At Paddy's Bar & Grill in downtown Portland, you can get it neat, on the rocks or mixed into an array of cocktails. You'll find plenty flowing this weekend with a three-day party celebrating all things Irish.
"We've really ramped up our focus on whiskey," says co-owner Josh Johnston. "We already have the largest spirits collection in the state of Oregon with over 600 bottles on our back bar wall, most of which are scotch and bourbon. Our hope is to add to our collection this year with a bunch of rare stuff that's coming available."
Paddy's wall of liquor offers refuge to the thirsty who might go to an Irish bar on St. Patrick's expecting to be restricted to Guinness, Black and Tans and that aforementioned colored beer, which Johnston laments can leave patrons with green teeth and digestive turmoil.
Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub, downtown Portland's other big Irish bar, is also planning a three-day bash. And like Paddy's, Kells aims to put its whiskey to good use in the mixing tin.
"Irish people and Ireland are not known for cocktails," says co-owner Lucille McAleese. "They mostly drink beer and whiskey, but we've had to adapt. We have a couple of drinks that feature Irish whiskey, including an Irish Manhattan that's a knockout."
This weekend, Kells' sister brew pub in Northwest Portland will also feature a drink called the Devil and the Black Irish Rose, created for St. Patrick's Day by Patrick Bernards, co-founder of Portland's Bull Run Distilling Co. The cocktail includes the company's Temperance Trader Bourbon and Irish stout, rounded out with a bit of lemon juice, Campari, simple syrup and bitters.
Kells' St. Patrick's festival kicks off Friday night with entertainment at the Old Town pub on Southwest Second Avenue and its nearby festival tent, as well as at the chain's brew pub on Northwest 21st Avenue. The weekend brings pipers, dancing and live music.
A day to be Irish
St. Patrick's is one of the year's biggest days for bars, so expect every Irish pub in the area -- such as County Cork Public House on Northeast Fremont Street and Biddy McGraw's Irish Pub on Northeast Glisan Street -- to be packed.
The Dublin Pub on Southwest Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway promises a full day of live music starting at noon.
Of course, you'll find counterprogramming, too. At Hale Pele on Northeast Broadway, owner Blair Reynolds jokes that the tiki spot "may just be your one and only refuge from what the bartending community lovingly calls 'amateur night.'" But they're sorta getting into the spirit anyway, with green Wray & Grapefruit Sodas and the Belfast Sour, an Irish whiskey twist on Trader Vic's classic London Sour.
Paddy's St. Patrick's Day FestivalWhat: Festivities start Friday at the pub with live music, including bagpipers. Expect dancers, food, drink and music all weekend, including headliners Patrick Lamb and the Chancers. The tented street party begins at 11 a.m. Saturday. On Sunday, it's an 8 a.m. start, with the Shamrock Run ending out front (bring your race number for specials). Where: 65 S.W. Yamhill St., 503-227-4057 Kells St. Patrick's Irish Festival What: Music in the pub and festival tent downtown as well as in the brewpub and a tent on Northwest 21st Avenue. Performers include Coming up Threes, Pass the Whiskey, the Mighty Few, Cronin and others. Where: 112 S.W. Second Ave., 503-227-4057; brewpub: 210 N.W. 21st Ave., 503-719-7175 And if you're more content to avoid the bar scene and celebrate at home, try your hand with a few easy drinks courtesy of Paddy's, at Southwest First and Yamhill.Start with the Game Changer, which is similar to a Dark N' Stormy -- Jameson topped off with ginger ale and accented with fresh lime.
"This simple combination was created by the Paddy's owners on a trip to Ireland when they needed a change-up from all the Guinness they were drinking," says Johnston, the 39-year-old co-owner, who loves all things Celtic, especially a chance to break out his kilt.
Johnston lived and played rugby in Ireland, so a pint of Guinness and the sweet sounds of pipers take him back. He and his business partner, Jim Hall, own three other Portland bars: North 45 Pub in the Northwest District; Circa 33 in Southeast Portland; and The Station in the Northeast.
Moving on to our second drink, the Buena Vista is inspired by the bar in San Francisco that dreamed up Irish Coffee. Paddy's starts with a heated tulip glass, adds a sugar cube and Jameson, then finishes with coffee and whipped cream. The bar also has its own claim to Irish Coffee history. It's the Guinness World Record holder for the largest such beverage -- created on St. Patrick's Day three years ago: 159 gallons total, using 94 bottles of Jameson.
If you want to start early, try the Irish Breakfast Shot, which comes in two shot glasses: one with Irish whiskey and butterscotch schnapps, followed by one with fresh-squeezed orange juice. "This bizarre combination tastes like pancakes and maple syrup," Johnston says.
Paddy's will be open early enough St. Patrick's weekend to make drinking your breakfast a real possibility, but take it easy if you want to drink some of your dinner, too. It's a long lineup of festivities, starting Friday evening, then kicking into high gear Saturday morning. Corned beef and cabbage, shepherd's pie and Guinness stew are some of the Irish classics you can fill up on.
"We have two full days of Irish entertainment, food and drink, including Irish dancers, bagpipe bands and live Irish music by some of the region's best," Johnston says. "Our hopes are to pack the house, throw a great party and raise a ton of money for our event partner, Children's Cancer Association. And to have a bit of fun ourselves!"
With more than 600 bottles of liquor on the wall, no doubt they will.
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Q&A
with Josh Johnston, co-owner of Paddy's Bar & Grill
What's your favorite drink and why?
A pint of Guinness. Everything about it is an experience. Fro the glassware, to the unique pour, to the taste. There’s some nostalgia there for me being a former Irish resident and to top it all off, it’s deceptively low in calories!
What's your favorite thing to snack on while you enjoy a cocktail?
At Paddy’s, I’d say our corned beef sliders.
If someone wanted a drink not on your menu, what would you recommend?
I always offer a nice Single Malt Scotch served neat.
What's your go-to drink when you're somewhere you don't trust the bartender?
Game Changer – Jameson, Ginger with a lime
What do you love/hate about Portland's bar scene?
I love the passion that this city puts into its food and drink craft. You really appreciate what you have when you travel to other cities and look at the quality of the offerings. However, It also seems that everywhere in Portland is starting to look the same. Reclaimed wood, chalkboards, mixologists, etc. I think we’re due for a new trend.
What tip would you offer for the home bartender?
Invest in a good shaker tin. Use fresh juices. Simple is better. Good whiskeys don’t need anything other than a willing consumer.
What drink order has stumped you?
Usually any of the new shots ordered by younger customers. If I have to ask, “What color is it?” then we’re in trouble.
What/where do you like to drink around town?
I like the VQ, Higgins, EaT: An Oyster Bar and Prost on a sunny day.
What's your bartending philosophy?
Always shake your customers hand and say hi. The bar wouldn’t exist without the customers, so take care of them.
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SHARE YOUR DRINKS
We're looking for spring drinks, especially ones with some kind of floral element (think floral liqueurs, edible flowers or even orange flower water). And, with Cinco de Mayo coming up, we're looking for memorable margaritas. Email cpowers@oregonian.com with your drinks.
-- Colin Powers
The Oregonian's Michael Russell contributed to this story.
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