This creative version of coffee was first served by Joe Sheridan to some American tourists one dismal winter night in 1942 after they had landed at Shannon Airport in Co. Clare, Ireland.  To help cut the chill, Sheridan added Irish whiskey, sugar and cream to the passengers' coffee and Irish coffee was born.

This after dinner drink is prepared by warming, but not boiling, 2 2/3 ounces of black coffee, 1 1/3 ounce Irish whiskey and 1 teaspoon of brown sugar that is stirred until it is dissolved; note that the sugar is essential for the next ingredient, the cream, to float.  Pour the mixture into an Irish coffee glass and carefully pour thick cream over the back of a spoon.  The layer of cream will float on top of the coffee and you will build the layer of cream above the rim of the Irish coffee glass.   Do not stir the cream into the beverage as you will sip the cocktail through the cream.

The Irish Gift House also offers a collection of Irish coffee mugs that you would use for a regular cup of joe.