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Irish Coffee

Irish coffee in glass mug topped with whipped cream on wooden surface scattered with coffee beans.
Photo by Shutterstock

Created at an Irish airport by chef Joe Sheridan for passengers who made an emergency landing there, this recipe was then passed along to the bartender at San Francisco's old Buena Vista Hotel.

Ingredients

Serves 1

1/4 cup chilled heavy cream
2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 oz (3 tablespoons) Irish whiskey
3/4 cup hot strong coffee
  1. Step 1

    Whip heavy cream with sugar until it just holds stiff peaks.

    Step 2

    Pour Irish whiskey into a mug or Irish coffee glass and add enough of the coffee to fill it three-fourths full. Spoon whipped cream on top.

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  • Very nice. My memory of Irish coffee in Ireland, however, did not have stiffly whipped cream, but a slightly thickened cream, poured over a spoon to float over the coffee.

    • nbennison

    • Amherst, NH

    • 3/9/2020

  • Simple, warm, and delicious. So easy and great on a cold night.

    • mew70

    • Fort Worth, TX

    • 2/6/2014

  • I agree with the reviewer from Union City, California. Great winter drink to warm you up inside. I might make this thoughout the season.

    • alabamachef

    • Brewton, AL

    • 1/4/2009

  • We made these to conclude our Irish celebration (my belated Dad's birthday) and they were perfection. Some of our guests have had this coffee at the Buena Vista Hotel. Served it with the Chocolate Stout cake recipe from Epicurious and it was awesome. Thanks for a great recipe to add to our Irish gustatory repetoire.

    • katclark

    • Laguna Niguel, CA

    • 3/14/2005

  • All I can say is Perfect.

    • Anonymous

    • hanover,Mass

    • 12/20/2004

  • I absolutly LOVED this drink. It's great for a rainy day when you just want to be in the house. It's FANTASTIC. I give this recipe a 4. But if I could it would be infinity. Loved it.

    • Anonymous

    • Union City, California

    • 12/20/2004

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