Food Shake Things Up With Your St. Patrick's Day Drinks A Missouri distillery has given Irish cream a long-overdue makeover. So pass on the green beer this St. Patrick’s Day, and spike a milkshake instead. By Stephanie Simmons Stephanie Simmons Stephanie Simmons is the founder of Blue Bowl Recipes, where she shares elevated, approachable recipes that anyone can make at home! Her passion is all things dessert. She holds a B.A. in English & History from Drake University in Des Moines. When she's not in the kitchen, you can find her enjoying a good mystery movie, taking in a baseball game, or exploring Madison, Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband Grant. Midwest Living's Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 19, 2023 Photo: Blaine Moats With its dapper ceramic top, milk-bottle silhouette and quaint etched-style label, Five Farms Irish Cream is a looker. But the real story is the stuff inside—a blend of fresh Irish cream (never more than 48 hours old) and triple-distilled Irish whiskey. Compared to more familiar brands, Five Farms has a velvety mouthfeel, clean dairy richness, and more subtle hints of butterscotch and cocoa. Though it ships from the Emerald Isle and wears its brogue loudly, Five Farms is the brainchild of Holladay Distillery, a 155-year-old company outside Kansas City. Find it at retailers nationwide. Sláinte! What You Need to Know About Irish Cream Sure, it's got a whiff of kitsch about it, but Irish cream is good stuff. History Born in the 1970s, commercially bottled Irish cream is a relative newcomer. But visit County Cork (where fresh milk and strong whiskey practically flow from the earth), and you can hear stories of grandmothers who made cream liqueurs in their farm kitchens. The lightly chocolatey or caramelly spirit is largely consumed at Christmas, but global love of the drink has made it one of Ireland's largest year-round exports. How to Serve Irish cream is best consumed cold—chilled and neat or on the rocks. (A premium version like Five Farms is especially good this way.) You can also add a splash to coffee or hot cocoa, or use a tablespoon or two to flavor frosting, whipped cream, chocolate pudding, mousse or cheesecake. How to Store An unopened bottle of Irish cream is shelf-stable for two years because the tight seal and high alcohol content prevent the dairy from spoiling. Though it won't sour at room temperature like fresh milk would, an opened bottle will retain better flavor in the fridge. Plan to finish it up within six months. Recipes Brie Passano Mocha Irish Milkshake This milkshake actually has no milk. Why? Because the alcohol in the Irish cream speeds the melting of the ice cream. No milk means a perfect thick texture for our Mocha Irish Milkshake. Brie Passano Berries and (Irish) Cream Milkshake The alcohol in Irish cream makes ice cream melt faster, so it's added at the end and just blended in. All to ensure a thick, rich Berries and (Irish) Cream Milkshake! 20 Fun St. Patrick's Day Recipes Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit