I love a good Irish coffee. The conundrum, however, is that I generally limit my daily caffeine consumption to a morning espresso and I don’t want whiskey for breakfast, so it’s hard to figure out when to have said Irish coffee. St. Patricks Day is almost here and I'll be getting together in the afternoon with my coffee-loving friends and family, which will include traditional, festive Irish coffee. Happily, my talented mixologist of a husband recently got inspired by a tin of Mountain Rose Herbs herbal coffee. I wasn’t sure what he was up to tinkering away in the kitchen, and then he came out with this creamy glass of pure ambrosia. Although I am not generally an all-caps kind of woman, this herbal Irish coffee recipe is, OMG SO GOOD. Bonus: I can drink a glass in the evening and still get a good night’s sleep.

Why I Love Mountain Rose Herbs Herbal Coffee Alternative for Irish Coffee

Many of the best premade herbal coffees available today include perfectly roasted chicory root and dandelion root. Dandelion root has a long history of use for digestive and gastrointestinal support.* Chicory root also has prebiotic qualities and provides phytochemicals like inulin, flavonoids, vitamins, minerals, etc. So herbal coffees of this type carry a host of wellness-supporting constituents.* What I love about the Mountain Rose Herbs’ herbal coffee is the addition of cacao and maca, which gives this roast a hint of caramel and chocolate and makes a perfect base for Irish whiskey and coffee liqueur.

If you’ve ever made our herbal coffee before, you may note that you’ll be brewing it stronger than usual for this recipe. Generally, we recommend one tablespoon per eight ounces of water, but for this Irish coffee, you’ll want to use up to twice the amount of herbal coffee blend.

Irish Coffee Recipe with Herbal Coffee

Makes two 8-10 oz. Irish coffees.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 - 2 Tbsp. Mountain Rose Herbs organic herbal coffee
• 8 oz. boiling water
• About 1/2 cup organic heavy whipping cream or vegan whipped cream
• 3 oz. good Irish whiskey
• 3 oz. good coffee liqueur, Irish cream (for no caffeine), or brown sugar, to taste
• Organic sweet cinnamon, nutmeg, or grated chocolate for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Put herbal coffee in a heat-proof measuring cup or other vessel.
2. Pour boiling water over, cover with a lid or plate, and let steep for 3-5 minutes. The longer you let it steep, the stronger it will be.
3. Meanwhile, lightly whip heavy cream until it is thick but not yet at soft peaks. Set aside in refrigerator.
4. Strain herbs from herbal coffee, compost herbs, and split herbal coffee equally between two 8-10 oz. glasses or mugs.
5. Split the whiskey and coffee liqueur or Irish cream between the two glasses or mugs and gently stir to blend.
6. Have a tablespoon ready and gently pour the whipped cream over the back of the spoon onto the top of the drinks. This helps the cream float on top so you get a nice line between the coffee/alcohol mixture and the cream.
7. Garnish with optional cinnamon, nutmeg, or finely grated chocolate.

Pro Tips

• This is a drink where all the ingredients shine, so invest in as good an Irish whiskey as you can and make sure to use a coffee liqueur you love. We use Teeling Irish Whiskey, Five Farms Irish Cream, and Oregon’s own Vivacity Fine Spirits Turkish Coffee Liqueur.
• If making a single Irish coffee, put the herbal coffee in a cloth tea bag or mesh basket and put it directly in your glass. Pour the boiling water over the top, cover, and let steep until it reaches desired strength. Removed bag/basket and continue directions at step 4.
• If you use brown sugar instead of coffee liqueur, you may want to add a touch of finely grated chocolate directly into the coffee to replicate some of the depth of coffee liqueur.

Want More Ideas for Herbal Cocktails?

Here’s How to Make a Warming Herbal Cocktail with Tinctures!

You may also enjoy:

• Yaupon: Rediscovering America’s Forgotten Tea
• Guarana Seed Benefits & Stimulating Hot Cocoa Recipe
• How to Make Cold Brew Coffee + 3 Herbal Additions

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications. For educational purposes only.