For years, the best part about tailgating for UCLA football games at the Rose Bowl in beautiful Pasadena, California, was enjoying that first beer. It always hit for me, just as good as the shower beer and the airport beer. Tailgates surrounding the grounds of the iconic Rose Bowl often started early or very late because the Bruins were an underwhelming team, and networks slotted them before or after the premier games.
This usually meant tailgating early when there’s a cool, morning breeze. Even if your hands were a bit chilly (anything below 70 in Los Angeles is chilly), your hands inevitably reached into a cooler filled with ice-cold beer. But it doesn’t have to be this way, and that’s where Tullamore D.E.W. comes in. I first learned about the blended Irish whiskey brand when I saw its “Saying Goodbye” commercial come across my TV some 12 years ago. It was equally beautiful, the lads singing a rendition of “The Parting Glass,” and hilarious because of the unexpected twist near the end of the commercial.
“It’s better to pass into the other world with full passion and glory then to fade and wither dismally with age,” one says.
To this day, hearing the commercial’s rendition of “The Parting Glass” takes me back to hanging out with my childhood friends, long before we became enslaved with responsibilities that come with adulthood. In August 2024, I had the pleasure of visiting Ireland for the first time. I, of course, had to make a stop at the Tullamore D.E.W. distillery, and it was there that I had the best Irish coffee of my life. At that point, I had zero interest in trying Irish coffee. Every version tasted bitter, and I could never get past the first two sips. I had long heard that for the best Irish coffee in the States, visiting The Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco was the way to go. But here I was in Clonminch, Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland. I signed up for the 105-minute tour, which included a welcome Irish coffee. It was hands-down the best Irish coffee I have ever tasted.
My moving to Austin, Texas, in June 2021, meant no more tailgates during college football season. The weather this time a year is unbearable. But if you find yourself in colder climates, a Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Coffee is your best bet to kick off your tailgate. Trust me.
How to make Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Coffee
The Tullamore D.E.W. Irish coffee puts the brand’s signature Irish whiskey at the center of the classic cold-weather serve, combining hot, rich coffee and brown sugar before being finished with a layer of lightly whipped cream.
The classic recipe was created by Kevin Pigott, Tullamore D.E.W.’s Global Ambassador. The cocktail requires minimal ingredients and preparation: 30 ml Tullamore D.E.W. Whiskey; 90 ml Americano coffee/cold brew coffee; 15 ml Demerara sugar; 40 ml cream; and nutmeg.
1. Pour Tullamore D.E.W., cold brew coffee and Demerara sugar into a highball glass.
2. Shake double cream in a shaker until thickened before layering over the drink.
3. Garnish with a grating of nutmeg and enjoy.
If the sun happens to peak out of the cloudy, cold skies, and it starts to warm up at your tailgate, then this one’s for you: It’s dubbed D.E.W. & a Brew.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. You’ll only need a shot of Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey and your favorite beer of choice. To complete the D.E.W. & Brew, pour the shot into your beer, stir, and enjoy.
