Irish Coffee is a classic cocktail that combines hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and a creamy layer of lightly whipped cream for the perfect cold weather treat.
3ouncesJameson® Irish Whiskeyor whiskey of your choice
0.25cupwhipping cream1 tablespoon of powdered sugar optional
Instructions
Warm two Irish coffee mugs by filling with HOT water.
Pour out the hot water and add one or two teaspoons of sugar to each mug.
Pour 4-ounces of hot coffee over the sugar, and stir until sugar fully dissolves.
Add 1.5-ounces whiskey, stir to combine.
Once the coffee is still, hold a spoon over the coffee with the curved side up, and slowly pour the cream over the back of the spoon. This helps the cream float rather than mix into the coffee.
Drink coffee through the cream without stirring, which creates a mix of hot coffee and whiskey with each sip.
Notes
It’s best to use a good-quality Irish whiskey, such as Jameson, Bushmills, or Tullamore D.E.W. in this cocktail. You really can taste the difference.
Irish Coffee recipes call for “sugar” and some actually specify brown sugar. I chose raw sugar because it is less processed and probably closer to the sugar that was available back in the 1940’s when this cocktail was created.
To get the cream to float on top, lightly whip the cream until it thickens slightly but is still pourable. Use the back of a spoon to slowly pour the cream over the coffee, which helps it float on top and create that signature layer.
I also added a tablespoon of powdered sugar, because straight cream does not sound appetizing to me. With a bit of volume added it is also much easier to keep the cream “floating” on top of the coffee. YUM!!