How to Make Irish Coffee

the legend of Irish Coffee

It’s believed that the first Irish coffee was created in the 1940s by a bartender named Joe Sheridan who worked at the Foynes Airbase in County Limerick, Ireland.

According to legend, on a particularly cold winter evening in 1942, a group of American passengers arrived at the airbase after their flight was canceled due to bad weather. Sheridan wanted to warm them up, so he added a shot of whiskey to their coffee and topped it off with whipped cream. Sheridan jokingly called it “Irish coffee”. The drink became an instant hit, and the rest is history!

ingredients in an Irish coffee cocktail

• hot coffee
  • definitely go with decaf if you don’t do pm caffeine.
• Irish whiskey
  • I used Jameson, but any whiskey will be delicious (see below for options.)
• brown sugar
  • brown sugar adds a deep, rich flavor to the drink and complements the whiskey and coffee flavors well. This is optional, however, and I prefer not to use it.
• whipped cream
  • I make whipped cream sweetened with powdered sugar that I whip to soft (not stiff) peaks.
• chocolate shavings

what’s the best Irish whiskey for Irish coffee?

When it comes to choosing the best Irish whiskey for Irish coffee, there are several options to consider depending on what you like and, of course, your budget. Here are a few common choices…

• Jameson Irish Whiskey ~ Jameson is by far the best selling whiskey, and it’s affordable, too, so it’s often used in Irish coffee. It has a smooth and balanced flavor with notes of vanilla and toasted wood. This is the whiskey I used for today’s recipe.
• Tullamore D.E.W. Original Irish Whiskey ~ Tullamore D.E.W. is a blended Irish whiskey that has a complex flavor profile with hints of citrus and spice. It is a great choice for those who want a whiskey that stands up to the bold flavors of coffee.
• Bushmills Original ~ Bushmills is a smooth and light Irish whiskey that is great for beginners. It has a mellow flavor that works well with the bitter notes of coffee.

how to float your whipped cream topping

The technique of floating is used to ensure that your whipped topping doesn’t sink down into your coffee, but rather floats on top. This technique involves using one spoon to hold the whipped topping and another spoon to gently slide the whipped topping off the first spoon and onto the surface of the cocktail, creating a layer of cream on top. It’s a nice little bartending technique to know about, and it’s handy for cocktails like Irish coffee, hot chocolate, and other creamy drinks.

variations on Irish coffee

This coffee cocktail is a classic, but the basic idea of spiking a cup of coffee is an idea you can run with in so many directions…

• Baileys coffee: Replace the Irish whiskey with Irish cream liqueur for a creamy indulgent variation. You can also use the Baileys in addition to the whiskey if you like.
• Nutty Irishman: Add a splash of hazelnut liqueur, such as Frangelico, to the classic Irish coffee recipe. This gives the drink a nutty, sweet flavor and is my favorite variation!
• Gaelic Coffee: Use brown sugar and add a dash of Drambuie liqueur for a warm and spicy flavor.
• Mexican coffee: Replace the Irish whiskey with tequila and the whipped cream with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
• Jamaican coffee: Replace the Irish whiskey with rum and the whipped cream with a sprinkle of nutmeg. This gives the drink a warm and spicy flavor.
• Spiced Irish coffee: Add a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg to give it a cozy, spiced flavor.
• Iced Irish Coffee: your refreshing summertime Irish coffee.
• Frozen Irish Coffee: Blend the coffee, whiskey, sugar, and cream with ice ~ think Irish Frappucccino!
• Low ABV Irish Coffee: Reduce the whiskey to a tablespoon, which whill still be delicious while lowering the alcohol content of the drink.