Irish Coffee reigns supreme for celebrants of St. Patrick’s Day

By Carol Smaglinski

With its mild climate, a centuries old practice in Ireland is to plant potatoes on St. Patrick’s Day. Spuds were as important as Irish Coffee loved and consumed throughout a great part of Western Europe.

Years ago, Paul, my late husband, and I got to sample the real thing, made with cream as rich as an Irish brogue in Ireland. No, we did not see any leprechauns, but we had our share of Irish potatoes and Guinness stout. Irish Coffee is made with authentic Irish Whiskey, somewhat simi- lar to Scotch.

One night, in a restaurant, the doors suddenly shot open and a band of troublemakers ran in and grabbed all the bread off of our tables and quickly disappeared. We were there during the time of the “Troubles” and were often advised by people we had met to leave Belfast if we valued our limbs.

We were fortunate enough to secure a hotel room, but it was also the night of an important championship football (soccer) game. Walking swiftly back to our hotel dodging the hooligans after the game, the hotel owner squeezed us in quickly through the door that was kept locked.

In Dublin, we stayed at a B&B, where we discovered the mattress was made of chicken wire. Paul, a 6 ft. 4 inch former Marine, curled up and got comfortable on the floor.

Unfortunately we left before St. Patrick’s Day, but people shared stories with us about their most revered patron saint of Ireland who was born in A.D.386 and died in A.D.461 and was a slave. He came to Ireland at only 16 and through his life, he taught the people of Ireland all the fundamentals of civilization.

So, although we did not see people dancing Irish jigs, green sprigs of shamrocks, or parades, we enjoyed the delightful singing in the Irish pubs.

I won't ever forget the bartender trying to shoo everyone out of one pub. At exactly 2 a.m. he started banging on the bar with a huge gavel warning everyone at the top of his lungs that the pub was now closed and shouting “Everyone Please Leave!” And, it was a weeknight.

Then we stood outside in the dark trying to hail a cab. I am quite sure we did not have Irish Coffee in that pub, but since then, I discovered why cream whips up and milk does not. It mainly has to do with the fat content. Whole milk is only 3.3% fat, while heavy cream is 38% fat. During the process of whipping, fat globules break open causing them to stick together in clumps. And too, air is trapped between the globules (like a drop of water or a “bead” of sweat).

This exceptional recipe makes use of both Irish cream liqueur and Irish whiskey and might become your next best friend.

Irish Coffee (4 mugs)

½ cup chilled whipping cream

2 Tbsp. Cointreau or other orange liqueur

1 Tbsp. confectioner’s sugar

½ cup Irish cream liqueur

¼ cup Irish whiskey

¼ cup brandy

3 cups strong hot coffee

1 tsp. grated orange peel

Combine cream, Cointreau, and sugar in a medium bowl. Beat until medium peaks start to form. This part can be done up to four hours ahead and kept in the refrigerator, covered.

Pour 2 Tbsp. Irish cream liqueur, whiskey, and a Tbsp. of brandy into each of 4 (8-to-10 oz.) coffee mugs and gently add coffee. Top off with a dollop of cream and sprinkle with orange peel. Drink to your health and wealth!