Irish coffee cocktail: How to make a perfect whiskey & coffee drink

Irish coffee cocktail is a perfect blend of rich coffee, good quality Irish whiskey, brown sugar and slightly whipped cream. It looks like we’re nowhere close to the end of this year’s winter. So, whether you’re looking for a cosy winter drink or an elegant after-dinner cocktail, this classic recipe never disappoints. Let’s dive into the history, ingredients, tips and ways of making the best Irish coffee cocktail.

The history of Irish coffee cocktail

The origin of Irish coffee cocktail dates back to the 1940s. Its creator Joe Sheridan was a chef at Foynes Airport in Ireland. He wanted to warm up cold and weary travellers with a comforting drink. The combination of hot coffee, whiskey and cream quickly became a favourite. A travel writer brought the recipe to the U.S. Right after that, the drink was worldwide famous, especially at the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco. They still serve thousands of Irish coffee cocktails every day.

Step-by-step Irish coffee cocktail recipe

Pre-heat the glass

Start by warming your glass. Pour some hot water into the glass and let it sit for a minute. Then, discard the water. This helps maintain the drink’s temperature longer. This is something I do every day for my regular coffee.

Add brown sugar and melt it

Put 1 teaspoon of brown sugar in the bottom of your warm glass. The sugar balances the whiskey’s bite and enhances the coffee’s flavour. You can use the whole coffee to melt the sugar. I prefer using a tablespoon of the coffee and then mix that with the rest.

Add the Irish whiskey

Pour in 1 ½ ounces (about 45ml) of Irish whiskey. Stir again to combine all the flavours.

Adding the cream

Lightly whip the double cream until it’s just thickened but still pourable. Hold a spoon upside down over the coffee and slowly pour the cream over the back of the spoon so it floats on top. If you whip it a lot, it will thicken to prevent the liquid from being drinkable from the glass. I like to add a bit of stiff cream on top of my drink, right in the middle. Don’t ask why, I just love eating the cream left at the bottom when the drink is finished.

Adding the cream

Lightly whip the double cream until it’s just thickened but still pourable. Hold a spoon upside down over the coffee and slowly pour the cream over the back of the spoon so it floats on top. If you whip it a lot, it will thicken to prevent the liquid from being drinkable from the glass. I like to add a bit of stiff cream on top of my drink, right in the middle. Don’t ask why, I just love eating the cream left at the bottom when the drink is finished.

Grate the nutmeg – optional

The last step before enjoying your drink is optional. Get a fine grater and grate your nutmeg on top of the cream layer. Your Irish coffee cocktail is now ready for you to enjoy! Don’t stir, drink it through the creamy layer for the best experience. You can even add some grated chocolate if you’re not up for nutmeg, or maybe go crazy and add both!

Irish coffee cocktail tips

High-quality ingredients

Always use the highest quality ingredients you can get. Freshly brewed coffee is always better than instant coffee.

Don’t over-whip the cream

The cream should be thick but still pourable. As I said before, I like a bit stiffer but it’s a personal choice. You should be able to drink the cream and your Irish coffee cocktail together to enjoy its best.

Layering the cream

Using a spoon to pour your cream will help you layer it on top of the drink properly and it will float perfectly.

Use heatproof glass

Maintain the temperature of your drink by using a heatproof glass. Eventually, this is a hot served drink. You should enjoy it as one.

Best whiskey for Irish coffee cocktail

Traditional Irish whiskey brands like Jameson, Midleton or Teeling are good choices for this drink. You can of course use others, too, but the name itself is clear enough to tell you that an Irish coffee cocktail will be best made with a good Irish whiskey!

Hope you’ll enjoy this warm, delicious drink as much as I do. If you’re a coffee addict like me, you check out my coffee cocktail recipes. Cheers!