Making The Dead Rabbit's World Famous Irish Coffee
Learn how to make one of the world's best Irish Coffees for St. Paddy's Day in my latest 'Recipe Book' newsletter.
Hey Tipsy Travelers, I hope you’ve all been well!
Recently, I’ve been getting pulled in a bunch of different directions and need at least 48 hours in a day to get my work done, per why I’ve decreased the frequency of newsletter posts recently, but being busy is a good thing in the freelance world and I’m hoping to keep this momentum going.
In addition to my usual editorial work, I’ve been working on getting some personal projects off the ground, as well as focusing on my educational Instagram content and some other little bits. The biggest project I’m working on at the moment is an education series for bars and bartenders focused on brand building through communications that I’ll be road-showing in various markets, with each session followed by a bar takeover. It’s coming together nicely, and the first session will be in Manchester in April at Speak in Code (a highly acclaimed cocktail bar in the UK for all those who aren’t familiar).
Most excitingly, I’ve recently been approached by a massive publishing house with an offer to write my first book! It’s a daunting task for sure, but I’ve decided to hire a literary agent to help me navigate the process and assist me in the future as I work on other books. So, as you can tell from these few bits that I’ve shared, I have my hand in a few pots at the moment and am as busy as ever, so bear with me as I figure out my new workflow. But, in the meantime, here’s my latest Recipe Book featuring one of the world’s best Irish Coffees at The Dead Rabbit in NYC.
As of February 2023, The Dead Rabbit has been open for a decade. During its first ten years of operation, it has swept bar industry awards, including the most coveted title of World’s Best Bar in 2015 at the prestigious 50 Best Bars ceremony; but it’s also evolved as a business and brand, never resting on its laurels.
Just a few years ago, the bar acquired the building next door to its original site to expand its existing space. By doing so, the bar could welcome and accommodate the wealth of visitors—both tourists and locals—who are interested in experiencing what it’s like to drink at one of the world’s great cocktail bars. And for many Irish tourists, a stop at The Dead Rabbit, a bar that’s a modern take on an Irish pub, is requisite. (I’ve never been in the bar without hearing someone with an Irish accent — many of whom walk out with bags of Dead Rabbit merch to bring home with them. It’s pretty dope.)
In addition to expanding its bar space, The Dead Rabbit also tweaked its world class Irish Coffee recipe. It was a bold move, but one that’s paid off as it’s truly better than ever. The recipe’s biggest adjustment is in the coffee as the bar has partnered with premium Irish Coffee roaster Calendar Coffee to create a bespoke roast just for their Irish Coffee. (If you’re curious to learn more, I wrote about this in my last story for Club Oenologique.) Learning about the research and development process for the creation of this roast was fascinating, and it made me appreciate what they do even more.
And, in the spirit of St. Paddy’s Day, The Dead Rabbit team kindly shared their Irish Coffee recipe for all of you to try. If you’re hoping to impress your friends at home, this is one fine way to do it. Be sure to get yourself a nice Georgian Irish Coffee glass, or one of The Dead Rabbit’s own Irish Coffee glasses (I have two at home myself) as the glass is the most important component for building a proper Irish Coffee, just as having the right glass is essentially for pouring a perfect pint of Guinness.
Enjoy & sláinte!
P.S - Paid subscribers, don’t forget about your complimentary Irish Coffee at The Dead Rabbit through the month of March! Check out my previous newsletter for the terms and conditions.
The Dead Rabbit’s Irish Coffee
Ingredients:
1 oz Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey
.625 rich demerara syrup (2:1 ratio sugar to water)
3.5 oz Calendar Coffee (or a dark roast coffee)
Top with freshly-whipped heavy cream
Garnish: nutmeg (optional)
Method:
Pre-heat your Irish Coffee glass with boiling water. Then add whiskey, demerara syrup and hot coffee, leaving about an index finger’s worth of space at the top of the glass for the cream. Top with freshly whipped cream and a dusting of nutmeg, if desired. (I recommend reading the article below for all the details on how to make the perfect Irish Coffee.)
Related Reading:
For making the perfect Irish Coffee: https://cluboenologique.com/story/the-anatomy-of-an-irish-coffee/
Sláinte ! to you too this week, you amazing and dedicated young man. Keep busy, yes, but with your able hands dipped in so many pots at once, take the time to relax a little, enjoy an Irish Coffee, and smell the shamrocks !
Will try and make one, but it’s probably easier to just go to the Dead Rabbit and get one. And much better.