Irish Coffee: How to Make and Serve It
They say every one of us has a little bit of Irish in them…or maybe that’s just on St. Patrick’s Day. Regardless, Irish Coffee is a delicious drink no matter your nationality or heritage. It’s ideal for any occasion.
Back in the early 30s, the Port of Foynes in Ireland was a virtual hot spot for travelers going to and from the states. Everyone from royalty to refugees went through there.
Image by david.nikonvscanon
But, as the story goes, it was a dark and stormy night in the Winter of 1934. A flight enroute to New York was forced to turn back due to nasty weather.
Tired passengers flocked to the restaurant found in the terminal, as a place to wait out the storm. The chef at the time, a man named Joe Sheridan, offered up a coffee drink mixed with good ‘ole Irish whiskey. When he was what kind of drink it was he told them it was “Irish Coffee”.
It wasn’t until 1952 that the owner of a San Francisco restaurant brought the recipe back to the United States, where it gained its fame.
Here’s what that recipe entails…
Ingredients:
2 oz. Irish Whiskey
2 teaspoons brown sugar
5-6 oz. freshly brewed black coffee
Heavy whipping cream
Directions:
Take a warm, stemmed whiskey goblet (an Irish coffee cup will suffice in a pinch) and pour in the Irish whiskey. Add in the brown sugar, followed by the strong black coffee. Fill within an inch of the brim. Stir in the brown sugar so that it fully dissolves.
Top off the drink with the heavy whipped cream. TIP: To aerate the whipped cream, pour it into the glass over the back of a spoon.
Do not mix or stir the drink once the whipped cream has been added. To get the full experience of an Irish Coffee, it’s best to drink it through the cream. Enjoy!
