Pluck of the Irish

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Trust the Irish to add a dash of alcohol even to something as innocuous as coffee! But truly, there is nothing more invigorating and energising than a cup of Irish coffee. Be it the wintry chill or during the rains, it remains an interesting and effective twist to coffee. A delicious alcohol drink with hot black coffee, brown sugar and whipped cream, Irish coffee also has generous dollops of whiskey (It’s the Irish, so the “e” is mandatory).

To make the perfect Irish coffee, add the whiskey, a spoon of brown sugar and strong black coffee in a glass. Stir and finish off with whipped cream poured over the back of a spoon. The best results are achieved when the spoon is also chilled, as it ensures the cream stays on top. Don’t stir the cream, rather drink the coffee through the cream.
To get the taste right, the proportion of each ingredient is critical. Also, the cream must be whipped to perfection. Some people even add a few drops of crème de menthe, for its minty flavour, but personally, I feel it mars the taste.
In fact, the only time I ever have whiskey is through Irish coffee; I never enjoy whiskey otherwise at all. But when mixed into an Irish coffee, it suddenly becomes my favourite. Not just the taste, even the visual appeal is very pleasing. Oh! The stiffly beaten whipped cream floating on top of the glass is a sight to be seen. Yes, the elegant glasses or glass mugs are a must when you serve Irish coffee. Regular coffee mugs won’t do.
I first tasted Irish coffee in Calcutta on a cold winter night in December with some friends several aeons ago. The taste still lingers in my mouth. Many years later, sitting at Prithvi Café at Mumbai’s Prithvi Theatre, I sipped it again, reliving memories. It was delicious. A pity, the original one is no longer available. The non-alcoholic versions with syrups or with Bailey’s Irish cream, are such a far-cry from the real thing. The only exception I am willing to make is the Irish coffee mousse my friend makes. She adds chocolate to it. Lip smacking. The creamy chocolate lends itself perfectly to the coffee and whisky mixture and the result is pure sin.
Most of us find ourselves with little time to undertake anything but the simplest recipes these days. Creamy, wonderful Irish coffee is the perfect after-dinner drink, goes well with dessert, and has a little kick too. It can also be a substitute for dessert at times. I tend to serve it very often at my parties, always in my coveted Irish coffee glasses from Whittard of Chelsea.
So what if you are not celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, have a glass of Irish coffee anyway!

— Mini is a food writer and consultant