Coffee Cocktails

Irish Coffee

Irish Coffee is a warm coffee-led cocktail with a smooth, comforting profile and a lightly indulgent finish. It works best after a meal or in cooler settings where a richer hot drink fits naturally.

Reviewed by the WhatDrink Editorial TeamHow we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction

Coffee Cocktailalcoholic6.6% ABV4 ingredients

At a Glance

174 kcalCalories

6.6%ABV

5.4gSugar

6gCarbs

1.13Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Easy

Why: 4 ingredients, uses cream

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

1 1/2 ozIrish whiskeyBase Spirit
8 ozCoffeeModifier
1 tspSugarSweetener
1 tblspWhipped creamDairy Or Cream

How to Make It

Heat the coffee, whiskey and sugar; do not boil.
Pour into glass and top with cream; serve hot.Pour

How to Serve

Glass: Irish Coffee Cup
Temperature: Warm

Served Warm

Taste profile

Primary flavours

Sweet Coffee

Supporting notes

Oak Spice Vanilla Roasted

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong

BodyLight – Full

SweetnessDry – Sweet

BoldnessDelicate – Bold

What do these dimensions mean?

About this drink

Irish Coffee is closely associated with Joe Sheridan and Foynes Airport in Ireland in the 1940s, where coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar and cream became a warming travel-era serve. Its history matters because it is both a coffee drink and a whiskey cocktail.

When to serve

DessertSuggested from its cream and coffee notes, pairing with desserts pairing.
After DinnerSuggested from its coffee and cream notes.
Winter / CozySuggested from its coffee and spice notes.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

DessertsChocolateCoffee Desserts

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-Free Vegetarian

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-SugarVegan

Find vegan-compatible cocktails

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Sugar1 tsp

Simple SyrupWorks, with a noticeable change

How much to use: Use about 1/4 oz simple syrup per teaspoon of sugar as a starting point.
What changes: Simple syrup can replace sugar, but it also adds water and dissolves more easily.

Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated June 18, 2026

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I make an Irish Coffee at home?: Yes. The Irish Coffee uses 4 ingredients, making it straightforward to prepare at home. You will need a Irish Coffee Cup. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.