Irish Coffee: the easy recipe for the classic warming whisky cocktail

Irish coffee is fantastic for all sorts of occasions – it's a wonderful warming cocktail to enjoy on St. Patrick's Day, and it's excellent as an after-dinner drink. Made with rich, strong coffee mixed with Irish whiskey, and a dash of sugar, then topped with whipped cream, it's a delicious cocktail with bold flavors.

The drink was created in the 1940s by Joe Sheridan, a chef based outside Limerick, Ireland. It became internationally famous the following decade when it became the star cocktail at the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco. Today, it's a beloved cocktail worldwide, especially on cold winter nights to keep the chill at bay as it has about 9% ABV alcohol content.

Tips for Making the Best Irish Coffee

Irish coffee is usually served in an Irish coffee glass, but any heatproof serving vessel works.

Use good quality coffee for your Irish coffee. Don't drink caffeine? Use decaf instead of regular coffee.

Jazz up your Irish coffee with a drizzle of chocolate syrup or a dusting of cocoa powder.

How to Make Irish Coffee

Make hot coffee.

Meanwhile, lightly whip heavy cream.

Next, add the brown sugar into an Irish coffee glass, a mug, or a heatproof glass.

Pour the coffee whiskey into the glass.

Pour the Irish whiskey, then stir well to dissolve the sugar.

Gently pour in the lightly whipped cream, using the back of a spoon. As you pour it, lift the spoon so that the cream layer remains well separated from the liquid part.

Serve and enjoy!