Irish Coffee
The Irish Coffee is a light whiskey hot drink, bitter and smoky on the palate. Heated and served in a mug. It's one of the International Bartenders Association's official contemporary classics cocktails.
- 6 min
- Mug
- Heated
Flavor profile
- Sweet
- 20 out of 100
- Bitter
- 99 out of 100
- Creamy
- 20 out of 100
- Smoky
- 70 out of 100
- Boozy
- 18 out of 100
How to make an Irish Coffee
To make an Irish Coffee, heat gently and pour into a mug: 1½ oz irish whiskey, 8 oz coffee, ¼ oz simple syrup and ½ oz whipped cream.
You'll need
- Irish whiskey1½ oz
- Coffee8 oz
- Simple syrupor 1 tsp sugar + a splash of water¼ oz
- Whipped cream½ oz
Pairs well with: Simple syrup · All syrups
Instructions
- 1
Warm a mug by filling it with hot water, then empty it.
- 2
Brew the coffee.
- 3
Pour it into the warmed mug.
- 4
Add simple syrup and Irish whiskey, adding the alcohol last so it stays in the drink.
- 5
Stir gently.
- 6
Float whipped cream on top: pour it gently over the back of a spoon so it sits on the surface, without stirring.
Why heat it gently? Milk, cream and chocolate scorch if they boil, and adding the alcohol last keeps it from cooking off.
No simple syrup? Stir 1 tsp sugar into the warm drink until it dissolves.
Irish Coffee questions
What does an Irish Coffee taste like, and is it sweet?
Not really: it's mostly bitter and smoky. It's a light drink at about 5% ABV once mixed.
How much alcohol is in an Irish Coffee?
About 5% ABV after mixing, closer to a beer or glass of wine.
What's the difference between an Irish Coffee and a Tennessee Mud?
Both use irish whiskey, coffee and whipped cream. The Irish Coffee adds simple syrup, while the Tennessee Mud uses Amaretto. The Tennessee Mud is the stronger of the two.
What glass do you serve an Irish Coffee in?
A mug.