Mug / Irish Coffee Glass

8-12 oz

Heat-resistant handled vessel for hot cocktails — glass mugs for Irish coffee, ceramic for toddies and mulled drinks.

History

Origin

The handled mug is one of humanity's oldest drinking vessel forms, with ceramic examples dating back thousands of years. The Irish coffee glass — a heat-resistant, clear glass mug with a handle and footed base — was invented in 1942 by Joe Sheridan, a chef at the Foynes airbase in County Limerick, Ireland. He created the drink (and the vessel) for cold, weary passengers arriving on Pan Am flying boats crossing the Atlantic.

Evolution

The Irish coffee glass was brought to America by travel writer Stanton Delaplane, who convinced the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco to replicate it in 1952. The Buena Vista reportedly serves over 2,000 Irish coffees per day. For other hot cocktails (toddies, mulled wine, hot buttered rum), ceramic mugs remain standard. The clear glass variant exists specifically so drinkers can see the cream float — that visual is the Irish coffee's signature.

Why This Shape

The handle is essential — hot cocktails would burn bare hands on an unhandled vessel. The footed base of an Irish coffee glass insulates the table from heat and elevates the drink for presentation. Clear glass reveals layers (dark coffee, amber whiskey, white cream). The thick walls retain heat longer. For ceramic mugs, the material absorbs and radiates warmth, enhancing the cozy tactile experience of a hot toddy.

Fun Fact

The Buena Vista Cafe spent three months trying to get the cream to float properly on Irish coffee before finally consulting San Francisco's mayor (and dairy expert) to get the cream's age and fat content right. The cream must be lightly frothed but not whipped, and poured over the back of a spoon — still the hardest part of making a proper Irish coffee.