St. Patrick’s Day the JNC Way: Guinness, Irish Trivia, Music & Good Craic
- Jams 'N' Cocktails
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
St. Patrick’s Day is one of those holidays that practically demands good company, good music, and something delicious in your glass—and that’s exactly what the crew delivered on this festive episode of Jams ’N’ Cocktails. 🍀
Host Brad Brock welcomed back friend of the show and musician Kevin McLoughlin for the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration inside the legendary JNC Lounge. With Guinness flowing, Irish-inspired food on the table, and plenty of laughs throughout the night, the episode turned into a lively exploration of Irish traditions, music, and the uniquely American way we celebrate March 17.
Whether you’re Irish by blood or just Irish for the day, this episode captures the spirit of the holiday perfectly.
Raising a Glass: The Dublin Drop
Every good celebration begins with a drink—and at JNC, that means kicking things off with the Shot of the Week.
This episode’s featured drink was the Dublin Drop, a bold Irish-inspired bar classic made with:
Jameson Irish whiskey
Baileys Irish Cream
A freshly poured pint of Guinness
The ritual is half the fun. The whiskey and cream shot gets dropped straight into the stout before the whole thing is quickly enjoyed. The result? A surprisingly smooth and creamy drink that finishes with notes reminiscent of Irish coffee.
Brad also shared a bit of history behind the drink and its controversial original name, explaining why many bars today prefer the friendlier and culturally respectful “Dublin Drop.”
Because at JNC, it’s not just about drinking—it’s about learning something along the way too.
Ireland vs. America: St. Patrick’s Day Trivia
One of the highlights of the episode was a lively St. Patrick’s Day trivia challenge, where the crew tested their knowledge of Irish history and traditions.
It turns out, a lot of what Americans think of as traditional St. Patrick’s Day celebrations didn’t actually originate in Ireland.
Here were a few surprising facts that came up during the game:
The holiday started as a religious feast
Originally, St. Patrick’s Day was a solemn Christian feast day honoring the missionary credited with spreading Christianity throughout Ireland.
Irish pubs used to be closed
For many years, pubs in Ireland were actually required by law to close on March 17, because the day was considered a religious observance. That law wasn’t repealed until the 1970s.
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade wasn’t in Ireland
It happened in New York City in 1762, when Irish soldiers serving in the British Army marched to celebrate their heritage.
The original color of St. Patrick wasn’t green
Believe it or not, St. Patrick was historically associated with blue, not green. The green connection came later through Irish nationalism and the shamrock symbol.
Corned beef and cabbage isn’t traditionally Irish
In Ireland, the classic meal is bacon and cabbage. Corned beef became popular among Irish immigrants in New York because it was affordable and widely available.
Needless to say, the crew had plenty of fun shouting guesses, debating answers, and discovering just how “Americanized” many of the traditions have become.
Snack Time: Mini Shepherd’s Pie
No pub-style celebration would be complete without some comfort food.
For this episode’s Snack Time, Brad prepared a clever twist on a classic Irish dish—mini shepherd’s pies baked in muffin tins.
The recipe included:
Ground beef
Peas and carrots
Beef broth
Worcestershire sauce
Mashed potatoes
Shredded cheddar cheese
While traditional shepherd’s pie uses lamb, Brad explained that many Irish Americans adopted ground beef after immigrating to the United States because it was easier to find.
The result was a perfectly snackable version of the hearty dish—and the lounge crew gave it a big thumbs up.
Simple, comforting, and perfect with a pint of Guinness.
Name That Tune: Irish Edition
Music is always at the heart of Jams ’N’ Cocktails, so it wouldn’t be a holiday episode without a game of Name That Tune.
This time the theme was St. Patrick’s Day classics, featuring songs from iconic Irish and Irish-inspired artists.
The playlist included:
“Shipping Up to Boston” – Dropkick Murphys
“Dirty Old Town” – The Pogues
“Sunday Bloody Sunday” – U2
“Chasing Cars” – Snow Patrol
“Take Me to Church” – Hozier
The crew scribbled answers on their boards while listeners in the live chat played along at home. Some were instant recognitions, while others took a few listens before someone shouted the right answer.
It was chaotic, competitive, and exactly the kind of music-loving fun JNC listeners have come to expect.
The Jordy Files: Entertainment News
The episode also featured another installment of The Jordy Files, where Jordyn delivered a rundown of the week’s entertainment headlines.
Some of the stories included:
Beyoncé officially joining the billionaire club
News from the music and film world
Celebrity birthdays
A few shocking headlines from Hollywood
As always, Jordyn’s segment added a fun pop culture twist to the show.
Irish Toasts, Guinness, and Good Craic
As the night wound down, the crew shared a few classic Irish toasts and stories while finishing their pints.
One of the best came courtesy of Kevin:
“May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. And may you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're dead.”
Sláinte to that.
Between the laughter, the music, the trivia, and the food, the episode captured exactly what St. Patrick’s Day is all about—community, storytelling, and enjoying the moment together.
Final Thoughts
This St. Patrick’s Day episode of Jams ’N’ Cocktails was the perfect mix of education, entertainment, and good old-fashioned pub-style fun.
From Irish trivia and music games to Guinness, shepherd’s pie, and heartfelt toasts, the crew delivered a celebration that felt both festive and relaxed.
Whether you’re a longtime listener or discovering the show for the first time, this episode is a reminder of why JNC works so well: great people, great music, and a whole lot of personality.
And as they say in Ireland—
Sláinte! 🍀🥃
Comments