Irish Coffee

The Irish Coffee is the ultimate cold-weather cocktail and the perfect marriage of coffee and whiskey. Created in 1943 by Joe Sheridan at Foynes Port (near Shannon Airport) to warm up cold, weary transatlantic passengers, the drink combines hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and heavy cream floated on top. The key is the cream layer: lightly whipped to the consistency of heavy cream (not whipped cream), it floats on the hot coffee, creating a beautiful layer that you drink the hot coffee through. Served in a footed glass mug, the Irish Coffee represents Irish hospitality, airport culture, and the comfort of hot cocktails. The drink was popularized in America by travel writer Stanton Delaplane and Buena Vista Café in San Francisco, which claims to serve 2,000 Irish Coffees daily. The Irish Coffee embodies warming comfort, Irish culture, and the sophistication of after-dinner drinks. The combination of hot coffee, whiskey warmth, sugar sweetness, and cold cream creates perfect temperature and flavor contrast. The cocktail demands quality ingredients: good Irish whiskey (Jameson, Bushmills), strong hot coffee, demerara sugar, and properly prepared cream. The drink represents Irish innovation, airport hospitality, and the San Francisco tradition. Whether served at Shannon Airport or a San Francisco café, the Irish Coffee delivers warming sophistication.