Irish Coffee

Irish Coffee, or so the lore would have it, was invented at Shannon Airport on the west of Ireland as a warmer for trans-Atlantic travelers in the 1950s.

A classic Irish coffee consists exclusively of hot coffee, Irish whiskey and sugar, with cream floated on top. It is made as follows:

Pre-heat coffee glass with hot water and empty. Add one ounce of whiskey to glass and fill near to top with slightly sweetened coffee. Float cream (which may be whipped, but is usually a pouring cream, added by pouring it onto the back of a spoon, resing on the coffee's surface) on top.

The sugar is necessary, or the cream will not float.

Nutmeg, cinnamon, or another spice may be added, but are not usual.

An alternative version, more properly known as "Bailey's Coffee", adds an ounce of Baileys Irish Cream, a liqueur to the mix, or may replace the whiskey with the Baileys altogether.