I usually don't order an Irish Coffee when out because it is so rare that is made well. It's almost always a disappointment; and I make them better msyself.
But the one at the Raven & Rose is both made correctly and there's an additional touch that puts the drink right over the top (hint: for both coffee and whiskey lovers).
The gist:
But what I got far exceeded my expectations. Shenaut uses good ingredients, he mixes them properly---but then goes a magnificent step further. Good Irish whiskey, Demerara sugar, heavy cream, all good. But instead of a regular brew, or even extra strong coffee, he uses a long espresso pull of Spella Italian Roast coffee.
When you take that first cautious sip there is all you expect in the rush of sensation---but more! The espresso richness comes through forcefully, with that characteristic brown crema curling up around the edges, crema on cream, chocolaty, smoky and slightly bitter and oily-rich, adding an entirely new layer to an already fantastic drink.
As a lovely final touch, Raven & Rose serves it up correctly, in a clear glass stemmed and handled cup…because a good part of the appreciation of an Irish Coffee is the visual, seeing that pure thick layer of cream floating on top of black coffee in a layered yin yang of contrast, with three glistening roasted coffee beans resting gently on the white foam.
It’s the best Irish Coffee I’ve had in the U.S. Better even than my own, which is pretty damned good.
The full monty: http://violentfermentation.blogspot.com ... where.html
