A Maine take on the traditional hot drink, Coffee Brandy Irish Coffee is a coffee-lover's dream, sweet and satisfying! It's one of my six New England-inspired Irish Coffees.
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Can you feel it? The warmth of an Irish coffee in your hands and the warmth that spreads through your body and soul as you sip it? If you love coffee and a little bit of booze, it's for sure that you'll love this warm drink topped with a thick layer of cream. Irish coffee drinks are perfect fall and winter sippers, a delicious way to relax.
And when you pair that hot, spiked coffee with some of the best-loved flavors of New England? Well, that Irish coffee becomes even more irresistible! That's exactly what I did with my six New England-inspired Irish coffee recipes. And this one pays homage to the great state of Maine—the Coffee Brandy Irish Coffee.
Jump to:
What is Irish Coffee?
Warm up from your head right down to your toes! Irish coffee is made with strong black coffee, a shot of Irish whiskey, and a little brown sugar for a light sweetness. The coffee is topped with a layer of cream that floats on the surface. Some restaurants and bars make Irish coffees with an additional shot of Baileys Irish cream.
The drink is served in an Irish coffee glass—a heat-proof mug with a handle and stemmed foot. The clear glass shows off the dark coffee and white cream layers.
Irish Central shares that Irish coffee was created by Northern Ireland-born Joe Sheridan in 1943, when he was working as a chef at Foynes Airport near Limerick. He came up with the drink on the spot one night when a cancelled flight left New York-bound passengers stranded and freezing cold at the airport. Sheridan knew cups of cream-topped, hot coffee spiked with Irish whiskey would revive them!
A decade later, an American reporter named Stanton Delaplane sampled Sheridan's Irish coffee at Foynes. He loved it so much that once back home, he recreated the drink with the help of friends at The Buena Vista Hotel cafe in San Francisco. The cafe began serving Irish coffee and even invited Joe Sheridan to come and work for them—which he did, for the next ten years until his death in 1962.
Today, The Buena Vista is still a destination for authentic Irish coffee. The hotel celebrates its role in making Irish coffee famous in the U.S. With glasses lined down the counter, the bartenders put on a show—flinging sugar cubes and dropping long pours of coffee and Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey down the row of glasses. The Buena Vista estimates that they serve 2,000 classic Irish coffees a day!
The inspiration for Maine-style Irish Coffee
Although Allen's Coffee Brandy is produced by a Massachusetts-based distributor, Maine claims this spirit as its own. This is confirmed by the Allen's website, which claims that their coffee brandy is the best-selling spirit in Maine.
Brandy is made by distilling wine and then aging it into a liquor with flavors of dark fruit and wood. Coffee brandy is a blend of brandy and real coffee. Most folks are familiar with the coffee liqueur Kahlua. While Kahlua has a sweeter, caramel-edged flavor thanks to the addition of rum, Allen's has a sharper, more bitter coffee flavor that balances with the sweetness. It's also a higher proof than Kahlua, around 60%.
The legend is that Allen's first became a favorite with fishermen and lobstermen in the Downeast region of Maine—a splash of Allen's in the morning cup of coffee warmed them up on frigid mornings. The higher proof and cheap price point are also probably to thank for the spread of Allen's popularity across the state.
Another way that Mainers love Allen's is mixed in equal parts with milk. This drink is a version of a sombrero cocktail, but Vinepair shares that in Maine it's picked up a slew of salty nicknames, such as "fat ass in a glass." (You can look the others up yourself!)
I may not be a Downeaster, but I knew Allen's would be a delicious addition to an Irish coffee. And to be honest, since picking up a bottle for this recipe, I've become rather hooked on coffee brandy, especially over ice!
Why you'll love this recipe
Irish coffee is like a regular cup of joe but extra special. Enjoy one to wind down after a long day, to warm up after a weekend of pond hockey, or as a TGIF cocktail after work.
And it goes without saying that Irish coffees are a perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!
To make a Coffee Brandy Irish Coffee, start by brewing up some strong coffee and gathering up the spirits, the first of which is Irish whiskey. Go for Tullamore Dew, the same whiskey used at The Buena Vista in San Francisco. I like Knappogue Castle 12 Year, and also Redbreast 12 Year. If options (or funds) are limited, Teeling, Jameson, Paddy's, or Slane are good Irish coffee whiskey choices, too.
The next spirit is right there in the name—coffee brandy! Because this drink is an homage to Maine, I use Allen's Coffee Brandy, which has a sweet and bold coffee flavor, and as a bonus is also inexpensive! If Allen's isn't available, choose another coffee brandy liqueur.
As a further nod to the Pine Tree State and their preference for enjoying Allen's with cold milk, I add a little whole milk to the Irish coffee. It makes the drink nice and creamy, and takes the edge off the bitter flavors.
The drink is topped with the traditional float of lightly whipped cream, and served with a lobster cocktail pick. No lobster in the drink—just on the pick!
