Irish coffee is such a cocktail basic, such a standard after dinner treat, and yet we'd never, ever made one before this. It's not at all hard, and the ingredients are probably in your pantry or fridge. The whipping cream, unless you're the decadent sort who keeps some on hand, might require a run to the store. But it's worth it.
Sit down with one of these after a long day of work...mmm.
Effort: 1/2 assed
Here's what you need and how you do it
(Makes 2 coffees)
2 6-ounce cups of strongly brewed coffee
3 ounces Irish Whiskey (we used Canadian, shh)
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream, lightly whipped (no peaks)
Mix brown sugar and whiskey in bottom of glass. If you want to be really authentic, use a footed glass with a short stem.
Pour in coffee.
Top with lightly whipped cream, being careful not to let the cream mix with the coffee.
Many recipes call for cream that has not been whipped, but just poured over the back of a spoon where it theoretically rests on top of the coffee. Didn't work for us, though. Whipped is almost foul-proof.
For a printable version of this recipe, click here.
Ten years ago the coffee house at McMurdo Station Antarctica made a great Irish Coffee. It wasn't a bar but you could order an Irish Coffee - hold the coffee. It was two shots of Bushmills- neat.
Posted by: John E | March 17, 2011 at 02:40 PM
I think the most strenuous thing about this is actually having to brew the coffee. :-P Sounds super easy and pretty darn tasty.
Posted by: Molly | March 18, 2011 at 12:02 PM