Irish coffee recipes enable individuals to make their own drinks at home or request a particular version of the coffee variation of a hot toddy. Irish coffee typically contains black coffee, whiskey and cream but may be prepared with additional ingredients depending on the preferences of the drinker.

Although the most common versions of this drink recipe include alcohol and hot coffee, other drink mixes include variations which eliminate the alcohol. Summertime versions of Irish coffee also include frothy cool drinks with the same flavors as the hot drink.

Irish coffee in its simplest form has a strong black coffee, some type of sweetener, rich cream, and a smooth whiskey. Variations from these ingredients include:

1. Instead of just the whiskey, use a coffee liqueur or a hazelnut liqueur added to an Irish cream.http://www.cocktailtimes.com/original/bushmill_irishcreamcafe.shtml
2. For a sweet Irish coffee drink, make an Irish tiramisu drink which uses espresso with Irish Cream, mascarpone, and ice cream for a cold cocktail.http://cocktailtimes.com/original/baileys_tiramisu.shtml
3. A frozen Irish coffee combines crushed ice with the coffee and whiskey and tops the drink with ice cream. http://www.drinkswap.com/frozen-irish-coffee.htm/ref

In the 1930s and 40s, travel between the United States and Europe was common. During winter trips, the wait for a flight could be a cold one. On one particular flight, the bad weather forced return of the plane to the terminal in Europe. Chef Joe Sheridan, the employee at the terminal restaurant offered the waiting passengers a drink of coffee mixed with an Irish whiskey. This offer was the beginning of what is known today as Irish coffee.http://www.cocktailtimes.com/hot/irish_coffee.shtml It was the 1950s before the drink made its way to America but today it is the focus of celebrations for Saint Patrick’s Day and is the highlight of festivals in some cities.http://www.baileys.com/drinks-and-cocktails/iced-coffee-drinks/