This Twist on an Irish Coffee Is What We’ve Been Waiting For

The drink of choice for the introspective pub-goer who just wants to read a book at the bar on a chilly winter day, an Irish Coffee is the perfect parts stimulating, sweet, boozy, and creamy. Made with hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and freshly-whipped heavy cream, the Irish Coffee was invented and named by Joe Sheridan, the head chef at the Foynes Harbor Terminal in Ireland. From 1930 until the late 1940s, Foynes Harbor was the last stop for seaplanes to dock before crossing the Atlantic. To soothe American passengers coming into the harbor on rough winter nights, Sheridan added a healthy portion of whiskey to the coffee he served. When the passengers asked whether or not the coffee was Brazilian, Sheridan responded with, “No, this is Irish Coffee.”

For a slight twist on an Irish Coffee recipe, we asked Shae Minnillo, a bartender at Manolito in New Orleans. "Irish coffee and cigarettes: That was the combo running through my mind," shares Minnillo. "It’s not so easy to improve upon such a classic, but making a whipped cream that involves a smokey element makes great sense to complement a drink fit for any time of day or night—and without the actual smoke!"

‘Tis the season to pour it up with friends and loved ones. Lucky for you, a Jameson, Ginger & Lime pairs with your chill Friendsgiving vibe. Of course, sipping a Hot Toddy will take the frost off a cold night in. If you’re more on the classy side, Jameson on the rocks goes perfectly with game night, (or any Thursday night really).

When you gather up your crew and open a bottle of Jameson, everything just gets that much smoother and a lot more festive.