Irish Coffee - The Magical Blend of Whiskey, Coffee & Cream
The Irish have always had a great affinity with uisce beatha (ish keh ba ha), (Gaelic for 'Water of Life') or as most of us know it, Whiskey.
Having a thriving dairy industry, cream was readily available, so the only non home-grown products were the coffee and the sugar. This ingenious blend has become so popular all over the world.
A glass of this is a great way to end a meal!
"Irish Coffee provides in a single glass all 4 essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, fat."
Where It All Started
Enterprising chef!
By 1937, Foynes (on the west coast of Ireland) had been established as the main airport for Flying Boats between America and Europe, and the trial flights began with Imperial Airways and Pan American Airways.By 1940, the airport had a large number of passengers transiting including VIPs such as John F Kennedy, Yehudi Menuhin, Humphrey Bogart, Eleanor Roosevelt, Edward G Robinson, Ernest Hemmingway and Douglas Fairbanks Snr. amongst others. They would rest in the airport while the flying boat was prepared for its next journey. Sometimes the wait could be overnight owing to bad weather.
A simple restaurant had been established by BOAC, but now it was time to upgrade this to a 1st Class restaurant, which could provide the best of Irish Food and Drink.
One night a flight left Foynes for Botwood, Newfoundland and then on to New York. However due to bad weather conditions on the North Atlantic the Captain decided to return to Foynes - not an unusual occurrence. The Restaurant was informed to prepare food and drink, as the passengers would be cold and miserable.
A chef, Joe Sheridan, was serving coffee and he thought that a little drop of something stronger might warm them up, so he added a drop of Irish Whiskey to their coffee. A surprised American passenger asked "is this Brazilian coffee"?, "No" Joe said, "That's Irish Coffee". From then on Irish Coffee became the official welcoming drink at Foynes Airport.
The construction and opening in 1942 of Shannon Airport on flat bogland on the northern bank of the estuary heralded the closure of Foynes Airport as a flying-boat station in 1946.
To this day if you travel through Shannon Airport you will find "The Sheridan Food Pub" (refurbished in May 2008) in the departures lounge, and a plaque that has been placed there in honour of Joe's great warm libation.
What the Original Recipe Should be ...
(as per Joseph Sheridan)
"Cream, rich as an Irish brogue;
Coffee, strong as a friendly hand;
Sugar, sweet as the tongue of a rogue;
Whiskey, smooth as the wit of the land."
How To Make An Irish Coffee
Warm the Glass
The traditional Irish Coffee cup is on a thick, short stem, with a handle. Preheat with hot water.
Pressed Coffee is Best
For the traditional Irish Coffee, you can't beat a freshly pressed pot of coffee. Don't skimp on the quality or preparation!
The Whiskey
Just as you wouldn't want to skimp on the coffee, don't skimp on the whiskey either. Jameson's is ideal.
Irish Whiskey, of course!
Whip the Cream
Must be real cream - no canned stuff here!
The cream has to be just short of stiff - pourable, but extra, extra thick.
Add the Whiskey
Empty the glass of the hot water, then add the whiskey - 1¼ oz or 35 ml.
The heat of the glass will allow the whiskey aromas to be released immediately.
Pour the Coffee
Pour the coffee to infuse and distribute the whiskey, locking in the melange of flavours both beverages offer.
Add the Brown Sugar
Add 2 tsp. brown sugar, and stir until fully dissolved. The beverage is hot, and the sugar melts quickly.
Pour the Cream over a Spoon
The secret to great Irish Coffee is pouring the cream (approx. 20 ml) onto the beverage over the back of a spoon.
Gentle pouring and layering will create a great looking and even better tasting drink leaving the cream on the surface.
The Finished Irish Coffee
The finished Irish Coffee is now ready to enjoy and savour.
Drink the beverage through the cream, and you will never forget your fist one!
BE CAREFUL
If you have to make a hot drink in a regular glass, first place a metal spoon in the glass.
