I didn’t realize how good until I made it. But it makes sense because all the flavors in a margarita are ingredients that taste good with whiskey. Citrus, a little sweetness and acidity all work so well with whiskey. An Old Fashioned and Whiskey Sour proves it. So try this Whiskey Margarita with the Crispy Corned Beef and Potato Tacos, and the corned beef leftovers will have new life!

Irish Whiskey Margarita Recipe Notes & Substitutions

Irish Whiskey– Whiskey is an interesting spirit. There are many different types from many different regions and each have their unique qualities. There are a couple different types of Whiskey, and a couple different types of Irish Whiskey at that! Check out this amazing post on Alkypal that gives more information on Irish Whiskey. If you do not have or do not want to use Irish Whiskey you can substitute whatever whiskey you have. Bourbon would work but it would be a little sweeter.

Triple Sec– If you do not want to use triple sec you could use a little orange juice or even some simple syrup or agave instead. I like the flavor the triple sec brings to a margarita though, so I recommend using it.

Lemon and Lime– I like adding a little lemon to this, but using mostly lime. I find with the whiskey the additional acidity from the lemon really makes everything pop and blends very well with the whiskey flavor. Lemon is not typically in a margarita, so if you prefer use only lime juice in this Irish Whiskey Margarita, it will still be really good!

Why This Pairing Works

This Irish Whiskey Margarita and Crispy Corned Beef and Potato Tacos pairing is delicious for a couple reasons. First, the margarita. The margarita is a classic drink with tacos because it is a heavy citrus and acidic cocktail. Acid works so well with tacos because it helps brighten up all the flavors that the food needs. The acid helps cut through the fat from the corned beef and cheese. It helps to lighten up the food by refreshing the palate between bites. This drink essentially acts as a lime squeezed over the taco, but you get some booze with it too. The subtle sweetness from the drink also helps make some of the flavors in the food bite pop even more. The sweetness helps to balance off the salt from the corned beef and cheese. Similar to the acidity, it makes everything more refreshing.

Finally, the Irish Whiskey pairs with a couple components of the dish. Cheddar and whiskey are a great pairing because they balance each other out well but both have robust enough flavors to stand up to the other. The cheese helps add a coating of fat that takes away some of the harsh bite of the whiskey. The corned beef also pairs well with some of the peppery and vegetal notes of the whiskey. This spice of the whiskey complements the various spices used in cooking the corned beef beautifully. Some Irish Whiskey has a smokey flavor, which if you get one that has that it adds another dimension to this pairing that is incredible!

If you make the Crispy Corned Beef and Potato Tacos be sure to serve it with this Irish Whiskey Margarita, you will not be disappointed!