Food and Recipes Drinks Hot Irish Coffee Be the first to rate & review! This hot coffee cocktail may be enjoyed at breakfast or on any special occasion. By Liv Dansky Liv Dansky Liv is a recipe tester and developer with three years of experience working in the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on February 16, 2023 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Active Time: 5 mins Total Time: 5 mins Servings: 2 Jump to recipe Irish Coffee may not be as old as you'd think. It was reportedly invented in the 1940s—but it was created in Ireland, so at least that part is correct. As with so many good Irish things, Irish Coffee didn't stay on the Emerald Isle, and Americans seem to renew their love for the hot coffee cocktail every St. Patrick's Day—though the combination of hot coffee, whiskey, and whipped cream is enjoyed and welcome all year. A true Irish Coffee is just four ingredients: coffee, Irish whiskey, whipped cream, and a sweetener. We chose brown sugar to balance the bitterness of the coffee and spirits. But don't be fooled by the simple ingredient list. Irish Coffee is a serious drink, and it should be treated as a refined beverage, just as you could cappuccino or the fanciest cocktails. Don't just toss whiskey in a cup of hot coffee. Sure, in a pinch, we've probably all considered it, but give this drink the respect it's due. While you may consider this as a St. Patrick's Day tipple, an Irish Coffee will warm you up on a cold night or at the end of a meal any time of year. But be aware: It is super boozy. Make sure the coffee is strong, and don't shy away from the sugar; the slight sweetness in the coffee and the whipped cream is definitely needed to balance the drink. A Note From The Test Kitchen You’re supposed to drink an Irish Coffee through the cream, so don’t stir them together. Irish Coffee is known for its distinctive layers. Ingredients 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream 5 tsp. dark brown sugar, divided 1 1/2 cups hot strong brewed dark roast coffee 6 Tbsp. (3 oz.) Irish whiskey (such as Jameson) Freshly grated whole nutmeg Directions Warm mugs with hot water: Fill 2 (8 1/2-ounce) glass Irish coffee mugs with hot tap water, and set aside. Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Make whipped cream: Whisk together cream and 1 teaspoon of the sugar in a medium bowl until slightly thickened, about 1 minute; set aside. Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Add coffee to mugs, and top with whipped cream: Discard hot water from mugs. Divide coffee, whiskey, and remaining 4 teaspoons sugar evenly into heated mug, and stir until sugar is dissolved, about 30 seconds. Top evenly with whipped cream, and garnish with nutmeg. Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Rate it Print