The Best Whiskey To Put In Your Coffee

Two drinks end an evening with style, and that is an excellent cup of coffee or a perfect whiskey. The mix of these two drinks has become so popular that Irish coffees are now also enjoyed on their own. The type of whiskey you use is at your discretion, but even if it makes the mix perfect, noting that it’s not a cocktail but rather a pairing will make the selection easier. Not all whiskeys are meant to mix with coffee, so let’s take a look at why:

Whiskey VS Bourbon

The most notable difference between these two types of whiskey is the flavour. Whiskeys have a smoother, refined taste, where bourbon is usually smokier and more wooded. Bourbon needs to be stored in a new barrel that was charred before storage, and whiskey can be stored in any barrel. Bourbons are made from 51 percent corn and need to be produced in America, and although all bourbons are whiskey, not all whiskeys are bourbon.

Coffee and Whiskey Pairing

As noted before, coffee and whiskey together is not a cocktail but rather a pairing of two solid flavoured drinks that need to complement each. Irish coffee ideally should be more of a selection process than just ordering and mixing. The one shouldn’t power the other. The volume should be equal for you to be able to enjoy the benefits of this marriage. Bourbons with their woodier bodies would be better suited to more affluent, Columbian or Kenyan coffees. Pot stilled or blended whiskeys makes for better partners to Arabian coffee blends. A nice touch to this would be to soak whiskey and coffee bags simultaneously. Letting the whiskey soak into the bag will bring out the aroma and richness of both the coffee and the whiskey, so you get a fuller-bodied flavour.

Irish coffees contain sugar and cream, so your whiskey choice would also significantly affect the taste if it’s a flavoured bourbon. Some have vanilla or chocolate, which add to the flavour, but might compromise the taste of your Irish coffee.

Jim Beam Vanilla Bourbon

Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey is a slightly sweeter bourbon with its hints of vanilla over caramel tones. Pairing this with a rich Kenyan coffee will bring out the wooded notes in the whiskey, but it will also enhance the smokey flavour of the coffee. Adding a rough bourbon-like Jim Beam also adds Southern street style to a classic drink like coffee.

Jameson Select Irish Whiskey

Jameson Select Whiskey is an ode to the American bourbon style whiskey. The barrels used for this whiskey is charred, which gives the whiskey a smokey taste with a slight sweetness. This whiskey is also aged a lot longer, and it’s triple distilled, so it’s a very smooth whiskey that will be best paired with Arabica coffee beans. Even though it is stored in a charred barrel, it is still not bourbon and won’t have the deep wooded flavour, but rather a more refined, classy taste.

Jack Daniels Coffee beans and No.7 Whiskey

Jack Daniels Whiskey’s makers have taken their craft one step further by making a perfectly blended coffee with Arabica coffee beans and infused with the same smokiness that they add to their whiskey. Although the makers famously make this of Jack Daniels, it does not contain any alcohol. You will get the same aroma which will only increase in depth when you combine it with their Old No.7 Whiskey. In partnership with World of Coffee, this creation is sure to change the way patrons enjoy both their whiskey and their coffee.

Adnams Single Malt Whiskey

Adnams Single Malt Whiskey is one of the perfect whiskeys to use for Irish coffee because it is already infused with coffee flavours. It has a slight sweetness because it is also a fruity whiskey with hints of spice. A darker roast will complement this whiskey because it won’t be too sweet, and it won’t be too overpowering. Irish coffee has sugar and cream to finish the mix, and with a darker roast, you won’t be stuck with a pairing that tastes too much like candy.

Heat diffuses the flavour of the coffee, and you can quickly end up drinking what tastes like hot alcohol, so your selection of whiskey helps. It should bring out the best in both drinks, so look to pair similar ingredients together to get the best out of your nightcap.