The common wisdom about whiskey (from uisce beatha, the water of life) is that the Irish invented it and the Scots perfected it. Compared to Irish whiskey, Scotch has a smokier, sexier flavor, which lends a different character entirely whether you drink it straight up or add it to your coffee when you need a less guilt-inducing nerve-smoother in the middle of the day.
Ingredients:
1/2 oz good Scotch whisky or Drambuie
1/2 oz Cointreau, Grand Marnier
1 tsp Demerara (light brown) sugar
Fresh, dark coffee
Heavy cream to taste
Whipped cream
Step-by-Step:
Pour hot water into selected glass or cup and let stand 30 seconds.
Empty and thoroughly dry the cup.
Fill the cup two within 1 inch of the whiskey or Drambuie and coffee.
Add sugar and stir until dissolved.
Deflecting cream along the back of a teaspoon, add it gently so that it drifts across the top of the coffee, sinking no more than one half-inch. Adjust to your liking.
Top with whipped cream.
Serves one.