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Cocktail History
The John The Baptist is a tiki cocktail that was created by Long Thai in New York City, New York. Unlike other tiki drinks, this one takes inspiration from Ireland and uses blended Irish whiskey in place of the usual rum. It then pairs the spirit with an unexpected list of ingredients, including apricot, white chocolate, pineapple, pistachio, cream, matcha green tea, absinthe, mint, and nutmeg, to make a thick and rich recipe with a light green color fit for St. Patrick’s Day.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Irish Whiskey: This is a type of whiskey made in Ireland made with unmalted or malted barley, cereal grains, spices, and water. I used Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey.
Apricot Brandy: This is a liqueur made with apricots, spices, sugar, and brandy. I used Phillips Apricot Brandy.
White Crème De Cacao: This is a liqueur made with white chocolate, vanilla, sugar, and alcohol. I used DeKuyper Crème De Cacao White.
Pineapple Juice: This is the liquid juice of a pineapple. I used fresh pineapple juice.
Pistachio Syrup: This is a sweetener made with pistachios, sugar, and water. I used Monin Premium Pistachio Syrup.
Half & Half: This is a dairy product made with equal parts milk and cream. I used Prairie Farm Half & Half.
Coconut Matcha Green Tea Powder Mix: This is a sweetener made with cream of coconut and matcha green tea powder.
Absinthe: This is a spirit made with anise, wormwood, fennel, botanicals, and alcohol. I used Great Lakes Distillery Amerique 1912 Absinthe Verte.
Mint Sprig: This is an herb. I used Mojito mint.
Grated Nutmeg: This is a spice made from the seed of a nutmeg tree. I used Frontier Co-op Whole Nutmeg.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Chef’s Knife: This is used to cut larger fruits and vegetables into slices for the garnish. I used the OXO Good Grips 8-Inch Chef’s Knife.
Pineapple Corer: This is used to remove the core of the pineapple before it’s juiced. I used the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Corer.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus, fruits, and vegetables. I used the Hamilton Beach Large Juicer.
Grater: This is used to grate spices or citrus peel. I used the OXO Good Grips Grater.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Frothy light green color
• Aroma: Nutmeg, mint, and noticeable coconut
• Taste: Predominantly sweet, nutty, and malty flavor
• Finish: Coconut, matcha, and pineapple notes
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “I don’t usually care all that much for the flavor of nuts in anything, but wow, does the flavor of the syrup really make this recipe incredibly unique. It’s meant to be made with a pistachio syrup, but I didn’t have that on hand on the day of our tasting so I used macadamia nut instead. I honestly loved both that version and the reshake with pistachio syrup I tried a few days later. Although certainly a bit of work to make, the coconut, matcha, and nut flavors all mix together beautifully. If you’re looking for something with the air of tiki but out of the box, the John The Baptist a great pick.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Liquor.com, an online beverage publication.
John The Baptist
The John The Baptist is a tiki cocktail that was created by Long Thai in New York City, New York. Unlike other tiki drinks, this one takes inspiration from Ireland and uses blended Irish whiskey in place of the usual rum. It then pairs the spirit with an unexpected list of ingredients, including apricot, white chocolate, pineapple, pistachio, cream, matcha green tea, absinthe, mint, and nutmeg, to make a thick and rich recipe with a light green color fit for St. Patrick’s Day.

Ingredients
Method
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Add whiskey, apricot brandy, white crème de cacao, pineapple juice, pistachio syrup, half & half, coconut matcha green tea powder mix, absinthe, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a tiki of highball glass over fresh cracked ice.
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Garnish with mint sprig and grated nutmeg.