The whiskey trend is currently on the rise and it appears that the Irish Coffee is gaining renewed popularity in bars, restaurants, and social media platforms. As a fan of this cocktail, I am delighted to see it making a comeback. However, it is frustrating that it is often associated with winter and considered a “winter warmer”. I believe that it is a hot cocktail that can be enjoyed throughout the year. Another challenge is finding a good one among the numerous options available across Dublin.
As part of an article I wrote for TheTaste.ie, I complied a shortlist of the best places to get an Irish Coffee in Dublin, my list is as follows;
Vice Coffee
I was lucky enough to taste this beauty at the Me Aul Flower festival recently, where it was paired with nothing less than a Tunnocks Tea Cake – Genius! I popped in last week to try this hyped up serve. I have seen plenty of evidence online and in various articles about it’s popularity but I had never sat to enjoy it and actually give it any thought. Vice is a really cool spot, and instantly you know that this will not be a run of the mill Irish coffee – quite the opposite! There are 3 options on a display board above the coffee machines. The plain Jane, Fancy Frankie and Luxurious Linda.
I went for Frankie; the award-winning flash beside its name called me in. This was an absolutely amazing Irish Coffee – perfect from the off. A 6oz Georgian glass, always my preference. The whiskey of choice is Teeling Small Batch which lends itself really well here – citrusy and vibrant booze seems to hold hands with the spiced orange cream float on the coffee. Warm, balanced, whiskey driven and a dessert-y nature to the whole experience – Top drawer from the Vice guys. This is worth a trip when in town over the festive period.
The Bankers Bar
The Bankers will be within arms reach no matter what part of the city you’re getting some Christmas shopping done. It also provides that perfect cosy backdrop for getting the warm glass of Irish coffee in hand! Whiskey is an integral part of what Alan and Team do in The Bankers so you know careful attention will be paid to the serve. (Have a look at the collection dotted along the walls – very impressive.)
The first Paddy Irish Coffee I have had in a while and it’s nice to see some variety! A lovely sweetness, plenty of cold cream and perfectly hot – an old school Irish Coffee glass to give the serve a very rustic feel. The Bankers normally celebrate the Irish coffee with some very unique activations and promotions coming up to Christmas, so keep an eye out!
Teeling Whiskey Distillery
The Bang Bang bar is probably one of the best kept secrets in Dublin for enjoying a couple of Irish coffees or cocktails alike – the association of distilleries being tour-only offerings is most likely to blame. The Bang Bang bar is located on the first floor, and a team of exceptional bartenders are on hand to get you your fix! I took up residence in a booth overlooking Newmarket Square and the grey day outside called for the hot concoction I had come for – The Dublin Coffee. Flawless from start to finish. The very unique ingredient was the sweetener – The guys at Teeling use a spiced stout syrup to sweeten the coffee. This seems to add a completely different layer to the drink and adds a really nice treacle toffee flavour. A very cool space to enjoy a couple of drinks after a tour of the distillery.
Balfes at The Westbury
It just seems right to gravitate toward this part of the city for a pre-Christmas madness drink. A few very festive haunts in this vicinity including McDaids, Davey Byrnes, Kehoes, and of course, Balfes. Here I was working off the popularity of the Irish Coffee served upstairs in Wilde restaurant where Method and Madness is the base for a flambéed version! I wanted to keep this shortlist to “stroll off the street” options so figured Balfes couldn’t be too far behind. I wasn’t wrong… this was an absolutely amazing Irish Coffee.
There’s always such a lovely buzz around Balfes and even more so this week as the decorations were being hung all around The Westbury. Again, that gorgeous Georgian glass makes an appearance and unusually, Jameson is the whiskey of choice (generally if it is to be from the IDL portfolio, Powers gets called in as the winter time work horse.) It was a perfect serve all the same and the one remarkable thing was the perfect temperature. It stayed nice and hot until the last sugary sip. Treat yourself to this one!
The Bank Bar
I have mentioned the Bank previously here and it simply can’t not be on this list! The Bank is amongst the best bar food experiences in the city and for me, Irish coffee is celebrated really well here with its very own section on the menu. I regularly slot the Irish Coffee into the food occasion as an after dinner drink, and with both being so good here it seems like the right thing to do!
Presentation is on point with that beautiful 6oz glass and Teeling Small Batch again – there is a pattern emerging here! By taste, this is a traditional recipe.., demarara sugar, double espresso topped up, off-liquid double cream, sweet blended whiskey and a nutmeg garnish. This is a great example of not re-inventing the wheel and each component can be tasted and appreciated individually and in harmony – beautiful Irish Coffee, beautiful place!
