A classic Irish coffee consists exclusively of hot coffee, Irish whiskey and sugar, with cream (proper cream, not "Irish cream") floated on top. It is made as follows: Pre-heat coffee glass with hot water and empty. Add one ounce of whiskey to glass and fill near to top with slightly sweetened coffee. Float cream (which may be whipped, but is usually a pouring cream, added by pouring it onto the back of a spoon, resting on the coffee's surface) on top. The sugar is necessary, or the cream will not float. Irish coffee can be considered to be a variation on hot toddy.