With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, we figured it was time for a Shoes & Booze double header. Today, we’ll pair a bold double monk strap with an Irish inspired cocktail guaranteed to defy expectations. That is to say, it isn’t green and it doesn’t feature Irish cream. Sorry, folks.

But don’t you worry. It’s good to try new things; and what better way to flout convention than to not get green puke splashed on your kicks this Paddy’s Day? So settle in, and for the love of god try to hold down the corned beef and cabbage until we’re done here.

The Poitier Double Monk Strap 

Back in bad old days, before St. Patrick’s Day got appropriated by every WASP with a mild substance abuse problem, the monk strap shoe was a favorite among – you guessed it – European monks. Sturdier than sandals and more comfortable than boots, the monk strap was ideal for all the kneeling and sitting and kneeling and standing (and kneeling again) that was going on in the clergy at the time.                                                                                                                                                                 The monk strap failed to catch on with the commoners, however, as it was not quite formal enough to be paired with the dress tunics, but a little too formal for dinner at the hovel. Later on, in the twentieth century, the middle ground that this style struck between formal and casual wear became one of the monk strap’s greatest virtues.

Match the clean lines of the Poitier with a pair of flat front chinos and your favorite leather jacket for a night on the town. Swap the weekend wear for a suit and three-quarter topcoat and your double monks will still look right at home. Dress it up or dress it down - The double monk strap will never fail to make an impression, which brings us to our renegade Irish cocktail. 

The Blackberry Malt

The blackberry malt is a remarkably refreshing cocktail, accented by fresh fruit flavors and tempered by the subtle almond and vanilla notes of The Irishman Single Malt whiskey. This triple distilled whiskey has a distinctly different flavor profile than many other Irish whiskeys. Aged in oak bourbon barrels, the Irishman Single Malt takes on the floral qualities of its American counterpart to create a truly unique whiskey. But enough with the academics – let’s get mixing.

We’ll start with a handful of blackberries and simple syrup.

• In a mixing glass, muddle four of your blackberries with ¾ oz of simple syrup
• Next, squeeze ¾ oz of fresh lime juice into the glass as well.
• Add 1 ¾ oz of your Irishman Single Malt Whiskey, and shake well with ice.
• Double strain into a lowball glass over ice
• Finally, garnish your cocktail with a lemon segment and blackberry

Oh, one last step. Kick back and enjoy while you watch the pained expressions of everyone around you choking down Jäger and crème de menthe. Happy Paddy’s Day, dear reader! Dress Responsibly.