This will help conduct excess heat away from the glass, ensuring the glass will not break.
The Irish Coffee Story at the Buena Vista, California
In 1952 Jack Koeppler, the then-owner of the Buena Vista, challenged international travel writer Stanton Delaplane to help re-create a highly touted "Irish Coffee" served at Shannon Airport in Ireland. Intrigued, Stan Accepted Jack's invitation, and the pair began to experiment immediately.Throughout the night the two of them stirred and sipped judiciously - and probably fell over a lot - and eventually acknowledged two recurring problems. The taste was "not quite right," and the cream would not float.
The restaurateur pursued the elusive elixir with religious fervour, even travelling over to Shannon Airport to see at first hand how it was done.
Upon Jack's return, the experimentation continued. Finally, the perfect-tasting Irish whiskey was selected. Then the problem of the bottom-bent cream was taken to San Francisco's mayor, a prominent dairy owner. It was discovered that when the cream was aged for 48 hours and frothed to a precise consistency, it would float as delicately as a swan on the surface of the special nectar.
They had succeeded, and now with the recipe mastered, a sparkling clear, six-ounce, heat-treated goblet was chosen as a suitable chalice.
Soon the fame of the Buena Vista's Irish Coffee spread throughout the land. Today, it's still the same delicious mixture.
Bar Tender Larry Nolan on the production line.
The Buena Vista serves up to 2,000 Irish Coffees a day.
A Selection of Irish Coffee Glasses & Mugs
Anchor Hocking Irish Coffee Mug, Set of 12
Amazon Price: $28.99 (as of 12/22/2009)
List Price: $29.99
Anchor Hocking 12-Pack of Irish Coffee Mugs
Mugs are 8-ounce capacity.
Traditional Irish Coffee mug shape and easy to handle.
Dishwasher safe.
Made in the United States of America.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Usually ships in 24 hours
Libbey Glass #89444 4PC Coffee Mug Set
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 12/22/2009)
List Price: $90.48
Material: Glass
Size/Capacity: Set of 4; 8.5-oz. each capacity
Cleaning & Care: Dishwasher-safe
Origin: Varies
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Irish Coffee Mug Set
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
List Price:
Enjoy your gourmet coffee this Irish Coffee Mug Set. Or make a frozen coffee drink and top it with whipped cream for a delightful drink. Comes in a set of four packed in a colorful gift box.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Pfaltzgraff Winterberry Set Of Four 10 Ounce Irish Coffee Mugs
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
List Price: $40.00
Dress your favorite Irish coffee drinks in this sturdy set of four mugs. Etched with a festive green and red Winterberry design.
The Winterberry 10-ounce Irish coffee mug is decorated with an etched and handpainted holiday design with a solid red base.
Set of four 10-ounce Irish coffee mugs
World Champion Irish Coffee Maker
Wouldn't it be good to be on the tasting panel at this event?
See How an Irish Coffee is Made
Drink Til You're Irish Premium T-Shirts
Drink Til You're Irish Premium T-Shirts
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
List Price:
Typically Ships The Next Day.
Pre-Shrunk, Top Quality Name Brand Clothing
(Hanes, Fruit-of-the-Loom, Anvil)
Most Garments are 100% Cotton
Drink Til You're Irish - Beer, Drinking, Coffee, and Drug Premium T-Shirt
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
List Price: $15.95 - $19.45
Drink Til You're Irish - Beer, Drinking, Coffee, and Drug Women's Tank Top
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
List Price: $17.45 - $19.45
Drink Til You're Irish - Beer, Drinking, Coffee, and Drug Jersey - 3/4 Sleeve
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
List Price: $18.95
Could Irish Coffee Help in Curing Strokes?
They say a little alcohol every day helps!
