The Irish Coffee is one of the most satisfying drinks ever made — hot coffee, a touch of sweetness, whiskey, and a cloud of cold cream on top. Here's how to make it without the alcohol, and get it right.
What You Need
- 1.5 oz No. 86 Non-Alcoholic Whiskey
- 4 oz hot brewed coffee (strong — this matters)
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 2 oz heavy cream, lightly whipped
- Irish coffee glass or heat-safe glass mug
How to Make It
- Warm your glass by filling it with hot water for 30 seconds, then dumping it. A cold glass kills the drink.
- Add brown sugar to the warm glass. Pour a small amount of hot coffee over it and stir until dissolved.
- Add No. 86. Top with the remaining hot coffee and stir once.
- Float the cream: lightly whip the heavy cream until it just starts to thicken — it should pour slowly but still be liquid. Pour it over the back of a spoon onto the surface of the coffee. It should float, not sink.
- Do not stir. Drink through the cream.
The Cream
The cream has to float — that's the whole point. If it's too thin it sinks. If it's too thick it sits in a lump. Lightly whipped means 10–15 seconds of whisking by hand, or 3–4 seconds with an electric mixer. It should be just barely thickened — pourable but resistant.
Pour it over the back of a bar spoon held just above the surface of the coffee. The spoon breaks the pour and lets the cream settle gently on top.
The Coffee
Strong coffee. Weak coffee gets lost under the cream and whiskey notes. A double espresso topped with hot water (Americano-style) is ideal. French press or drip coffee works if brewed strong. This is not the place for light roast coffee — go medium to dark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use oat milk or coconut cream instead of heavy cream?
Oat milk won't float — it's too thin and too dense. Coconut cream (the thick kind from a can, not coconut milk) can work if lightly whipped, though it adds a coconut note to the drink. For the classic float, heavy cream is the right tool.
What coffee works best?
Medium-dark roast, brewed strong. The coffee should be able to hold its own against the cream and No. 86. Specialty light roast coffees can get lost — save those for drinking black.
Do I drink it with a straw?
No. Drink it through the cream — every sip should come through the cold cream layer before hitting the hot coffee below. That contrast is the whole point of the drink.
Hot coffee. Cold cream. No. 86.
The Irish Coffee ritual, without the alcohol. Worth making on a cold morning or a slow evening.
→ Shop No. 86 — from $35.99
Make this recipe with No. 86 non-alcoholic whiskey — built for cocktails like this one.