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National Irish Coffee Day

Drink · January 25

A day for Irish coffee, the warm drink of hot coffee, Irish whiskey and sugar, finished with a layer of lightly whipped cream floating on top.

National Irish Coffee Day falls on Monday, January 25, 2027. That is 90 days away.

Irish coffee is hot coffee, Irish whiskey and a little sugar, topped with a layer of cream. You drink it through the cream rather than stirring it in, so each sip is cool and soft first, then hot and strong underneath.

The cream is the part people fuss over, and fairly so. It is whipped only until it thickens slightly, still loose enough to pour. Poured gently over the back of a spoon, it settles on the coffee and stays there. Cream whipped too stiff sits in a lump. Cream left too thin sinks and clouds the glass.

The sugar helps too. Dissolved in the hot coffee, it makes the liquid a bit denser, which helps the cream float. Brown sugar is a common choice for its deeper flavor. The drink usually comes in a stemmed, heat-safe glass, so you can see the dark coffee under the pale band of cream.

Most people mark the day by ordering one at a bar that takes the drink seriously, or by making one at home on a cold evening. It is a slow drink by nature. You warm the glass with hot water first, then build it in order and leave it alone.

For anyone skipping the alcohol, the same method works with coffee, sugar and cream on their own, and the floating layer is just as nice to look at.

Ways to celebrate

• Try floating lightly whipped cream over the back of a spoon.
• Warm your glass with hot water before building the drink.
• Make an alcohol-free version with coffee, brown sugar and cream.
• Ask a local bartender how they whip their cream.

Dates

All national days on January 25

Also on January 25

• Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
• National Opposite Day
• National Fish Taco Day
• Observe the Weather Day

Categories: Drink days