Tipple

Irish Coffee

Irish Coffee MugBuild & float

Origin

Joe Sheridan · Foynes Flying Boat terminal, Ireland · 1943

Chef Joe Sheridan added Irish whiskey to coffee for cold passengers diverted back to Foynes airbase on a winter night in 1943. Brought to the United States by travel writer Stanton Delaplane, who introduced it to the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco in 1952.

A warm, creamy cocktail for cold evenings — coffee meets whiskey.

Ingredients

  • 1½ oz Irish Whiskey
  • 6 oz Hot Coffee
  • 1 tsp Sugar
  • Lightly whipped Heavy Cream

Instructions

  1. Warm a glass mug by filling with hot water, then discarding.
  2. Add sugar and hot coffee, stir to dissolve.
  3. Add Irish whiskey and stir.
  4. Float lightly whipped cream over the back of a spoon.

Tips

  • The cream should float, not be stirred in — you drink the coffee through it.
  • Use freshly brewed coffee, not espresso.

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