Skip to main content

Cozy up against the cold with these recipes for National Irish Coffee Day

Celebrate the ever-popular combination of whiskey, coffee, and cream

Keeper’s Heart
Keeper’s Heart

The Irish Coffee is a beloved favorite drink for many, especially when it’s cold outside. The combination of hot coffee, rich cream, and boozy whiskey is comforting, tasty, and has just the right combination of picking you up and soothing you down to make it the perfect winter drink. As today is National Irish Coffee Day, we’ve got a couple of recipes for you to try out.

Virtually all Irish Coffee recipes will keep the same basic ingredients, and of course it’s traditional to use an Irish whiskey for your Irish Coffee. But you can also try out some subtle but effective variations on the classic recipe, such as using demerara syrup or maple syrup for sweetening, which give a depth of molasses flavor, or adding some spices like nutmeg.

Recommended Videos

Keeper’s Irish Coffee

Keeper’s Heart

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz Keeper’s Heart Irish + American
  • 1/2 oz Local maple syrup
  • 8 oz Fresh hot coffee
  • 8 oz Lightly whipped cream
  • 1 dash of Nutmeg

Method:

Warm mug with hot water for at least 20 seconds, then discard water. Add all ingredients, except cream, and stir briefly. Gently layer whipped cream over top. Grate nutmeg over top. *Lightly whipped cream: In a blender bottle, add 8 oz heavy cream and 1 tsp granulated sugar. Shake for 60 seconds.

Irish Coffee

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ingredients:

  • 35 ml The Busker Single Pot Still
  • 20 ml Demerara Syrup (2:1)
  • 120 ml Hot Coffee
  • Heavy Cream (lightly whipped)

Method:

In a heated glass, combine Busker Single Pot Still Whiskey, Demerara Syrup, and Hot Coffee. Stir to combine and dissolve the syrup.Gently float lightly whipped cream on top by pouring it over the back of a spoon. Do not stir. Enjoy through the cream.

Georgina Torbet
Georgina Torbet is a cocktail enthusiast based in Berlin, with an ever-growing gin collection and a love for trying out new…
Dream of warmer days with these tropical-inspired cocktails
Banish the cold with these dreamy, tropical creations
Lost in Translation

While some love to embrace winter with cozy fireside drinks, other people would rather be dreaming of the sun. If you're looking to escape the winter blues, then these tropical-inspired cocktails will conjure up thoughts of warm sand, blue sea, and brighter days.
Pandan Negroni

Created by: NoMad London Bar Team

Read more
Mix things up by using mezcal in your Margarita
The other agave spirit is the perfect subsitution for this cocktail
Mezcal Unión

With National Margarita Day tomorrow, now is a great time to celebrate this beloved drink -- or even to experiment with it. While the classic Margarita is made with just tequila, lime juice, and triple sec, there are no end of variations that you can try out. And one great way to bring a whole new dimension to the drink is to use a different base spirit such as mezcal.

Though both tequila and mezcal are made from agave, mezcal tends to have a deeper, smokier flavor that will appeal to lovers of fine Scotch or those who prefer their drinks with a savory, spicy note. And these recipes featuring Mezcal Unión show how you can swap in this spirit to give your Margarita a new kind of bite.
Mezcal Unión Margarita

Read more
Take your Margarita up a notch with beautiful garnishes, like this bar does
Visual appeal is as important as flavor in creating a great drink
The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel Margarita

It's Margarita season, and that means you'll be seeing Margarita recipes which incorporate fruits, infused tequilas, and even alternative spirits like mezcal. But if you'd prefer to keep your Margaritas more on the classic side, then there are still changes you can make to fancy them up.

One option is to keep the changes minimal, such as switching out the usual lime juice for lemon juice. That adds a tart, sharp note to the drink, and lemon is a natural partner for tequila. You should also feel free to play with the proportions of tequila, triple sec, and citrus juice to find your own preference, as well as adding a sweetner like simple syrup if required. One thing to remember is that the freshness of your citrus will make a big difference to its flavor, so fresher citrus juice may not require any additional sweetner at all, while if you're using older lemons or limes you might need to help them out with a little additional sugar.

Read more