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As St. Patrick’s Day nears, it’s time to begin all of the St. Patrick’s Day festivity preparation. St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect day to incorporate some easy socializing. Whether you’re hosting friends or family, kids or adults, you can easily throw together something festive and fun with a few decorations and some fun ideas.
This particular idea is obviously geared toward adult St. Patrick’s Day celebrations but can easily be adapted to make it kid-friendly. There are also a few more ideas here on the blog if you want to bring the kids into the fold, such as these St. Patrick’s Day dessert ideas or throwing a St. Patrick’s Day Lucky Girl-themed party.
However, if you are hosting adults and want a way to make the party both interactive and easier on you, the host, setting up a self-serve bar cart is the perfect way to do so. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are rarely without an element of drinking, so allow your guests to have fun, be creative, and enjoy some St. Paddy’s-themed drinks, all while relieving yourself of an extra host duty.
You can customize your bar cart to be more or less on theme, to include interactive elements like glitter or fun garnishes. You can also make your bar sober-friendly. We never forget about our sober friends here. (If you want more tips on hosting sober friends, check out this post.)
Choose The Perfect Bar Cart
The most important part of setting up the perfect bar is the bar itself. The bar will set the foundation for everything else you would like to accomplish with your self-serve bar so you need to consider what exactly you need out of your bar cart.
Take into consideration your existing decor, your amount of space, your objective, how much you want to fit on the bar cart, and how much you want guests to be able to do at the bar before choosing your bar.
Size and Storage Options
Take a look at what you need in terms of size and storage from your bar cart and decide if you need a simple bar cart that can hold a few bottles, glasses, and ice, or if you need a lot of space plus extra storage for decorations, garnishes, and extra supplies.
Make sure to whip out your measuring tape and be sure the bar cart can fit into a space that allows your celebrations to flow nicely and for your guests to remain comfortable. Don’t place your bar in a high-traffic area where guests will have to squeeze by someone working on their drink masterpiece.
Materials
If you choose to have your celebration outside, be sure your bar can withstand the elements and the weather. Glass and metal are more durable, but things like weather-proofed wicker will withstand the high temperatures and water and are easy to clean.
If your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are inside, you have a few more options for what you use as a bar. you can grab anything from a traditional metal and glass bar cart to opting for a vintage wooden bar or repurposing other pieces of furniture to use.
Repurpose Furniture
If you aren’t in the market for new furniture or it’s not in the budget, consider repurposing old furniture that you have around the house or that you grab from the thrift store. Old desks, armoires, bookshelves, and dressers all make fun and functional bars.
Place The Bar Cart in The Perfect Place
Where you place the cart will make or break the success of your self-serve cart. Be sure to place the cart where there is plenty of room. Guests will need a standing room, arm room, and room to walk. You don’t want someone getting hit on the head from a vigorously shaken martini.
If you can, place the cart within reasonable relation to the kitchen. This way, restocking ice, water, and garnishes is easy, along with keeping the space clean. You may also need to quickly clean some dishes, you don’t want to trek across the space with those.
Stock The Bar
Obviously, you need more than just the bar. You need to stock it, but stock it the right way. There are a few adjustments you can make to your standard bar setup in order to make them more appropriate for the holiday.
Add either green specialty drink options or ingredients that work with your predetermined menu to make the bar specific to the holiday.
Don’t forget your garnishes and fun extras. Add a bit of St. Patrick’s Day spirit by adding quirky extras or, If you prefer garnishes that are more subtle, more minimal garnishes.
Fun Extras and Garnishes
- Edible Gold Flakes
- Rainbow Candy Strips
- Edible Green Glitter
- Edible Shamrocks Drink Toppers
- Rosemary, Mint
- Limes, Cucumbers
St. Patrick’s Day Spirits
If you are looking to add some green to your bar, here are some green alcohol options for festive drinks you can add to your menu
Green Alcohol Options
- Absinthe- An anise-flavored spirit
- Chartreuse- A French herbal liqueur
- Crème de Menthe- A mint-flavored alcohol
- Midori- A liqueur flavored with melons
- Bonus: Blue Curaçao- A blue, orange-flavored liqueur that can be mixed for green
St. Patrick’s Day Cocktail Recipes
1. Lucky Me Mimosa
A fun twist on a classic mimosa that adds in a splash of Blue Curaçao for a fun green and gold combination.
2. Irish Mudslide
An Irish twist on the Mudslide that combines all of the creamy, coffee flavors in just the right way. Don’t forget to top it with whipped cream and green sprinkles!
3. Jameson Jello Shots
Green and Gold make for a fun treat in these elevated jello shots that include Irish Whiskey.
4. The Good Luck Charm
This lightly-green-hued cocktail is also light on the tongue, fresh ingredients combine to make for a refreshing drink.
Non-Alcoholic Mocktail Recipes
1. Rosemary Lemon Spritzer
Fresh and herbaceous lemonade mixes with sparkling water and green glitter to give a sparkling feeling all around!
2. Free AF Cucumber G&T
A prepackaged Non-alcoholic spin on the Gin and Tonic that includes refreshing cucumber flavors. It also comes wrapped up in a pretty green package that will look amazing on the bar.
3. Cucumber Lime Mocktail
A bright and bubbly mocktail that brings all the green in the best ways.
The Right Tools for the Bar
Always think about what drinks you want the guests to be able to make so that you can be sure to have all of the tools you need. Be sure to cover the essentials like bar spoons, cocktail shakers, cocktail picks, and stirrers.
Balance out the greens, gold, and white elements with your tools to show the theme.
Some Suggested Bar Tools
- Gold Cocktail Kit
- An Ice Bucket
- Green and Gold Cocktail Picks
- Shamrock Swizzle Sticks
- Sláinte Cocktail Napkins
- Bar Towels
- Sugar and Salt Rimmers
- Thematic Straws
The Perfect Glassware
Assess which drinks will be on your menu and place the appropriate glassware on the bar or nearby. You will use up some of your serving space if you opt for the bar so be sure to take this account when you’re deciding exactly what to place on the bar top.
If your drinks vary in type, Rocks-style glasses and Coupe glasses can work for multiple types of cocktails. If you want more variety or choices, juice glasses work as well.
St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails Menu
To help make the bar self-serve, create a set menu for guests to follow with a few drink options. Place the menu on the bar so that guests can see their options right away. This will limit the amount of rogue mixing, which will keep your recalculated quantities in check. It will also help those guests who aren’t too sure what they are doing. Save them the trouble.
Here’s what my menu would look like. If you want your own version, check below for three customizable St. Patrick’s Day drink menus.
St. Patrick’s Day Bar Makeover
The final touches to your St. Patrick’s Day bar will be to bring in a few more items that push the theme if you need them and have the space. Don’t overcrowd the bar, balance the fashion and the functionality. With a bar full of green items it will probably be enough already but if you want to subtly add a touch more, consider some green and white flowers to bring color and life.
Add a St. Patrick’s Day banner to the front of the bar for a bit more fun or sprinkle a few pieces of gold confetti across the bar as a backdrop.
The difference in how chic you want your bar to appear will be in the subtly of the decor. If you want to go more elegant, hold back and keep it simple. If you want to be closer to kitschy and fun, add as much as you can!
Don’t let the amount to consider overwhelm you, while there are quite a few things to take into consideration when making a customized bar, if you take the time to plan and prepare, you can create a gorgeous immersive experience for your guests.
