Celebrate Irish Coffee Day | SIP

ES

Elisa Schiettecatte

On January 25th, we honor the Irish Coffee, a cocktail that blends coffee, whiskey, and cream into a rich and warming treat.

A Tale of Warmth and Hospitality

The Irish Coffee’s story begins in the 1940s at Foynes Airport, near Limerick, Ireland. This bustling hub served as a transit point for transatlantic flights, attracting weary travelers in need of comfort. Chef Joe Sheridan, working at the airport restaurant, created the drink to warm up passengers on a cold winter evening.

The story goes that an American passenger asked if the beverage he had just been served was "Brazilian coffee." Sheridan famously replied, “No, that’s Irish coffee!” The drink's combination of hot coffee, Irish whiskey, brown sugar, and lightly whipped cream quickly gained popularity, becoming a signature offering at Foynes.

When the airport closed, Sheridan moved to the nearby Shannon Airport, where the cocktail’s fame spread further. In 1952, travel writer Stanton Delaplane brought the recipe to the United States, introducing it at the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco. The café perfected the art of floating cream on top of the coffee, and from there, the Irish Coffee became a global sensation.

The Classic Jameson Irish Coffee

Celebrate the original recipe with Jameson Irish Whiskey, a smooth and approachable base that lets the coffee shine.

Ingredients:

50 ml Jameson Irish Whiskey
1 teaspoon brown sugar
120 ml freshly brewed hot coffee
Lightly whipped cream

Instructions:

Warm a heatproof glass by rinsing it with hot water.
Add the brown sugar and whiskey to the glass. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
Pour in the hot coffee, leaving some space at the top.
Float the whipped cream gently over the back of a spoon to create a smooth layer.
Serve and enjoy the warmth!

Redbreast Coffee Delight

For a richer, more luxurious twist, use Redbreast 12, a single pot still Irish whiskey with deep, nutty flavors.

Ingredients:

50 ml Redbreast 12
1 teaspoon demerara sugar
120 ml freshly brewed hot coffee
Lightly whipped cream
Garnish: Grated nutmeg

Instructions:

Combine sugar and Redbreast in a warm glass. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
Add hot coffee, leaving space for cream.
Float the whipped cream and garnish with grated nutmeg for a sophisticated touch.

Avión Irish Espresso

Give the Irish Coffee a modern twist by swapping whiskey for Avión Tequila. The earthy and slightly sweet profile pairs beautifully with coffee for a bold take on tradition.

Ingredients:

50 ml Avión Reposado Tequila
120 ml freshly brewed hot coffee
15 ml agave syrup
Lightly whipped cream
Garnish: Cinnamon stick

Instructions:

Add Avión Reposado and agave syrup to a warm heatproof glass. Stir well to combine.
Pour in the hot coffee and mix gently.
Float the whipped cream over the back of a spoon to form a creamy layer.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick for added aroma and warmth.

The Ceder’s Mocha Cream

For a zero-proof version, use Ceder’s Classic to replicate the botanical depth of whiskey, paired with coffee and chocolate notes.

Ingredients:

50 ml Ceder’s Classic
1 teaspoon brown sugar
120 ml freshly brewed hot coffee
Lightly whipped cream
Garnish: Shaved dark chocolate

Instructions:

Add Ceder’s Classic and brown sugar to a heatproof glass. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
Pour in hot coffee and stir gently.
Float the whipped cream on top and garnish with shaved chocolate for a decadent finish.

Cheers!

Join the SIP Community

If you’re looking to improve your skills and expand your knowledge of the hospitality industry, sign up today to gain access to the content and events SIP has to offer.

© World’s Best Bars 2024. All Rights Reserved.

Content to be shared with those over the legal drinking age only - Enjoy responsibly.

1/2

Perfect Your Craft

Access videos, articles and courses from industry experts.

2/2

Join the hospitality community

Share tips and insights and grow within the community.

Check your email

If we recognize your account, a link to reset your password has been sent to your email address. If you haven’t received it, please check in your spam folder and add to whitelist.

First Name *

Mandatory

Last Name *

Mandatory

Email *

Mandatory

Date of Birth *

Mandatory

You must be of legal drinking age to join.
Birthdates are not shared with others.

SIP is dedicated to professionals. What is your job ? *

The name of your workspace, bar, restaurant,... *

Password *

Mandatory

Your password must include at least one symbol and number and have at least 8 characters.

Confirm your password *

Mandatory

I consent to receive news and promotional information about SIP ¹

I agree with the Terms and Conditions and I have accessed and read the Privacy Policy, which provides me details on the processing of my personal data via SIP platform

¹ Your personal data is processed by World’s Best Bars in order to manage the creation of your account and your participation on the platform. Upon your consent your information may be used by World’s Best Bars and made available through us to any other entities of the Pernod Ricard Group to provide you with news and promotional information about SIP. You can exercise your right of access, rectification, erasure, object, restriction of processing, portability or withdraw your consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on your consent before withdrawal by contacting us at groupdpo@pernod-Ricard.com. You can also lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority. For more information please see our Privacy Policy.

Check your email

A link to activate your account has been sent to your email address. If you haven’t received it, please check your spam folder and add it to whitelist.