Who doesn’t love a bright, shining astronomical conjunction? By which, of course, I mean the happy coincidence that Girl Scout Cookie Week 2023 and St. Patrick’s Day (week) happen at the same time. 

Let’s think about the synergy, shall we?

With the store’s blessing, a local Girl Scout troop stationed itself outside Pinnacle Wine and Liquor (where I work part-time) last weekend, and they’ll be back this Friday from 4-7. Before I showed up to pour an Irish whiskey tasting last Saturday, a colleague challenged me to come up with pairings of spirits and/or wines with the sainted cookies.

Thankfully, I’m far from the first person to consider this question. Here are recommended pairings I compiled from various websites; knock yourselves out! Full disclosure, I haven’t tried all of these pairings myself (or I might not be conscious enough to write this), but I vouch enthusiastically for enjoying the Caramel deLites with a nicely aged Irish whiskey! 

Support the Girl Scouts and enjoy your favorite cookies with a great wine, spirit, or cocktail.

Adventurefuls
Vin Santo, Sauternes, or other sweet dessert wine

Caramel deLites (Samoas)
Malbec or other dry full-bodied red wine
Sauternes 
Well-aged Irish whiskey—or any other barrel-forward aged whiskey, such as a wheated bourbon
Rum, preferably aged
A sweet rum cocktail … El Presidente, Mai Tai, Pina Colada, Painkiller

Do-si-dos (peanut butter sandwiches)
Madeira (fortified wine)
Merlot
Skrewball or Sqrrl peanut butter whiskey (or an Old Fashioned made with same)

Girl Scout S’mores
Viognier white wine
Pedro Ximenez sherry
Irish cream liqueur (on the rocks)
Fruit and Nut Chocolate Cocktail
Chambord and Crème de Cacao cocktail

Lemonades
Off-dry Riesling or a Chenin Blanc
Junipery London Dry gin on the rocks
A lemony gin cocktail such as: Aviation, Bee’s Knees, Blue Lady, Corpse Reviver No. 2, French 75, or Breakfast Martini

Lemon-Ups
A Rosé on the sweet side
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or other citrusy dry white wine

Raspberry Rally
Madeira
Fruit and Nut Chocolate Cocktail
Chambord and/or Crème de Cacao over ice

Tagalongs/Peanut Butter Patties
Ruby or Tawny Port
Spiced rum
Ice wine (preferably from a red grape like Cabernet Franc) 
Cabernet Sauvignon
Skrewball or Sqrrl peanut  butter whiskey (or Old Fashioned made with same)

Thin Mints
Bold, deep red wines, e.g. Syrah, Cab Sauv, Zinfandel, or Sangiovese
Fernet-Branca (mint with mint sauce!)
Irish Coffee
Rye whiskey

Toffee-tastic
Cabernet Sauvignon or a bold red blend
Amontillado Sherry

Trefoils (shortbread cookies) 
Prosecco or other dry sparkling wine
A buttery Chardonnay
Scotch or Irish whisky—even a peated one
Chambord on ice