BevX Cocktails

Irish Coffee

This week we feature a cocktail that we dare say is one that has been enjoyed by more readers than any other that we have featured. The Irish Coffee can be made with ease at home and the bar. On a cool and damp evening there are few drinks that can warm you from head to toe like a well-made Irish Coffee. The drink is said to have been invented (in the 1940s) by Joseph Sheridan at the Foynes Port, County Limerick (the airport that would later become the Shannon International Airport). The Spirited coffee was offered to shivering passengers on a particularly inclement winter's evening.

Soon, the drink took on a life of its own thanks to Jack Koeppler, then-owner of the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco. Koeppler challenged international travel writer Stanton Delaplane to recreate the 'Irish Coffee' that he had experienced in County Limerick. It can be argued that the Buena Vista has served more Irish Coffees (more than 30 million to date) than any other establishment in the world.

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz. Quality Irish Whiskey
1 tablespoon raw or Demerara sugar
4 oz. Hot Coffee
Fresh made, unsweetened whipped cream

Occasion

The obvious occasion is St. Patrick's Day but this classic cocktail is enjoyed year-round and especially when you are in need of a warm-up.

Method

Add the sugar to the bottom of the glass or mug. Top with hot coffee and stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the Irish Whiskey and top with a healthy dollop of fresh whipped cream.

Variations

Many variations abound and the obvious way to vary this drink is by choosing different Irish Whiskies. If you are feeling ambitious take a look at our Fancy Irish Coffee.

Source: Classic