Irish coffee

For a flavoring one can ostensibly get at nearly any chain coffee shop (albeit overly saccharin), finding a properly made Irish coffee can be surprisingly challenging.

An Irish coffee is simply Irish whiskey, coffee, a little sugar and whipped cream.

“I think it’s one of those cocktails that’s been really bastardized,” Ms. Weissert said. “It’s one of those things that’s so simple, and when you make it right it’s so good.”

Ms. Weissert recommends the classic at Carmella’s Pints & Plates on the South Side: locally roasted Kiva Han coffee, Jameson, and cream infused with Buffalo Trace bourbon with light chocolate shavings.

The Abbey on Butler Street in Lawrenceville specializes in coffee drinks and does an Irish latte with espresso, Jameson, Bailey’s Irish cream and steamed milk.

Steve Sloan at Lawrenceville’s Roundabout Brewing combines coffee and beer in its Irish Coffee Stout.

“It’s the third year we’ve made it,” Mr. Sloan said. “It’s a dry stout with roasted barley and moderate alcohol with a blend of Zeke’s coffee — medium and lighter roasts — and sweetened a little with lactose and vanilla.”

Although it’s missing the whiskey, Mr. Sloan said, “One of these days maybe we’ll barrel age it, but we haven’t gone wrong with it yet.”