Irish Coffee

Irish coffee is one of the most classic Irish cocktails—and a perfect way to warm up this winter (especially on St. Patrick's Day).

how-to-make-irish-coffee-GettyImages-915776530
Photo:

Dulin/Getty Images

Hands On Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
10 mins
Servings:
1

Irish coffee may seem like a recipe that's been handed down for generations, but its origins date back to the 1950s, when a coffee shop owner in Shannon, Ireland, first paired coffee with whiskey, a hint of sugar, and an impressive dollop of cream on top.

For the perfect winter cocktail, you can make Irish coffee by adding traditional Irish whiskey to your favorite cup of coffee—giving you twice the buzz in a single drink. To make the best Irish coffee, splurge on the highest quality coffee and cream you can buy, and pair it with a classic Irish whiskey, like Tullamore DEW, Redbreast, or Jameson.

For an extra buzz or an even more decadent coffee cocktail, swap the usual cream for an Irish cream liqueur, or infuse your cream with a touch of it—or add a shot of coffee liqueur to the coffee to punch up the coffee flavor.

Then pair your Irish coffee with one of these traditional Irish desserts for the perfect St. Patrick's Day (or any day, really) treat. Sláinte!

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar

  • ¾ cup hot coffee

  • 1 ½ ounces Irish whiskey

  • 1 ounce whipped cream

Directions

  1. Add 2 teaspoons of brown sugar to a heatproof glass.

  2. Pour in 3/4 cup of hot coffee.

  3. Add 1 1/2 ounces of whiskey.

  4. Spoon in 1 ounce of whipped cream.

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