St. Patricks Day Margarita "Where da gold at"
"Where the gold at" Margarita is named after the famous Crichton, Alabama Leprechaun out of Mobile, Alabama. You will just have to take my word for it and look up the story. However, this margarita is DELICIOUS! I hope you enjoy!
This St. Patrick's Day Margarita is named in honor of the famous Crichton, Alabama leprechaun out of Mobile, Alabama. If you have never heard the story, look it up. It is one of those local legends that became a viral moment back in 2006 and still makes everyone in Alabama smile when you bring it up. The drink itself is gorgeous, bright green-blue with a yellow-sugar rim, topped with rainbow Airhead strips on a toothpick. It tastes incredible and looks like it should cost $14 at a restaurant.
What makes this drink so fun is the visual. The combination of orange juice and blue Curacao creates that vibrant green-teal color that screams St. Patrick's Day without being neon. The yellow sanding sugar rim looks like 'the gold' from the leprechaun's pot. And the rainbow Airhead strips twisted on a toothpick? That is the over-the-top finishing touch that turns this from a regular drink into a moment.
The flavor is what really sells it though. Orange juice and Cointreau bring that bright citrus base. Blue Curacao adds another layer of orange (it is actually orange-flavored despite the blue color, fun fact). Tequila provides the kick. Lime juice ties everything together with tangy brightness. It tastes like a classic margarita with a tropical twist, and the OJ makes it slightly more drinkable than a straight margarita.
This is the perfect drink for a St. Patrick's Day party, a brunch with friends, or any time you want a cocktail that has both flavor and theater. Easy to make in batches by multiplying the recipe and shaking in a pitcher. Decorate the rim with Lucky Charms marshmallows or gold coins for extra fun. Cheers!
📝 Ingredients
- 1/2 Lime, Juiced and used to line rim
- 3 oz Orange Juice
- 3/4 oz Cointreau
- 3/4 oz Blue Curacao
- 1 oz Tequila
- Ice to shake and to fill glass
- Yellow Sanding Sugar to line rim
- 2 Rainbow Airhead Strips
- Toothpick
👩🍳 Directions
- 1
Add Lime, OJ, Cointreau, Blue Curacao, Tequila, and Ice to a shaker. Shake well.
- 2
Line rim of glass with lime and roll on the sanding sugar
- 3
Add Ice to glass and pour over margarita
- 4
Top with ribboned airhead strips on a toothpick.
- 5
Cheers!
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Lime: Half a lime, juiced (about 1 tablespoon) and used to wet the rim. Fresh lime is essential, bottled lime juice tastes flat.
Orange juice: 3 ounces fresh-squeezed if possible. Bottled OJ works in a pinch. About one large orange yields 3 ounces.
Cointreau: 3/4 ounce. The premium orange liqueur. Triple sec works as a substitute, increase to a full ounce for similar sweetness.
Blue Curacao: 3/4 ounce. The orange-flavored blue liqueur that creates that signature green-teal color. Find it in the liqueurs section of any liquor store.
Tequila: 1 ounce of your favorite tequila blanco (silver). Patron, Don Julio, Espolon, or any quality silver tequila works. Reposado or anejo will work but change the color and flavor.
Yellow sanding sugar: For the rim, about 2 tablespoons. Wilton or any cake-decorating brand. The yellow color represents the 'gold.' Found in the baking aisle near sprinkles.
Rainbow Airhead strips: 2 strips, ribboned and threaded onto a toothpick. The over-the-top garnish that makes this drink Instagram-famous. Available in the candy aisle.
Toothpick: For holding the Airhead garnish over the glass.
Ice: Both for shaking and to fill the glass.
How to Store, Reheat & Freeze
Cocktails are best made fresh and served immediately. The ice dilutes them and the carbonation (none in this case but generally true) is lost over time. If batching for a party, mix all ingredients except the ice and refrigerate in a pitcher for up to 24 hours. Shake individual servings with ice or serve over crushed ice when ready.
