Irish Coffee

  Posted on March 10, 2010  by Leslie Blythe  1 comment

The original Irish coffee was invented by Joseph Sheridan, a head chef at Foynes, County Limerick but originally from Castlederg, County Tyrone. Foynes’ port was the precursor to Shannon International Airport in the west of Ireland; the coffee was conceived after a group of American passengers disembarked from a Pan Am flying boat on a miserable winter evening in the 1940s. Sheridan added whiskey to the coffee to warm the passengers. After the passengers asked if they were being served Brazilian coffee, Sheridan told them it was Irish coffee.

Here are two versions.  Why not try it both ways and do your own taste test?

Original Version:
1 cup hot coffee
1 1/2 ounces Irish Mist liqueur
whipped cream for garnish

Modern Version:
1 cup hot coffee
1 ounces Irish Whiskey
3 sugar cubes
whipped cream for garnish

In order to make this recipe properly the whiskey has to be heated to a high temperature. Pour the coffee in a cup with the desired number of sugar cubes. Then use a spoon turned upside down and pour the HOT whiskey over it so it flows down gently. Top it all with the whipped cream.

When served, true Irish coffee always has three distinct layers. When served, you first use a straw and sip (a very small amount as it is HOT) a little of the whiskey. Then stir all the ingredients together.