This Boozy Coffee Drink Is Guaranteed to Wake You Up Right

When it comes to morning cocktails, there's nothing quite like an Irish Coffee to bring some much-needed warmth to your dreary winter days. Legend has it that the drink—which typically consists of hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and cream—was invented by a man named Joseph Sheridan, who allegedly served it to freezing cold travelers that passed through his airport restaurant in southwest Ireland.

In honor of the beverage's national holiday today, we tapped award-winning bartender Joaquín Simó of N.Y.C. craft cocktail bar Pouring Ribbons for his recipe, which calls for the genius addition of a toasted marshmallow. "My favorite winter garment is a whiskey sweater—that glow that keeps me feeling toasty," he tells InStyle. "An Irish Coffee offers that coziness, plus a caffeinated boost." Read on for the full breakdown.

Knappogue Irish Coffee

• Ingredients:
• 1 1/2 oz Knappogue Castle Single Malt Irish Whiskey ($50; grandwinecellar.com)
• 1/4 oz demerara syrup
• 5 oz hot coffee
• Pinch of kosher salt
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 orange
• 2 dashes Regans' Orange Bitters No. 6 ($9; amazon.com)
• 1/8 cup cream
• 1 marshmallow, toasted

Directions:

1. Whip together the zest from one orange with two tablespoons of white sugar, six dashes Regans' Orange Bitters No. 6 until thickened, but still pourable.

2. Add mixture to heated mug with coffee, whiskey, and demerara syrup. Add a pinch of salt.

3. Float cream over the top of the drink by pouring gently over the back of a spoon.

4. Top with a lightly toasted marshmallow.