Uploaded November 2015 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Learn how to make an Irish Coffee worthy of being called a James Bond cocktail using Green Spot Whiskey, Groundwork Coffee, whole cream and a sugar cube. The series, Cocktails and Pussy Galore, shows you how to drink like 007 using the Ian Fleming books (not the movies) as the source.
In the book, Diamonds Are Forever, James Bond flies to America from England via the Irish airport in Shannon. During his layover he had a "wonderful goblet of hot coffee laced with Irish whisky and topped with half an inch of thick cream." He had his Irish Coffee in the very place it was invented.
Fleming, as with a lot of cocktails and various dishes, went into great detail describing this drink which allowed the reader to relish it and experience it the way Bond did. It clearly showed his love for the drink.
The components of the drink are fairly straight-forward. It's important to use a good coffee, especially if you're using a good Irish Whiskey. I like using a medium blend from Groundwork. It's not too acidic. The french press used in the video is definitely more boldly flavored, which in this instance, is a good thing. I typically prepare it via pour over, but any way you like it is fine.
The Irish Whiskey is up to you. I always like using a Single Pot Still Whiskey like Green Spot or Redbreast. The richer flavor of the Single Pot Still Whiskey shines through and brightens up the drink.
Getting the cream right is a little tricky. First of all, stay away from redi-whip, spraycan whipped cream. What you want is whole cream and you whip yourself. It will float, but not aways straight from the shelf. You'll want to let sit in the fridge for a day or two (in the carton is fine). Then whip it up with a whisk before pouring over the drink. Another thing that I like to do is sticking it in the freezer for about 10 minutes before layering it on top of the drink. It shouldn't freeze, you just want it to get nice and chilled. The idea with the layers is that you're supposed to sip the hot drink through the cold cream. If you didn't nail the layers and the cream sinks, well, it will still be good. It just won't be the same. And besides, you've just given yourself a reason to make another one.
As far as the sugar goes, it's up to you. Bond didn't do sugar in his, but if you do one lump, it actually works really well. I tend not to like drinks with a lot of sugar in them, but version with one lump is good. It helps enhance the flavors of the coffee, whiskey and cream.
This drink is a classic. It's one that a lot of bars like to try and embellish with garnishes or chocolate syrup drizzle. But you don't need all that. You just need good coffee, whiskey, cream and sugar. It will warm you up when it's chilly outside. Sláinte!
Recipe:
2 oz Irish Whiskey
4 oz Coffee
1 Sugar Cube (optional)
Whole Cream
Add sugar cube to warm Irish Coffee mug. Pour in coffee. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add whiskey. Top with cream.
Follow Us!
facebook.com/DistinguishedSpirits
instagram.com/distinguishedspirits
twitter.com/DistinguishedSp
pinterest.com/DistinguishedSp
Featured in This Episode
Green Spot Irish Whiskey
youtube.com/user/singlepotstill
singlepotstill.com
Groundwork Coffee
groundworkcoffee.com/collections/single-origin/products/sumatra-gayo-gold-rainforest-alliance-coffee
Bar Tools
Irish Coffee Mug
amzn.to/1He2x2g
Measuring Cup
amzn.to/1MmzKsL
Barspoon
amzn.to/1LWeds0
French Press
amzn.to/20ysnEA
Whisk
amzn.to/1XTLQNQ
Measuring Cup (2-Cup)
amzn.to/20ysuAj
Learn how to make an Irish Coffee worthy of being called a James Bond cocktail using Green Spot Whiskey, Groundwork Coffee, whole cream and a sugar cube. The series, Cocktails and Pussy Galore, shows you how to drink like 007 using the Ian Fleming books (not the movies) as the source.
In the book, Diamonds Are Forever, James Bond flies to America from England via the Irish airport in Shannon. During his layover he had a "wonderful goblet of hot coffee laced with Irish whisky and topped with half an inch of thick cream." He had his Irish Coffee in the very place it was invented.
Fleming, as with a lot of cocktails and various dishes, went into great detail describing this drink which allowed the reader to relish it and experience it the way Bond did. It clearly showed his love for the drink.
The components of the drink are fairly straight-forward. It's important to use a good coffee, especially if you're using a good Irish Whiskey. I like using a medium blend from Groundwork. It's not too acidic. The french press used in the video is definitely more boldly flavored, which in this instance, is a good thing. I typically prepare it via pour over, but any way you like it is fine.
The Irish Whiskey is up to you. I always like using a Single Pot Still Whiskey like Green Spot or Redbreast. The richer flavor of the Single Pot Still Whiskey shines through and brightens up the drink.
Getting the cream right is a little tricky. First of all, stay away from redi-whip, spraycan whipped cream. What you want is whole cream and you whip yourself. It will float, but not aways straight from the shelf. You'll want to let sit in the fridge for a day or two (in the carton is fine). Then whip it up with a whisk before pouring over the drink. Another thing that I like to do is sticking it in the freezer for about 10 minutes before layering it on top of the drink. It shouldn't freeze, you just want it to get nice and chilled. The idea with the layers is that you're supposed to sip the hot drink through the cold cream. If you didn't nail the layers and the cream sinks, well, it will still be good. It just won't be the same. And besides, you've just given yourself a reason to make another one.
As far as the sugar goes, it's up to you. Bond didn't do sugar in his, but if you do one lump, it actually works really well. I tend not to like drinks with a lot of sugar in them, but version with one lump is good. It helps enhance the flavors of the coffee, whiskey and cream.
This drink is a classic. It's one that a lot of bars like to try and embellish with garnishes or chocolate syrup drizzle. But you don't need all that. You just need good coffee, whiskey, cream and sugar. It will warm you up when it's chilly outside. Sláinte!
Recipe:
2 oz Irish Whiskey
4 oz Coffee
1 Sugar Cube (optional)
Whole Cream
Add sugar cube to warm Irish Coffee mug. Pour in coffee. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add whiskey. Top with cream.
Follow Us!
facebook.com/DistinguishedSpirits
instagram.com/distinguishedspirits
twitter.com/DistinguishedSp
pinterest.com/DistinguishedSp
Featured in This Episode
Green Spot Irish Whiskey
youtube.com/user/singlepotstill
singlepotstill.com
Groundwork Coffee
groundworkcoffee.com/collections/single-origin/products/sumatra-gayo-gold-rainforest-alliance-coffee
Bar Tools
Irish Coffee Mug
amzn.to/1He2x2g
Measuring Cup
amzn.to/1MmzKsL
Barspoon
amzn.to/1LWeds0
French Press
amzn.to/20ysnEA
Whisk
amzn.to/1XTLQNQ
Measuring Cup (2-Cup)
amzn.to/20ysuAj
