The Story of the Original Irish Coffee

Picture this: it's 1943, and a group of American passengers arrives in Foynes, Ireland seeking refuge from a stormy night. They're cold, they're tired, and they're in dire need of a hot drink. Enter Joe Sheridan, a local bartender with a heart of gold (and a bottle of Irish whiskey).

Joe brews a pot of coffee and adds a generous splash of Irish whiskey to the mix. But wait, he's not done yet! He adds a spoonful of brown sugar to sweeten the deal and tops it off with a dollop of whipped cream. The passengers take one sip, and their taste buds are transported to heaven. And thus, the original Irish Coffee was born.

But the hilarity doesn't end there, my friends. When the flying boat service moved to a new airport in Shannon in 1945, the Irish Coffee went with it. It gained worldwide fame, and soon after, it was being served in bars and restaurants across the globe.

But here's the kicker: the original Irish Coffee recipe was lost for decades! That's right, despite its worldwide popularity, nobody could quite agree on how to make it. Some used Bailey's Irish Cream instead of whiskey, while others swapped the brown sugar for white sugar. It was a mess, and coffee lovers everywhere were left scratching their heads.

It wasn't until the 21st century that the original Irish Coffee recipe was rediscovered. And where was it found, you ask? At the Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, of course! That's right, the same place where it was first created.

So there you have it, folks - the hilarious story of the birth of the original Irish Coffee. Next time you're sipping on a cup of Irish Coffee, remember the shenanigans that went into creating it. And if you ever find yourself in Foynes, be sure to pay a visit to the museum and try the original recipe for yourself. It's a delightful and warming drink, perfect for a chilly evening.

Thank you for joining us on this journey through coffee history. Stay tuned for more stories and recipes from around the world!

Original Irish Coffee Recipe

• 4 oz. freshly brewed hot coffee
• 1 1/2 oz. Irish whiskey
• 2 tsp. brown sugar
• Heavy cream, slightly whipped

1. Preheat a stemmed glass by filling it with hot water.
2. Brew a pot of coffee and add 4 oz. of hot coffee to the preheated glass.
3. Add 2 tsp. of brown sugar to the coffee and stir until dissolved.
4. Add 1 1/2 oz. of Irish whiskey to the coffee and sugar mixture, and stir to combine.
5. Top the coffee with a layer of slightly whipped heavy cream, pouring it over the back of a spoon to create a smooth, layered effect.
6. Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg or cocoa powder, if desired.