The Wearing of the Green (Jacket)

A pre-St. Paddy’s visit to Slainte Irish Pub proves that good craic, great pours and a legendary green jacket are best earned before the amateurs arrive.

The PubScout loves him an authentic Irish pub. At most any time of the year.

Except on St. Paddy’s Day.

Because that’s when all the amateurs come out to play. And I can’t enjoy the ambience. Or the history. Or the bric-a-brac adorning the walls. Or the Snug, if there is one.

That’s why the missus and I hit Slainte! in Wilmington a month ahead of Amateur Night. With only 18 seats, Slainte! is very likely to be so packed on March 17 that you couldn’t fall down if you wanted to.

It’s the oldest Irish pub in ILM. And with 12 to 18 beers on tap at any given time as well as Jameson Irish whisky ON TAP, the craic on March 17 should be off the charts. Might even be a hoolie of epic proportions.

But even on a relatively calm afternoon in the Front Street pub, there was plenty of comfortable craic to be had.

Slainte! has no food, but it is the quintessential Irish pub nonetheless. Small, cozy, almost a snug in and of itself, it has much to commend it.

One of those commendations is a direct link to the second oldest bar in NYC called McSorley’s, of the “Be Good Or Be Gone” mantra.

As one who stood outside the legendary NYC pub on a snowy Christmas Eve decades ago waiting to be admitted as a patron left, the allure of McSorley’s is as legendary as the swinging bar doors that opened up to allow the bouncers to throw a patron out into the snow for failing to abide by the mantra.

I didn’t feel sorry for him, because his ignoble exit secured my entry around that pot-bellied stove that has seen the likes of Abe Lincoln and Joe Kennedy warming their cockles in front of it.

And any pub with a direct link to McSorley’s earns my immediate respect.

Bargal Emma allowed that during Covid, Slainte bought McSorley’s famous ale (dark and light, which it has since stopped selling) and earned the right to an illuminated sign and a mirror.

The missus and I had no problem securing seating, but if you plan to go on St. Paddy’s Day, you’d be wise to get there early, as only 18 seats will be available.

With authentic Irish music playing in the background (I’m a big fan of “The Parting Glass”), the place screams Eire.

On the day of our visit, there were 12 decent beers available on tap — and Jameson Irish Whiskey. That did not impress Diesel, a beautiful, friendly, merle-patterned two-year old Labradoodle, who secured a spot in front of the Slainte fireplace while his owner sampled some suds.

But it was important to yours truly, as Slainte! has a neat program with Jameson.

Any patron who accumulates 100 points — earned by drinking various Jameson whiskeys — gets fitted for a Jameson Masters green jacket, to wear in perpetuity — or at least till you can’t fit in it anymore. And there are 430 of these Masters out there. Somewhere. Apparently, there’s more than one way to get seated in The Amen Corner.

There used to be a collection of Jameson whiskeys that ranged from 1 to 12 points per shot, though the choices only go up to five points a shot now.

Yours truly began his quest for the coveted green jacket, and I should get to 100 points by sometime in 2044, in which case I hope it comes with wings.

But apart from the Green Jacket Challenge sponsored by DJ Morgan, the owner of Slainte, it’s a quintessential Irish pub and a great place to enjoy a beer or a few Jamesons.

And if you go before St. Paddy’s Day, the craic is up to you.

Want to go?
Slainte Irish Pub
7 N. Front Street, Wilmington
(910) 769-0018
theslainteirishpub.com