Culture

56th Anniversary of Irish Coffee

by Jordan Yerman | November 9, 2008 at 02:16 pm

398 views | 29 Recommendations | 10 comments

Happy Anniversary, Irish Coffee, from a true fan... a true fan who's also from the Bay Area, which is where Irish Coffee was born.

Hang on, though...can the Buena Vista Cafe truly claim to have invented the mixture of whiskey and coffee? Surely someone else came up with it more than 56 years ago. Maybe it's like the iPod: not the first of its kind, but the one we all think of. Whiskey: not just for breakfast anymore!

The place was jammed as usual Saturday afternoon, strangers convivial at the five round wooden tables and along the weathered bar where 15 of 18 patrons lined up were drinking Irish coffee - the blend of coffee and whiskey topped by thick cream that has been the cafe's signature drink since Nov. 10, 1952.

Which makes Monday the 56th birthday of the spirited stimulant. Hardly a centennial, but a good enough excuse for three days of festivities that started Saturday with clog dancers and bagpipers. It concludes Monday afternoon with an attempt to win a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records by mixing a 12-gallon Irish coffee in a custom-made goblet.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

tammybeck68

at 15:13 on November 9th, 2008

I was in Ireland earlier this year in August. I stayed with my husbands family there & did not have my own transportation. On my last full day in Dublin I had the chance to spend an hour & a half in the city of Dublin, while I was dropped off for a quick shopping spree while my "ride" went to a business meeting. Having scored what I needed at the stores & my ride not being there yet, I thought I would have a moment to sit, relax and enjoy an Irish coffee, for the 2nd time on my trip.

I had just tried my first REAL Irish coffee at a family gathering a couple of days prior & thought I had time to enjoy another. Just as I paid for this coffee, the phone call came that my ride was outside double parked. That was the most expensive Irish coffee I ever "didn't" have. I had to leave it on the bar. I did however make the time to take 2 sips & a quick photo so I would have that to remember the moment by.
T. Houston
Dallas, TX

tammybeck68 has contributed a photo to this story.

reno_fog

at 15:19 on November 9th, 2008

Christmas is coming and it's a holiday favorite here and I've had several at the Buena Vista Cafe

Roberto Alvarez-Galloso

at 17:11 on November 9th, 2008

As a Coffee Drinker, Irish Coffee Drinkers deserve to be congratulated on the Anniversary of the brew.

gerrypopplestone

at 18:37 on November 9th, 2008

I can smell the Irish coffee on your breath!

The Q 370

at 10:36 on November 10th, 2008

Iris cafe' cocktail complete w/ Bailey's whipped cream

TheQ370 has contributed a photo to this story.

quinnbike

at 12:30 on November 11th, 2008

I was shooting some people working and people relaxing and saw this waiter with this two glasses of Irish coffee! I couldn't resist the moment and pressed the button. I 'm still waiting for an opportunity to hand this photo to the guy! Quinn

quinnbike has contributed a photo to this story.