Irish Pubs: Drinks Other Than Beer You Must Try

There's a particular kind of social anxiety that comes from walking into a pub in Galway or Cork when you don't drink beer. Everyone around you has a pint. The menu seems to begin and end with Guinness. You scan the bar like you're looking for a fire exit. I've watched solo travelers nurse a reluctant half-pint they didn't want, feeling like impostors in one of the world's great social institutions. Here's what nobody tells you: Irish pubs drinks other than beer make up some of the most interesting, most local, most genuinely rewarding drinking experiences the country has to offer.

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Irish Whiskey: The Pub's True Crown Jewel

If Guinness is the face of Irish pub culture, whiskey is its soul. And for my money — after years of traveling through Donegal, Kilkenny, and the back streets of Dublin's Liberties neighborhood — whiskey is the smarter order.

Irish whiskey is triple-distilled, which gives it a smoothness that Scotch doesn't bother with. It's approachable in a way that genuinely surprises people who think they don't like whiskey. The classic Irish whiskey pub drinks you'll find almost everywhere include Jameson, Powers, and Bushmills — all solid, all honest. But the more interesting conversation starts when you ask your barman what else they've got.

In the last decade, Ireland has had a whiskey renaissance that would make your head spin. Distilleries like Teeling, Redbreast, Dingle, and Waterford have produced single pot still and single malt expressions that are legitimately world-class. A well-stocked pub in Dublin or Cork might have 40 or 50 whiskeys behind the bar. A good barman — and in Ireland, there are many — will talk you through them if you show the slightest interest.

Ask for a whiskey flight. Not every pub offers them formally, but plenty will pour you three small measures if you explain you're trying to learn the difference. I've had some of the best whiskey conversations of my life doing exactly this, perched alone at a bar in Mullingar on a Tuesday afternoon. That's what solo travel in Ireland tastes like when you're paying attention.

A few specific bottles worth requesting by name:

- Redbreast 12 — a pot still classic, rich with dried fruit and spice

- Green Spot — lighter, grassy, and brilliant with a splash of cold water

- Teeling Single Grain — wine cask-finished, genuinely unusual

- Dingle Single Malt — small batch, coastal, worth seeking out

One important ritual: ask for a small jug of water on the side. Adding a few drops opens the whiskey up. Any barman who knows their stuff will respect you immediately for asking.

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Irish Coffee and Hot Whiskey: Warming Classics You Must Try

October through March in Ireland, the wind comes in sideways and the rain has opinions. This is when you understand what to drink in an Irish pub on a cold afternoon — and the answer is something hot.

Irish Coffee is one of those drinks that sounds like a tourist trap and turns out to be the real thing. The original was invented at Foynes flying boat terminal in the 1940s by a chef named Joe Sheridan, who added whiskey to coffee to warm up a group of cold American passengers. The formula is simple: hot coffee, Irish whiskey, brown sugar, lightly whipped cream on top. The cream should float, not sink. You drink the hot coffee through the cold cream. If a pub gets it right — and plenty do — it is one of the genuinely great warm drinks in the world.

The Buena Vista Social Club in San Francisco made Irish Coffee famous in America, but the version you get in a draughty pub in County Clare, served by a woman who's been making them since before you were born, is something else entirely.

Then there's Hot Whiskey, which is even simpler and more local. It's a measure of whiskey in a glass with hot water, a spoonful of honey or sugar, a slice of lemon, and two or three cloves. It's drunk as a cold remedy, a warming ritual, and a reason to sit at the bar for another hour when you should probably leave. I order one every single time I'm in Ireland in winter. It is one of my comfort objects.

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Cider, Spirits, and Cocktails Hiding on the Menu

People overlook Irish pub cocktails because pubs aren't cocktail bars. That's fair. But dismissing spirits and mixed drinks entirely means missing some genuinely good options.

Cider is the underrated middle ground for non-beer drinkers who want something cold, fizzy, and pub-appropriate. Bulmers — sold as Magners outside Ireland — is on tap at most pubs and served over ice in a pint glass. It's crisp, not too sweet, and looks entirely natural in your hand. On a warm day in Killarney or walking the Cliffs of Moher route, a pint of Bulmers is close to perfect.

For spirits, Irish gin has exploded in the last five years. Brands like Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, Glendalough Wild Botanical Gin, and Shortcross Gin from County Down are excellent, genuinely Irish products. A G&T made with one of these and a decent tonic water (ask for Fever-Tree if they have it) is a perfectly respectable pub order.

And then there's poitín (pronounced puh-CHEEN), which is the wild card. Traditionally an illicit home-distilled spirit — Ireland's moonshine, essentially — it's been legal since 1997 and is now produced by several craft distilleries. Poitín-based cocktails are starting to appear on menus in hipper Dublin pubs. If you see it, order it. The flavor is rawer and more agricultural than whiskey, and it will tell you something about Ireland that Jameson doesn't.

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Non-Alcoholic Options That Go Beyond Tap Water

Non-alcoholic options in Irish pubs have improved significantly, though it remains uneven. In cities like Dublin, Cork, and Galway, you'll find 0% craft beers, non-alcoholic spirits, and proper soft drinks. In smaller rural pubs, your choices narrow.

The reliable order is Barry's Tea or Lyons Tea — both Irish institutions — served with milk and sometimes a biscuit. Ordering tea in a pub is completely normal and not a statement. I've done it many times, and not once has anyone looked at me sideways.

Hot chocolate is usually available and often better than expected. Fresh orange juice varies wildly. Sparkling water is standard everywhere.