Storing leftover cocktail mixture is fine in the fridge for up to a week, but the citrus brightness degrades after a day or two. Make the rim and garnish fresh each time.
What to Serve With St. Patrick's Day Margaritas
This drink is the centerpiece of a St. Patrick's Day spread. Pair with corned beef and cabbage, Irish beef stew, Irish soda bread, shepherd's pie, or Reuben sliders for a full St. Patty's meal. For appetizers, serve with green deviled eggs, jalapeno popper dip, or pretzels. For dessert, Chocolate Bird Nests, Lucky Charms Rice Krispie Treats, or mint chocolate chip ice cream. For a party, set up a margarita bar with this drink alongside classic margaritas and frozen versions, with sliced limes, sanding sugars in different colors, and Airhead strips ready to go.
💡 Tips for Success
- Use fresh-squeezed orange juice for the brightest, freshest flavor. Bottled OJ works in a pinch but tastes flatter. Squeeze 1 large orange to get about 3 ounces.
- Cointreau is worth the splurge over generic triple sec. It is smoother and adds more depth. If using triple sec, you might want to add a half ounce more to compensate for the milder flavor.
- Blue Curacao is what gives this drink its signature color. It is also orange-flavored (despite the blue), which is why it pairs beautifully with the OJ and Cointreau. Find it in the liqueurs section of any liquor store.
- Shake hard with ice for at least 20 seconds to properly chill and slightly dilute the drink. Under-shaken margaritas are warm and overly strong. Well-shaken margaritas are perfectly cold and balanced.
- Use yellow sanding sugar for the rim, not regular sugar. The larger crystals catch the light and look more like gold. Wilton or any cake-decorating brand has it in the baking aisle.
- Wet the rim with the lime wedge first, then dip and roll in the yellow sugar. The lime juice acts as the glue.
- Rainbow Airhead strips ribboned on a toothpick are the iconic garnish. To ribbon them, cut a fresh Airhead into thin strips and gently twist. Skip the toothpick and just pile them on top if you do not have one.
- Garnish at the last second before serving. The Airhead strips can melt or stick to ice if they sit too long. Make the cocktail, rim the glass, and garnish right as you serve.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Crichton Leprechaun story?
In 2006, a news crew in Mobile, Alabama interviewed neighborhood residents who claimed they saw a leprechaun in a tree in the Crichton neighborhood. The footage went viral on YouTube long before viral was a common term. The line 'maybe it's a crackhead' became iconic. It is part of Alabama folklore and that is who this drink is named after.
Can I make this without alcohol?
Yes. Replace the tequila and Cointreau with sparkling water, add an extra ounce of orange juice, and use 1 tablespoon of blue food coloring or zero-proof blue curacao for the color. The flavor is different but still festive.
Can I batch this for a party?
Absolutely. Multiply all ingredients by the number of drinks you need (skip the ice in the shake step, just chill the mixture in a pitcher). Shake individual servings with ice when serving, or serve over crushed ice in glasses straight from the pitcher.
What if I cannot find Blue Curacao?
It is widely available at any liquor store. If you truly cannot find it, mix triple sec with a few drops of blue food coloring to mimic both the flavor and color.
Why is this called a 'margarita' if it has orange juice?
Traditional margaritas are tequila + triple sec + lime. This adds orange juice as a base which makes it more brunch-friendly and tropical. Call it a 'St. Patty's margarita' or just a fun tequila cocktail. The name is loose.
Can I rim with salt instead of sugar?
Yes, salt-rimmed will give you a more traditional margarita feel. Sugar-rimmed plays into the 'gold' theme better. Some people do half salt, half sugar for the best of both.
Can I make it spicier?
Sure! Add a slice of jalapeno to the shaker for a spicy kick. Or use a jalapeno-infused tequila. The heat actually pairs beautifully with the citrus.
Made this recipe?
Tag me on Instagram @holleyinthekitchen — I'd love to see it!