Puck Fair
298 Lafayette St., nr. Houston St.; 212-431-1200
This megapub is known for its draft-beer selection and state-of-the-art tap system, but they also make a mean Hot Toddy with Irish whiskey, honey, lemon, and clove.
Molly’s Pub and Shebeen
287 Third Ave., nr. 22nd St.; 212-889-3361
The drink of choice at Molly’s is the Black Velvet, a mixture of cider and, okay, Guinness. Soak up the alcohol with a ten-ounce burger that alone is worth the trip to this Gramercy mainstay.
Failte Irish Whiskey Bar
531 Second Ave., nr. 30th St.; 212-725-9440
With more than fifteen different Irish whiskeys to choose from, you really can’t go wrong at Failte. Try Paddy Old Irish Whiskey if it’s in stock; it’s not widely available in the city, as it just came on the U.S. market this month (the owners used to bring it back from Ireland themselves).
The Whiskey Ward
121 Essex St., nr. Rivington St.; 212-477-2998
When New York was divided into wards back in the 1600s, the Lower East Side was home to all the booze houses, hence the name of this spot. If you’re planning on reciting this trivia to your friends on St. Paddy’s, make sure you attempt to do so before putting away the whiskey flights, three one-ounce pours of booze like Tullamore Dew, Power’s Gold Label, and Red Breast.
Nancy Whiskey Pub
1 Lispenard St., at W. Broadway; 212-226-9943
This classic Tribeca dive will be shutting down its shuffleboard on St. Paddy’s due to the anticipated crowds, but the main attraction here are the drinks anyways. To wit: It may be a politically incorrect fraternity staple, but the Irish Car Bomb — a shot of Bailey’s Irish cream topped off with Jameson and dropped into a half-pint of Guinness — will get the job done.