If you want something more interesting, look for Fentimans sodas or similar craft soft drinks on the bar shelf — many pubs now stock them. Rose lemonade is a specifically Irish thing, sweeter and more floral than regular lemonade, and worth trying if you haven't.

The non-alcoholic beer market in Ireland has also caught up. Heineken 0.0, Erdinger Alkoholfrei, and increasingly Irish craft 0% options mean you can sit with a pint glass and blend in completely if that's what you want.

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How to Order Like a Local Without Ordering a Pint

This is simpler than people think. The secret is confidence and specificity.

Don't ask "what do you have?" — it puts the barman in an impossible position and signals uncertainty. Instead, pick something from what you've read above and ask for it directly. "Could I get a Redbreast, neat, with a small water on the side?" is a completely fluent order. So is "a Bulmers over ice, please" or "do you do hot whiskey?"

Tip: In Ireland, you do not tip after every round the way you might in the US. A tip at the end of the night, or rounding up on a large order, is appropriate. Don't overthink it.

Timing: The bar gets busy on Friday and Saturday evenings from around 9pm. If you're solo and want to actually talk to the barman or find a seat at the bar counter itself, go earlier — 6pm to 8pm is ideal. That's when the regulars are in, the conversation is easier, and the pub is at its best.

Starting conversation: Your drink order is an icebreaker. Asking a barman about the whiskey selection, or mentioning you're trying to decide between two options, is an invitation for a five-minute conversation that can turn into an hour.

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Safety and Practical Info

Ireland is a remarkably safe destination for solo travelers, including solo women. Pubs are social spaces, not predatory ones, and there's a general culture of looking out for people who seem uncomfortable. That said, a few practical notes:

- Drink spiking is rare but not unheard of. Keep your drink with you and cover it in crowded spaces — standard practice anywhere.

- Last orders in Ireland are typically at 11:30pm on weekdays and 12:30am on weekends, though late bars vary by license.

- Driving — Ireland has strict drink-driving laws and robust enforcement. If you're renting a car, treat any drinking session as an automatic "not driving tonight" decision.

- Taxi apps like Free Now work well in Irish cities. In rural areas, pre-book a local taxi service, as ride-share coverage is patchy.

- Costs: Drinks are not cheap. Budget roughly €6–8 for a pint or basic spirit, €10–14 for a whiskey flight or cocktail in a Dublin city center bar.

- Solo drinking culture: Ireland has one of the most solo-traveler-friendly pub cultures in the world. Sitting alone at the bar is normal, respected, and often leads to genuine conversation.

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My Take

I've been going to Irish pubs since my first solo trip to Dublin at 23, and I have a strong opinion: the obsession with Guinness has created a kind of cultural tunnel vision that doesn't serve most travelers well.

Guinness is great. I drink it sometimes. But the pub culture that makes Ireland genuinely special has almost nothing to do with what's in your glass. It's about slowing down, sitting at a bar, and being present in a room with other people. The drink is the ticket in, not the show itself.

And if the ticket isn't Guinness — if it's a Redbreast 12 with a jug of water, or a hot whiskey on a wet Wednesday, or a Barry's tea while a trad session warms up in the corner — then that's the drink you should be ordering.

What irritates me about the way Irish pubs are written about is the constant implication that you're doing it wrong if you're not drinking beer. I've met whiskey drinkers who know more about Irish distilling traditions than most beer tourists ever will. I've sat next to people drinking tea at the bar who were on first-name terms with everyone in the room.

The pub is a social institution first. What you drink is secondary. Order what you actually want, be curious about it, and talk to the person behind the bar. That's the whole thing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is it socially acceptable to order spirits instead of beer in an Irish pub?

A: Completely. Whiskey, gin, and cider are all entirely normal orders. Nobody will look at you strangely. Irish whiskey pub drinks have as long and proud a history as the pint — arguably longer.

Q: What is a hot whiskey and how do I order one?

A: A hot whiskey is a glass of Irish whiskey mixed with hot water, honey or sugar, a lemon slice, and a few cloves. It's warming, simple, and genuinely local. Just say "can I get a hot whiskey, please?" — every pub in Ireland will know exactly what you mean.

Q: Are there good non-alcoholic drinks at Irish pubs beyond soft drinks?

A: Yes, increasingly so. Barry's or Lyons tea is a classic and entirely normal to order. Most pubs in larger towns and cities now stock 0% beers, and craft soft drinks like rose lemonade are widely available. It's worth asking what they have rather than assuming.

Q: What should I order if I want to try Irish whiskey but don't know where to start?

A: Ask for Green Spot or Redbreast 12. Both are approachable, genuinely excellent, and widely available. Ask for a small jug of water on the side and add a few drops — it changes the flavor and signals to the barman that you're taking it seriously.

Q: Are Irish pub cocktails worth ordering, or should I stick to drinks served straight?

A: In a traditional pub, simple is usually better — a good whiskey served properly beats a mediocre cocktail. But in craft-focused bars in Dublin, Cork, or Galway, Irish pub cocktails using local gin or poitín can be genuinely interesting. Look at the back bar first — if it's well-stocked and the staff seem knowledgeable, the cocktails are probably worth trusting.

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The beauty of understanding Irish pubs drinks other than beer is that it removes the one thing that might make you feel like an outsider and replaces it with genuine curiosity. Whiskey flights, hot whiskeys, poitín cocktails, Barry's tea — these are all legitimate, local, and deeply embedded in the culture of the pub. Pick something that interests you, order it with confidence, and let the conversation take it from there. That's what Irish pubs are actually for.