Preparation
- Warm a heatproof glass with hot water, then empty it out.
- Add the hot coffee, whiskey, and sugar; stir until the sugar has dissolved.
- Slowly pour the cold, lightly thickened cream over the back of a spoon onto the surface. Do not stir after this.
What does it taste like?
First the cold cream touches your lips, soft and rich. Right behind it comes the hot coffee, bold and slightly bitter. A teaspoon of sugar takes the edge off the bitterness, though it doesn't make the drink sweet. The whiskey brings warmth along with a grainy, slightly sweet note. Fifty milliliters is a decent amount, but it almost disappears into the coffee unnoticed. The best part is the temperature contrast: cold and creamy on top, hot and clear underneath. Without stirring, this difference remains until the very last sip.
When does it work best?
The Irish Coffee is a drink for after dinner and cold evenings. It warms you up, wakes you up, and replaces the espresso at the end of a meal. Beginners find it easy to enjoy, because the coffee and cream cushion the alcohol. If you don't want coffee in the evening anymore, better skip it. It doesn't pair well with the meal itself.
What matters
Only lightly thicken the cream, don't whip it stiff. Stiff cream sits on top like a lid, while lightly whipped cream flows in as you drink. Pour it slowly over the back of a spoon so it stays on top. Don't stir after that. Warm the glass beforehand with hot water, otherwise the coffee cools down immediately. The sugar must be fully dissolved before the cream goes in.
Where the drink comes from
The Irish Coffee is credited to Joe Sheridan and the Irish flying boat port of Foynes, in the 1940s. The traditional story tells of frozen travelers who needed something hot, and coffee with whiskey as the answer. The drink later became internationally famous. The anecdote shouldn't be taken too literally: the dates vary, so the exact sequence of events isn't certain. Still, the idea behind it has endured, because it's simple and it works.