Save the date: International Irish Coffee Day

Saturday 25 January is International Irish Coffee Day. So gather in your four ingredients – black coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar and whipped cream – and treat yourself to a lip-smacking taste of the Emerald Isle.

Born out of creativity and imagination and as synonymous with Ireland as Guinness, Irish coffee is perfect as a winter warmer, ideal as an indulgent finale to a meal, or simply delicious served on its own at any time.

The little village of Foynes in County Limerick, on Ireland’s spectacular Wild Atlantic Way, lays claim to concocting the first Irish coffee. It was the home of a small airport, now a fascinating flying boat museum, which in the 1940s played a pivotal role in serving commercial transatlantic passenger flights.

The story is that one night in the winter of 1943 a flight departed Foynes for Newfoundland.

After flying for several hours in bad weather, the captain decided to return to Foynes and the passengers were brought to the airport restaurant.

On being asked to prepare something to warm the passengers, the chef decided to put some Irish whiskey into the coffees. A passenger asked the chef if he was serving Brazilian coffee. He replied no, he was serving Irish coffee. And so the drink was born.

Making a sublime Irish coffee requires the finest ingredients together with a little know-how. Watch how you can make it great below or see these step-by-step instructions.

And there is no better place to sample the delicious drink than on the island of Ireland. With some of the world’s greatest whiskeys to choose from, fine rich coffee freshly roasted by skilled baristas and the creamiest of cream from cows fed on lush green pastures, the ingredients are second to none.

Try combining dark roast coffee, Jameson Caskmates Stout whiskey, demerara syrup and fresh cream for a traditional, rich, aromatic drink.

Or experiment with new varieties of ‘the water of life’ from one of the island’s many craft distilleries, such as Slane’s triple casked blend, Dingle’s single malt, or Echlinville Distillery’s reborn Dunville’s whiskey – ‘the spirit of Belfast’. 
 
Whether you make it to a cosy pub in Dublin or Belfast to raise a glass, head to the Irish Coffee Lounge at the Foynes Boat and Maritime Museum, or toast the day in your home town, be sure to mark International Irish Coffee Day by enjoying one of the world’s most iconic drinks.

www.ireland.com