A study with rats shows that an alcohol-caffeine cocktail after a stroke can protect the brain.Despite large amounts of medical research, stroke treatment is still somewhat hit-and-miss. Often doctors have to wait for hours before they can decide on what treatment to use. In the case of ischemic strokes (when an artery is blocked; about 80 percent of all strokes are ischemic), doctors can often spot the clot with imaging equipment. Surgeons can sometimes clear the artery but this is a very risky procedure. There is an alternative, a drug called tPA that breaks up blood clots and restores blood flow. But tPA is very expensive and must be given within three hours of the stroke to be effective. Furthermore, tPA is not effective in all cases.
So doctors have continued to search for more effective anti-stroke drugs. One group of drugs they are testing is called neuroprotectors. These drugs, through mechanisms still poorly understood, insulate or safeguard brain cells during the nutrient and oxygen deficit of a stroke. This, in turn, reduces brain damage. Ideally, neuroprotectors would provide doctors a cushion of precious hours to treat the acute symptoms of the stroke without having to worry as much about immediately restoring blood flow to the brain. Neuroprotectors as a class are relatively new on the medical scene.
The caffeine and alcohol cocktail falls into the neuroprotector camp. As is common with other neuroprotectors, neurologist Dr. James Grotta - from the Houston Medical School - and his group do not understand the exact mechanisms that might be at work. "There are hundreds of (neurotransmitter) pathways that are affected by the stroke and probably all of these pathways are important to the pathology of the stroke. Even when we talk about the acute effects, there are at least 20 mechanisms that people speculate could be important but are not immediately interrelated," explains Dr Jarek Aronowski, a neuroscientist who is part of the research team. "It was amazing how robust our findings were."
However, Grotta's team did have a hunch that alcohol and caffeine might, at the very least, have an effect on strokes. Grotta decided to test caffeine and alcohol separately. Some studies have shown that moderate drinkers may enjoy a long-term reduced risk of ischemic stroke. So Grotta figured it might have an effect on acute stroke symptoms, as well. And caffeine interacts strongly with adenosine and glutamate neurotransmitter systems, both of which are closely tied into the brain's response to stroke.
By Alex Salkever
A Few Different Things!
Irish Coffee Snuff!
Flavoured to the likeness of Irish Coffee.
Would You Believe It?
Irish Coffee Truffle BarFrom a famous Dublin name in coffee.
An Irish Coffee creamy milk chocolate bar with a rich truffle center.
Something sensible!
Different Ways To Take Irish Coffee
The Music of 'Irish Coffee'
Irish Coffee
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
List Price: $20.99
Used Price: $25.15
Originally released as a private pressing on the Triangle label, Irish Coffee (originally known as The Voodoos) managed to sell 3,000 copies of their first and only full length album when it was released in 1971. A favorite among fans of the heavy vintage progressive sound. Eight tracks. Miniature gatefold LP sleeve. Akarma. 2002.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Irish Coffee
Amazon Price: $15.99 (as of 12/22/2009)
List Price: $15.99
Used Price: $4.10
Cady Finlayson has proven herself a world music artist to watch. Or perhaps that should be to listen to. At any rate, her presentation of Celtic flavored music is smooth and lovely and she's quite a talented fiddle player. Along with her fiddling are instrumentalists playing guitar, accordian, percussion, uilleann pipes, keyboard, bodhran and harp. It makes for a well-rounded sound, layered nicely and with plenty going on. This quite organic Irish flavored music is delightful and spirited and a fine demonstration of the beauty of Irish folk music. The melodies and layers of instrumentation are all executed with utmost skill and fans of this brand of world music or world music in general can happily snuggle up with some "Irish Coffee."
