When you think of Irish coffee, does the Buena Vista in San Francisco come to mind? That may be because it was the first to have sold the warm libation in the United States after the drink was created in Ireland in the 1940s. Here’s the recipe the restaurant and bar still uses today.

Ingredients

Strong black coffee (Buena Vista uses Peerless coffee from Oakland, Calif.)

Sugar cubes

Irish whiskey (Buena Vista uses Tullamore Dew)

Heavy whipping cream

 

Method

Heat an Irish coffee glass or mug with hot water until glass is warm to the touch. Remove water. Place two sugar cubes in the glass. Fill glass two-thirds full with hot coffee. Use a spoon to dissolve sugar cubes. Add 1.5 ounces of Irish whiskey. Slowly pour lightly whipped heavy cream (unsweetened) over the back of the spoon to float it atop the coffee. Cheers!