St. Patrick’s Day isn’t just a good day for serving stouts and Irish ales. The still fast-growing Irish whiskey segment also fares well on March 17. But if you’re going to have more than one or two such spirits on offer, you’ll want to make sure you do it right.
A few pointers:
• If you have an assortment of whiskeys, make up a printed list. It won’t just simplify the lives of your bartenders, it also will remind people that there are some premium brands beyond the familiar names, and thus will likely increase sales.
• When making that list, don’t forget the “e,” as in whiskey and whiskeys. Regular whiskey drinkers will notice.
• Many people decide to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by sipping or even shooting Irish whiskey — a novelty for some that can quickly turn into a mess for you. Keep an eye on those who make frequent whiskey orders, be they sippers or shooters.
• Ditto those who order Irish Car Bombs. Better still, just avoid that mix of stout, cream liqueur and whiskey entirely.
