something in your mug is definitely pretty Irish (and if that’s your thing, do you!), the drink itself employees a little bit more heft to make it the kind of slow sipper that balances “pep me up!” with “but make it boozy!” perfectly. Created by Joe Sheridan in 1943 at an air force base near Limerick, Ireland that saw its fair share of celebrities roll in on international flights, the Irish Coffee was an invention of necessity. The story goes that a group of passengers were left stranded at the base after their flight was turned around due to weather, and needed something to take off the chill. The Irish Coffee was the fortifying drink Sheridan whipped up — combining Irish whiskey, coffee, sugar and cream — and it quickly became a hit both in Ireland and abroad. This is a drink with staying power: It’s still the most popular cocktail at the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco, where bartenders serve a quarter-million a year. The simple magic of the drink is that it’s sipped through the heavy whipping cream on top, creating a playful, milk-mustache-style experience and a buffer between the hot, liquored-up coffee and your tongue. (If you’re looking for a frozen version — which you can still, of course, sip for breakfast — the frozen Irish Coffee at Erin Rose in the French Quarter is the stuff of hangover legend.) ALCOHOL FREE: COFFEE — ANY WAY YOU LIKE IT 2 6 S E P T E M B E R O C TO B E R 20 20
Ah, a good ol’ cup of joe: Is there any more classic breakfast drink? While I’m not here to tell you how to take your coffee — let’s save the mocha-frappa-whatever versus third-wave roastedorganically-in-a-boot argument for another day — I will say that a small step you can take toward having a little bit more fun as the sun is rising is by picking out coffee mugs that make you happy. Are you a campfire-loving, bikingand-hiking kind of gal? Speckled ceramic coffee mugs give off the perfect outdoor vibe even if you’re trapped indoors. Retroobsessed? Fire King coffee mugs will be the TV Land throwback you crave. As for novelty mugs, eBay is your friend, offering weird Garfield mugs, mugs from places you want to visit, mugs that support your favorite cause and more. Think of your coffee mug as something that delivers a little bit of jump-starting joy each day (and also, uh, caffeine).
Fill a 6-ounce, heatproof glass with hot water to preheat it. Once glass is warm, empty the glass. Add two sugar cubes to the glass. Pour piping hot coffee over the cubes in the glass until it is ¾ full. Stir thoroughly until the sugar is dissolved. Blend in the whiskey. Top with a collar of whipped cream by pouring it over the back of a warm teaspoon held just above the coffee, and raising the spoon slowly as you pour.
THE RECIPE: IRISH COFFEE Makes 1 drink
If there were a cocktail that flashed the word “brunch” like a bright neon sign, it would be the Mimosa: that omnipresent combination of orange juice and sparkling wine that has been served, batched and spiked just about every single way known to man or beast. And, yes, Mimosas are delightful! It’s a drink that’s bubbly and citrusy and feels like sunshine in a glass.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED: 2 brown sugar cubes 4-6 ounces hot brewed coffee 1 ¹/₃ ounces Irish whiskey Heavy cream HOW TO PREP: Lightly whip cream in an upright blender. The cream should be pourable, but not too thin or too thick.
Champagne Flute SPIKED: BELLINI OR MIMOSA (DEALER’S CHOICE)
For my money, though, there’s a drink that embodies all the charm of the Mimosa with a little bit more substance: the Bellini. Made
