Irish Coffee Recipe

It is said that different variations of coffee cocktails pre-date the now-classic Irish coffee by at least a hundred years. The Irish coffee is an iconic drink in its own right and the original recipe is quite easy to follow and prepare with few ingredients. It is a combination of rich black coffee, smooth Irish whiskey, sweetened with brown sugar and topped with lightly whipped cream.

As far as history goes, according to Weaver’s coffee & tea, Irish coffee was created by chef Joe Sheridan in the winter of 1943. Sheridan ran the restaurant at the Foynes airbase outside of Limerick, Ireland. Foynes had become one of the biggest civilian airports in Europe during World War 2 and then an airbase for transatlantic flights that often carried political or Hollywood figures. The airbase was usually just a stopover for longer flights to refuel and often due to weather, passengers would need to stay for the night. A new restaurant was created to cater to these dignified passengers.

Today, although there are now variations of how to make this coffee, the basics in all Irish coffee are whiskey, coffee, and cream. This drink is considered to be one of the best cocktails of all time and is perfect to enjoy as an after-dinner drink and is perfect on a cold winter’s night.

The Recipe

I would like to thank the folks from the SpruceEats for this simple to follow and authentic recipe. Irish coffee is easy to prepare and with a few steps, you will be on your way to enjoying this wonderful beverage. A few things to remember; in order to keep your coffee glass or mug warm, fill with hot water before use. This will help to keep your drink hot and to bring out the full flavors in your coffee. Also, to keep the cream at the top of the coffee, pour the cream over the back of a spoon so it pours gradually and the layer will float as the coffee is drunk.