On 25 January, we celebrate International Irish Coffee Day worldwide! While it is not an absolute necessity for us to have a special day to enjoy this delicious drink - an Irish Coffee always tastes good! - we like to take this opportunity to learn more about this iconic drink. Who was the brilliant mind who came up with the Irish Coffee? What are the secrets to making the perfect Irish Coffee, and which whiskey takes the experience to new heights? You can read it here.
The history of Irish Coffee
Did you know that the first Irish Coffee was invented in 1942 by bartender Joe Sheridan? He was working at the airport in Foynes, in the west of Ireland. The barman saw some tired passengers and figured they needed coffee with something special. To perk them up, he poured them coffee with a dash of whiskey mixed in and some coffee on top. When asked if it was Brazilian coffee, Sheridon replied, "No, my friend, this is Irish Coffee." And history was made.
Use this recipe to make the perfect Irish Coffee
As I am cozily sitting here behind my laptop writing this blog, snowflakes are swirling down outside! So I quickly go in search of the recipe for the ultimate Irish Coffee, because in these cold winter days we can all use some warming up.
Ingredients (per glass)
- Heatproof (Irish Coffee) glass
- 1 small tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/3 Irish whiskey
- 1/3 Hot coffee
- 1/3 Half whipped cream (not whipped cream!)
- Cocoa
Preparation method
- Make a strong cup of coffee according to your own method.
- Add the Irish whiskey to the coffee and stir gently.
- Mix in the brown sugar and stir until completely dissolved.
- Let the coffee cool slightly while you concentrate on the icing on the cake: the cream.
- Carefully spoon the whipped cream on top of the coffee. Let it float slowly by pouring it over the back of a spoon.
- Finish with cocoa. Tip: In an Irish Coffee, you don't stir. You drink it through the cream.
Which Whiskey is best to use?
For a delicious Irish Coffee, it is recommended to use a good quality Irish whiskey. Popular choices are Jameson, Teeling, Bushmills or Redbreast. These whisk(e)ys usually have a smooth and mild taste, which goes well with the coffee and the other ingredients in the Irish Coffee.
Tip: You can recognise Irish whiskey by looking out for brands spelled with "e" (whiskEy instead of whisky), as that is the original Irish spelling.
Pro-tip: Did you know that it is possible to filter spirits by country, brand, content and so on through our webshop? That way, you can find exactly what you're looking for within seconds, like our full collection of Irish whiskey, for example !
Serving tip for Irish Coffee
Although Irish coffee is served in different types of glasses, there is one authentic way. Irish coffee is best served in a special Irish Coffee glass or a glass mug with a base. Another alternative is a hip, heat-resistant tea glass.
Marketing • Blogger
As a creative jack-of-all-trades in the marketing world, I also bring that imaginative flair to my drink choices. Whether on a night out, sunny vacation or social gathering with girlfriends, I'm always in my element with a refreshing cocktail in hand. Cocktails have stolen my heart because of the endless possibilities to experiment and explore. My favorite cocktail of the moment is the "Lazy Red Cheeks"! A delicious cocktail using vodka as a base. I love vodka because it mixes perfectly with non-alcoholic drinks. My favorite spirit? Rum!
