Luck of the Sconnie: 3 Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a Wisconsin Twist

St. Patrick's Day in Wisconsin isn't just about wearing green and doing a pub crawl, though we certainly won't judge you if that's your plan. Here, we do things a little differently. We've got brandy where other states pour whiskey, supper clubs where coastal cities have gastropubs, and a deeply rooted belief that if you're going to celebrate, you might as well do it with a proper cocktail in hand.

So, this March 17th, we're skipping the food-colored beer and the overly sweet shots. Instead, we're leaning into what makes Wisconsin celebrations special: good drinks, better company, and a commitment to doing things the right way, even when everyone's wearing shamrock necklaces.

Here are three ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day that feel authentically Sconnie, complete with cocktails that won't leave you with regrets the next morning.

1. Ditch the Green Beer: Make a Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Instead

Let's be honest, green beer is a gimmick. It's regular beer with food coloring, and it tastes exactly like what it is. If you're going to raise a glass on St. Patrick's Day, why not make it something you'll actually want to drink?

Enter the Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned, our state's unofficial cocktail and the drink that's carried us through wedding receptions, Friday fish fries, and every celebration in between. It's muddled fruit, brandy, bitters, and a splash of soda. Simple, balanced, and infinitely better than anything coming out of a keg with green dye.

Here's where we make it even easier: grab a bottle of Meyer Brothers premium Old Fashioned Mix and you've got the muddled orange, cherry, and bitters already done for you. Add two ounces of your favorite brandy (we're partial to Korbel, but you do you), a splash of soda or Sprite, and you're golden. Literally, it's got that beautiful amber color that feels way more festive than anything artificially green.

If you want to get a little fancy, rim the glass with green sugar or add a sprig of fresh mint alongside the traditional orange and cherry garnish. It's a nod to the holiday without compromising the drink.

And if making a drink is not your thing? Our Brandy Sweet Old Fashioned ready-to-drink cocktail is already mixed, balanced, and ready to pour over ice. It's the ultimate party shortcut when you've got a crowd to serve and limited time to play bartender.

2. Host a "Supper Club at Home" St. Paddy's Gathering

Wisconsin supper clubs are institutions. dimly lit dining rooms, relish trays before dinner, and an Old Fashioned at the bar while you wait for your table. They're cozy, convivial, and the opposite of whatever trendy fusion concept just opened downtown. On St. Patrick's Day, when everyone's out elbow-to-elbow at packed bars, we'd argue there's something better: bringing that supper club vibe home.

Invite a handful of friends over. Set the table with something resembling cloth napkins. Put out some cheese curds, pickles, and crackers: your Wisconsin relish tray. And most importantly, make proper cocktails.

This is where our Demerara syrup shines. It's richer and more complex than regular simple syrup, with a subtle molasses undertone that elevates any cocktail you make. Use it to craft whiskey sours (muddle in some fresh mint for a St. Patrick's twist), bourbon cocktails, Sconnie Seven-Five or even an Irish Coffee.

If you want to buy demerara syrup that'll last you beyond this one party, stock up now. It's one of those ingredients that once you start using, you wonder how you ever made drinks without it.

For the main event, keep it simple: corned beef and cabbage if you're feeling traditional, or brats and potato salad if you want to lean into your Wisconsin roots. The point isn't to be fancy. It's to slow down, sit around a table with people you like, and enjoy drinks that were made with care instead of speed.

Our Bourbon Sour or Whiskey Sour ready-to-drink cocktails are perfect for this kind of gathering. They're balanced, they're easy, and they give you more time to actually hang out instead of playing bartender all night. Just pour over ice, garnish with a lemon wheel or a cherry, and you're done.

3. The Morning-After Brunch Cocktail (Because Recovery is Part of the Celebration)

Let's not pretend that March 18th doesn't exist. If you've celebrated properly, you're waking up a little slower than usual, squinting at the sunlight, and wondering why you thought that last round was a good idea.

This is where a proper brunch cocktail comes in. Not to "hair of the dog" your way back to oblivion, but to ease back into the day with something balanced, refreshing, and not overly boozy.

Enter the Brothers Brunch. It's citrusy, it's got just enough sweetness to take the edge off, and it pairs beautifully with eggs, bacon, and whatever else you're throwing together for brunch. Make it with fresh orange juice, a quality sparkling wine, and a touch of our Old Fashioned Mix for a hint of those muddled flavors or keep it classic with demerara syrup for a smooth, rich sweetness.

If you're hosting a group recovery brunch (and honestly, those are the best kind), batch a few Whiskey Sour cocktails ahead of time. Our ready-to-drink version means you can pour and serve without thinking too hard, which is exactly what you need the morning after St. Patrick's Day.

Garnish with a lemon wheel and a cherry, serve alongside a spread of breakfast casserole or quiche, and toast to surviving another year of Wisconsin's most chaotic holiday.

Why Wisconsin Does It Better

Here's the thing, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated everywhere, but Wisconsin brings something different to the table. We don't just drink for the sake of drinking. We drink well! We care about what's in the glass. We take the time to muddle the fruit, to use real ingredients, and to make sure that whatever we're serving tastes like something we'd actually want to drink on any other day of the year.

That's the philosophy behind everything we do at Meyer Cocktail Co. Whether it's our Old Fashioned mix that's been perfected over years of trial and error, our ready-to-drink cocktails that don't compromise on quality, or our demerara syrup that adds depth to every drink you make.

So, this St. Patrick's Day, skip the gimmicks. Ditch the green beer. Make a real cocktail, gather people you care about, and celebrate the way we do it here in Wisconsin, with a little more intention, a lot more flavor, and a brandy Old Fashioned in hand.

Sláinte  and go Pack go.

Tom & Cheri