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My sister Peg shows us here how to make Irish Coffee. The coffee is strong and bracing, with the flavors of the coffee and whiskey offset by sugar cubes and a thick layer of heavy cream.
(A Post Written by Peggy Abood)
Maureen and I have always felt a special kinship to Saint Patrick’s Day which must have originated with birth when our 100% Lebanese parents gave each of their daughters Irish sounding names. And it didn’t end there: when they sent us each off to Saint Mary’s for college they were setting us down a very particular path resulting in many things, including this: a very high proportion of our lifelong friends would be the beautiful daughters of Ireland, who are fixtures of the school.
Which brings me to our drinks installment, Irish Coffee. This is a simple drink to put together with just a few basic ingredients, enjoyed hot on a cold day.
Table of Contents
Origin of the drink
Like most drinks with some age on them, there’s controversy over the origins of Irish Coffee. Some insist it was created by some enterprising workers at the Shannon Airport trying to keep overseas passengers warm.
Others claim Irish Coffee was invented the long-closed Dolphin bar in Dublin. In any case, there’s no argument that the drink comes to the US through a columnist for the New York Herald Tribune. The year was 1948, the drink’s author, the wonderfully named Clementine Paddleford.
We’ve had the privilege of paging through vintage copies of her cookbooks – if you ever get your hands on one at a garage sale or on a vintage book site like alibris.com, don’t hesitate. Paddleford is known most especially for her no nonsense style and celebration of the home cook.
We brew up Irish Coffee for anyone at our table on March 17th (and beyond) with a toast to Irish sisters everywhere.
Ingredients for the recipe
- 2 cubes sugar (or 2 teaspoons granulated sugar)
- Strong brewed coffee, hot
- Irish whiskey (such as Old Bushmill’s or Jamesons)
- Heavy whipping cream, cold
How to Make Irish Coffee, Step-by-Step
Step 1. Make a pot of strong coffee.
Step 2. Fill a glass goblet with hot water to heat it up, then dump out the water.
Step 3. Drop in the two sugar cubes or granulated sugar.
Step 4. Pour the strong, hot coffee over the sugar cubes, to fill about 3/4 of the glass. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and mixed.
Step 5. Add 1 ½ oz Irish whiskey (Old Bushmill’s, Jamesons) with a bit of room left in the glass for the cream.
Step 6. Using a whisk, lightly whip heavy whipping cream in a small bowl until the cream is slightly thickened. Take care not to over whip (we’re not going for whipped cream). Turn a spoon upside down (bowl of the spoon facing down), and pour the thickened cream down the back of the spoon, layering onto the top of the coffee. Don’t stir the cream into the coffee, to keep the layers visible. Serve immediately.
FAQs
They are very similar, but Bailey’s Coffee includes Bailey’s Irish Cream in place of cream and sugar.
Ideally your whiskey is an Irish-made spirit. Favorites are Jameson, Old Bushmills, and Tullamore D.E.W.
The distinguishing elements are that Irish coffee is served hot in a footed glass mug. The coffee is spiked with whiskey and sweetened with sugar. There are two distinct layers: the coffee below and a whipped cream layer on top.
Yes, drink it hot traditionally. But if you prefer iced coffee, give that a whirl by pouring cooled coffee over ice and still topping with whipped cream.
Despite its potency, enjoy it in the morning or afternoon traditionally. The drink makes a delicious warming treat in the evening. Try it with decaf coffee too!
You could make the coffee together with the sugar, then reheat that when you’re ready to serve. Add the whiskey and top with the cream just before serving.
To make vegan Irish Coffee, make the whipped cream using coconut milk or aquafaba, the liquid from cooked chickpeas (see this recipe!).
More Favorite Cocktails from Peggy to Enjoy
How to Make Irish Coffee
Ingredients
- 2 cubes sugar (or 2 teaspoons granulated sugar)
- 4 oz. strong brewed coffee, hot
- 1.5 oz. Irish whiskey (such as Old Bushmill’s or Jamesons)
- 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream, cold
Instructions
- Fill a glass goblet with hot water to heat it up, then dump out the water.
- Drop in the two sugar cubes or granulated sugar.
- Pour the strong, hot coffee over the sugar cubes, to fill about 3/4 of the glass. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and mixed.
- Add 1 ½ oz Irish whiskey (Old Bushmill’s, Jamesons) with a bit of room left in the glass for the cream.
- Using a whisk, lightly whip heavy whipping cream in a small bowl until the cream is slightly thickened. Take care not to over whip (we’re not going for whipped cream). Turn a spoon upside down (bowl of the spoon facing down), and pour the thickened cream down the back of the spoon, layering onto the top of the coffee. Don't stir the cream into the coffee, to keep the layers visible. Serve immediately.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love an Irish Coffee and love the recipe! Just for clarification Bushmill’s is in Northern Ireland and Jameson is in Republic of Ireland. There is a BIG cultural and religious difference. Also, we have discovered brown sugar! Amazing nutty flavor.
Totally with Peggy on the soft whip cream!!!!
Ann O’Brien! Thank you for great detail-level on the Bushmill’s and Jameson whiskeys. Brown sugar, yes!! When I shot the photos for this recipe I debated using brown or white, since we use both at various times and I had both at the ready for the recipe and pics. Thank you for emphasizing the deliciousness that is brown sugar. I imagine you’ve enjoyed and make some of the finest Irish Coffee on the planet!
Yum! Peg and Maureen I will definitely give this a try – not much else is going on this weekend in Chicago!
Right?!!
Lassies! Your 100% Lebanese cousin loves Irish coffee and uses Tullamore D.E.W. I’ve not tried brown sugar or whipping cream but now I will. Slainte!
Well we will have to get after the Tullamore D.E.W. then!! xoxo