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Experience Irish Coffee Masterclass in Ireland
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From €22 per person
Most people get Irish coffee wrong. The cream should float on top - not sink, not stir in. The whiskey should warm every sip without overpowering the coffee. And the sugar has to dissolve completely before anything else goes in the glass. This 45-minute masterclass teaches you exactly how it’s done, guided by storytellers who bring the drink’s history to life while you work.
The Irish coffee was invented in the 1940s at Foynes Airport in County Limerick, created to take the chill off transatlantic flying boat passengers arriving on the Shannon estuary. Your host walks you through that origin story and traces the drink’s journey from practical pick-me-up to one of the most iconic warm cocktails in the world. Then it’s your turn.
The technique looks straightforward but the details matter: the temperature of the glass, the quality of the whiskey, the way you pour the cream over the back of a spoon so it sits just right. By the time you’re done, you’ll have a genuine skill to recreate at home - and a freshly made Irish coffee to enjoy on the spot.
Arrive a few minutes early and settle in. The session moves at a good pace once it starts, and arriving calm means you’ll actually absorb the history your host shares before you get hands-on. The storytelling is half the experience.
Take notes on the cream technique. It sounds simple - spoon over the back, cream poured slowly - but most people find they need to see it once before they can replicate it at home. If your host offers to demonstrate twice, take them up on it.
This pairs perfectly with an afternoon in The Liberties or along the quays. The Irish coffee has deep roots in the west of Ireland, but the craft of drinking well has always thrived in Dublin’s pub culture. After the masterclass, you’re ideally placed to walk off the buzz and explore.
Think about the whiskey. The choice of Irish whiskey isn’t incidental - triple-distilled Irish whiskey is smoother and less peaty than Scotch, which is why it works so well in coffee. If your host mentions the difference between blended and single malt, it’s worth paying attention to.
This works brilliantly as a pre-dinner warm-up. Forty-five minutes, a warm drink, and a good story - it’s the kind of thing that puts everyone in the right mood for the evening ahead.