National Irish Coffee Day
Each year, National Irish Coffee Day is held on January 25th with a mug of strong coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and sugar, topped with a layer of cream.
Weary travelers to Shannon, southwest Ireland, on a cold, wet day in 1942, weary travelers to the tiny Shannon Airport found their way to a restaurant and chef Joe Sheridan. He served them hot coffee, spiked with whiskey, and topped with whipped cream to warm his guests. The passengers asked if the beverage was Brazilian coffee. It was Irish coffee, Sheridan said, and it was Irish coffee. Marlo Anderson, our founder, is featured in a story about National Irish Coffee Appreciation Day. Click play and enjoy a tale about National Irish Coffee Appreciation Day. Subscribe with your new podcast player if you like the 2 minute show.
After having it at Shannon Airport, travel writer Stanton Delaplane brought Irish coffee to the US.
On November 10, 1952, Delaplane introduced the idea to the Buena Vista Cafe. After much trial and error, sampling, and a trip back to Ireland for a glimpse of the original, Delaplane, along with Buena Vista's Jack Koeppler and George Freeberg, were able to recreate the delectable coffee and the technique for floating the cream on top of the coffee.
How to make an authentic irish coffee
Start with a warm glass and fill 2/3rds with freshly brewed coffee. Stir in a heaping teaspoon of sugar. Add 1 ounce of Irish whiskey to your order.
The difficult part of adding the cream so it floats is the difficult part. According to the Buena Vista website, and at the suggestion of San Francisco's mayor, a dairyman, cream that is 48 hours old, is the best. However, some prefer whipping cream (not whipped cream) that has been lightly whipped or foamed.
Pour the foamy cream over the back of a spoon when the coffee has stopped swirling from stirring in the sugar.
How to celebrate #nationalirishcoffeeday
With an Irish coffee, you will warm up. To post on social media, use the hashtag #NationalIrishCoffeeDay.
A-Z Cocktail Origins is a website that provides more cocktails and their history.
Irish coffee FAQ
Q. What is the correct way to spell Irish whiskey? Both A. Irish whiskey (and American whiskey for that matter) are spelled with an "e." The "e" in Scotch whisky drops out of the word "e."
Q. How can I prevent my Irish Coffee from becoming cold?
A. Warm the mug with hot water for a few minutes. Before adding the ingredients, then pour out the water.
I don't like coffee. I don't like coffee. Will I like Irish Coffee?
A. We never trust people who don't like coffee. However, there is a chance you might like Irish coffee.
I don't like whiskey. I don't like whiskey. Will I like Irish Coffee?
A. If you're not a whiskey drinker, it's likely that Irish Coffee would not be to your likings.