It's the Irish coffee you love, but with a sweet, coffee liqueur twist.
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🔪 How to make Coffee Brandy Irish Coffee
Ingredients:
- Heavy cream: Whipping cream will also work here. Make sure the cream is cold for the best results when whipping it.
- Dark coffee: How dark you go is up to you! Brew coffee (I like Vermont Coffee Company) for the drink using your usual method: drip, French press, pour over, etc.
- Irish whiskey: Jameson is the brand everyone knows, but there's a wide variety out there to try. This list of inexpensive Irish whiskeys will give you some ideas.
- Allen's Coffee Brandy: Look for bottles where other fruit and flavored brandys are stocked. In a pinch, you can use another brand of coffee brandy.
- Whole milk: Half-and-half can also be used, but don't go lighter than whole milk because the flavor won't be as rich.
- Brown sugar: A little light brown sugar in the bottom of the glass adds sweetness and molasses notes that are so good with the coffee brandy.
Add sugar to the glass
Place brown sugar in the bottom of a warm Irish coffee glass.
Add the alcohol
Pour Irish whiskey and Allen's Coffee Brandy into the glass.
Add coffee and milk
Pour strong, hot brewed coffee into the glass, followed by the milk. Stir everything together.
Add the cream
Lightly whip the heavy cream with a hand mixer until it's thickened but can still be poured. Pour the thickened cream on the surface of the coffee to create a creamy, floating layer.
Garnish and enjoy!
Add a few coffee beans to cream layer, and put a lobster and/or shamrock cocktail pick into the drink. Enjoy!
FAQs
The original Irish coffee is made with just Irish whiskey, along with coffee, a little sugar, and a cream collar. However, these days, it's not unusual to find Irish coffee in bars and restaurants made with Baileys Irish cream or a blend of Baileys and Irish whiskey.
My Coffee Brandy Irish Coffee recipe is made with 1-½ ounces each of Irish whiskey and coffee brandy—about two shots in total. You can, of course, reduce the quantity of both liquors for a less potent drink.
Don't skip the step of warming up the glass before assembling the Irish coffee—this prevents the drink from cooling down too fast. Remember also to stir the sugar, liquors, and coffee together before adding the cream. Otherwise, the sugar may stay undissolved and gritty at the bottom. Finally, the cream should be lightly whipped—loose enough that you can pour it from a pitcher, but thick enough that it will float on top of the coffee. Pouring it over the back of a warm spoon helps it stay afloat.
Although it's not traditional, there's no reason why you can't enjoy your Coffee Brandy Irish Coffee cold! Add the brown sugar and cold coffee to the glass, followed by the whiskey and coffee brandy. Stir these together, then add ice. Spoon the lightly whipped cream (or sweetened whipped cream) to the top.
Tips:
- Choose an Irish coffee glass with an 8-ounce capacity or larger for this recipe.
- Either whole milk or half-and-half will work in the recipe.
Raise a warm glass of Coffee Brandy Irish Coffee and make a toast: to Joe Sheridan for inventing the drink and to Maine for the flavor inspiration. Sláinte!
💬 Did you make and devour this recipe? Leave a comment below.
📖 Recipe
Coffee Brandy Irish Coffee
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Ingredients
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream, cold
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1½ ounces Irish whiskey
- 1½ ounces Allen's coffee brandy
- 3 ounces hot, strong coffee
- 1 ounce whole milk
Instructions
Prepare the cream:
- Pour the cold heavy whipping cream into a small bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat the cream for one to two minutes—it should be thickened but still pourable, like the texture of melted Ben & Jerry's ice cream.
- Hold the cream aside.
Warm the glass and add sugar:
- Run hot water into an Irish coffee glass two or three times until the glass is warmed. Shake out any excess water, and dry the outside.
- Spoon the brown sugar into the bottom of the Irish coffee glass.
Add the alcohol:
- Pour the Irish whiskey and Allen's coffee brandy into the glass.
Add coffee and milk:
- Pour the hot, strong coffee into the glass, followed by the milk. Use a spoon to gently stir the ingredients together.
Add the cream:
- Slowly pour the thickened cream over the back of warm spoon onto the top of the coffee. It should float on the top to create a thick, creamy top to the drink.
Garnish and serve:
- Add two or three coffee beans to the top of the cream. Add a lobster cocktail pick to the glass. Serve the Coffee Brandy Irish Coffee immediately.
Notes
- Choose an Irish coffee glass with an 8-ounce capacity or larger for this recipe.
- Either whole milk or half-and-half will work in the recipe.
Nutrition
BuzzedBeanie says
This Coffee Brandy Irish Coffee captures the cozy essence of Maine in every sip!
Nancy Mock says
And it'll keep you warm, too! Thanks BuzzedBeanie!
Christian says
Wowza! This one was great!
Nancy Mock says
I'm so happy that I discovered Allen's coffee brandy, it's so good!