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Usually ships in 24 hours
Irish Coffee: A Mystery Set at the University of Notre Dame
Irish Coffee: A Mystery Set at the University of Notre Dame
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
List Price: $23.95
Used Price: $0.41
In McInerny's seventh pleasant page-turner set at the University of Notre Dame (after 2002's Celt and Pepper) featuring professor Roger Knight and his PI brother Philip, Fred Neville, assistant sports information director, yearns for a career in literature. (He even writes poetry when no one is looking.) When Fred dies mysteriously in bed, it comes out at his funeral service that he had another, more interesting, life: he was secretly engaged to at least two women, to the surprise and consternation of each. Suicide is initially suspected, but the coroner's discovery of strychnine in a cup containing the remains of coffee and bourbon points to murder. After one of the fiancees turns up dead in Fred's apartment, having drunk another poisoned Irish coffee, things start to get complicated. Snappy dialogue touched with humor propels the plot. Readers are unlikely to solve the puzzle, but will have a lot of fun trying.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Irish Coffee Ice Cream Recipe
Be decadent!
Irish Pubs 2009 Wall Calendar
Irish Pubs 2009 Wall Calendar
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
List Price:
This Calendar is available for immediate shipping!
Treat yourself to a pub tour of Ireland! Traverse all over the Emerald Isle on your pub quest. This colorful calendar with its mini-travelogue, photography by Dennis Flaherty, plus Irish toasts and sayings is sure to whet your whistle for a visit to Ireland!
Art Poster Print - Irish Coffee - Artist: Gregory Gorham
Art Poster Print - Irish Coffee - Artist: Gregory Gorham - Poster Size: 16 X 20 inches
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
List Price: $21.56
This Irish CoffeePoster is made with High Quality Poster paper and is made for years of enjoyment.
* Poster Size: 16 X 20 inches.
* Primary poster color=Kelly Green.
* Secondary poster color=cream.
Art Poster Print - Irish Coffee - Artist: Jennifer Sosik
Art Poster Print - Irish Coffee - Artist: Jennifer Sosik - Poster Size: 8 X 10 inches
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
List Price: $10.76
This Irish CoffeePoster is made with High Quality Poster paper and is made for years of enjoyment.
* Poster Size: 8 X 10 inches.
* Primary poster color=Brown.
* Secondary poster color=Light Blue.
Even the Little Guy Loves It!
Cheers, Sláinte, Hope You Enjoyed It
If so please raise your glass an let me know, thanks!
Have you ever had an Irish Coffee, if so what did you think of it?
-
Reply
- clouda9 clouda9 May 21, 2009 @ 11:48 am
- Now I will be the expert Irish Coffee maker thanks to your recipe and step-by-steps!
-
Reply
- Tracey_M Tracey_M Nov 24, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
- Great lens. Love the poll ;) Would you please consider adding it to my new group
http://www.squidoo.com/groups/theirishconnection
-
Reply
- susannaduffy susannaduffy Oct 14, 2008 @ 8:35 am
- What a delightful lens! I will certainly appreciate my Irish Coffee more now.(I use Tullamore Dew) A pity I can't give you more than 5* for your beautifully presented information on a drink truly fit for the gods
-
Reply
- Joan4 Joan4 Jul 31, 2008 @ 4:34 pm
- Oh, good! I need Irish Coffee for my health!! Sounds like a winning idea to me! Great lens!
-
Reply
- poddys poddys Jul 9, 2008 @ 8:14 pm
- Very nice detailed lens, I just learned a lot about Irish Coffee. 5*****
- Load More
A Tapestry of the Beverage
by Rob3
While in England I pursued a career in... (more)
Explore related pages
Single Malt Scotch Whisky - A Buyers Guide- Single Malt Whisky is the purest form of scotch whisky, distilled in traditional...
Printing With Coffee- Cafegrafia, or Coffee Art, the unique process of developing photographs using co...
Finest Scotch Whisky- What you wanted to know about the famous Scotch Whisky. You can also have your o...
Scotch Whisky- This lens is connected to my other lens, The New Business of Whisky. This is a l...
Harm Reduction For Alcohol- HAMS is a brand new approach to drinking problems unlike anything you have seen...
Irish Foods/Irish T-Shirts and Irish Gifts
- "St. Patrick's Day" was first celebrated in America in the city of Boston in 173...
