Irish Coffee

If you just can’t decide on your end-of-the-night drink, why not have an Irish coffee for the best of both worlds? Not only a St. Patrick’s Day classic, this warming bev is a winter drink staple to warm up on cold, chilly nights. The perfect combination of sweetened coffee, Irish whiskey, and (of course) whipped cream, this simple drink is the perfect way to end (or start!) your night.

History.
Irish coffee was first created in 1943 by an airport chef named Joe Sheridan, who whipped it up for passengers whose flight had been rerouted back to his small airport near Limerick in Ireland. The passengers were both delighted and soothed by the warm drink, and one passenger ventured to ask, “Is this Brazilian coffee?” “No,” Joe Sheridan said, “it’s Irish coffee.” The name stuck, and since then it’s been a classic warming cocktail enjoyed on St. Patrick’s Day and beyond!

The sugar.
We like brown sugar in this recipe because of how the caramel molasses notes pair with the booze, but you could also use granulated sugar or natural sweeteners such as coconut sugar, honey, or maple syrup. Just be aware that each of those will bring their own distinct flavor that will affect the finished drink.

The whiskey.
For a true Irish coffee, use only Irish whiskey. We suggest Jameson, but if you have something else you’d prefer, go for it! We recommend choosing a mild whiskey with a sweeter finish to complement the coffee flavors.

The cream.
When making your whipped cream, you’re looking for the cream to hold soft peaks while still remaining pourable. The best way to tell if your cream is ready: plunge a whisk into the middle of it, pull the whisk out, and flip it over. The little peak at the end of the whisk should flop and curl over on itself. If it doesn’t form a peak, it’s not ready. If the peak doesn’t flop but stays pointing straight up, you’ve gone too far. For more tips on this, check out our whipped cream tutorial.

Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below!