Irish Coffee

Kathy Dicken lives in Huntersville and is the author of the food blog, The Tasty Bits. For more meal ideas that are simple and delicious, you can follow her blog at www.thetastybits.com or on Instagram @thetastybits.

Ireland is known worldwide for the phrase, “Céad Míle Fáilte.” Its literal translation is “one hundred thousand welcomes”.

If ever a drink could symbolize this sentiment of Irish hospitality, it would be Irish Coffee. Made from only 4 ingredients, this coffee beverage will warm and comfort you from the inside out! Not only is it delicious, it will leave you wanting more!

Irish Coffee has become one of the most popular drinks in the world, but you may not know that the recipe only came about thanks to a wicked Irish storm in the 1940s.

The year was 1943 when a Pan Am flight to New York city had to turn back around to the Foynes Airport, in county Limerick. In light of the horrible weather a local chef, Joe Sheridan, was asked to prepare hot food and drinks for the passengers. Joe did as requested, deciding to add some good Irish whisky to the coffees he served. It is said that he was asked if it was Brazilian coffee and replied “No, this is Irish coffee.” And so, the now world-famous drink was born.

If you asked Joe, this is how he described the recipe of a true Irish Coffee:

Cream - Rich as an Irish Brogue Coffee - Strong as a Friendly Hand Sugar - Sweet as the tongue of a Rogue Whiskey - Smooth as the Wit of the Land

Here is how you can make your own Irish Coffee! Sláinte!

Irish Coffee

Serves: 1

Ingredients

Hot water 4 oz. black coffee - freshly brewed 2 teaspoons brown sugar 1.5 oz. - Irish Whiskey 1 oz. - lightly whipped heavy whipping cream

Directions

• Warm the mug with hot water. Discard water. • Pour the brown sugar and then the coffee into a warmed mug. • Stir until dissolved. • Add the Irish whiskey and stir again. • Float the cream on top by pouring it over the back of a spoon. (Simply whisk cream in a bowl for about a minute to get the proper consistency to pour.) • Do not stir again. Instead, drink the coffee through the cream.