Nutty Irishman Drink

The Nutty Irishman is a delicious after-dinner drink made with Irish cream liqueur, hazelnut liqueur, Irish whiskey, and whipped cream. It has a rich, nutty flavor that is perfect for ending a hearty meal.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and buy something, Feast + West receives a small commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutty Irishman recipe

After-dinner drinks are the perfect way to unwind after a long, delicious meal. They allow you to relax, chat with your friends and savor the evening just a little longer.

And, they can double as dessert. But if you want dessert and a dessert drink, who am I to stop you?

The Nutty Irishman is my recent, go-to choice for an after-dinner cocktail because of its rich, nutty flavor and thick, creamy texture.

Made with Irish cream liqueur, hazelnut liqueur, Irish whiskey and a hefty layer of boozy whipped cream, it tastes like liquid Nutella and is utterly decadent.

Whether you’re looking for something sweet, nutty, or boozy, the Nutty Irishman delivers. There’s nothing quite like ending the night with a drink as cozy and comforting as this one!

More after-dinner drinks: Espresso Martini • Chocolate Old-Fashioned • Tiramisu Martini • White Russian • Toasted Almond Cocktail

Why you’ll love this recipe

The Nutty Irishman is going to be your new favorite after-dinner drink!

• It’s so easy to make with just four ingredients.
• The flavor is out of this world good: so creamy and rich.
• You can get fancy with boozy whipped cream and a sprinkle of toasted hazelnuts.

You can enjoy a Nutty Irishman drink any time of year. It’s a great drink for the holiday season and especially for St. Patrick’s Day.

What is a Nutty Irishman?

The Nutty Irishman is a delicious after-dinner cocktail made with Irish cream liqueur, hazelnut liqueur, Irish whiskey and whipped cream. It has a rich, nutty flavor that is perfect for sipping after a great meal.

The name is a nod to the nutty hazelnut liqueur and the two types of Irish booze in this drink. (Also, after a few of these, you might be a little nutty, too.)

With the coffee, chocolate and vanilla notes of Irish cream paired with the nuttiness of hazelnut liqueur and the complexity of Irish whiskey, this cocktail packs a lot of flavor into every sip.

The top layer is a thick helping of whipped cream. You can use store-bought whipped cream or make your own. And if you have the time to make your own, it really makes a difference in quality.

Tools & glassware

For the Nutty Irishman, you don’t need a ton of special equipment.

A cocktail shaker with ice is needed for mixing the drink together. A strainer is also helpful for keeping ice shards from falling into the drink when you pour it out.

If you’re making homemade whipped cream, then you’ll want a hand mixer or stand mixer.

Rocks glasses are the typical glassware used for the Nutty Irishman. Also known as old-fashioned glasses and lowball glasses, they are short, tumbler-style glasses for serving spirits.

If you don’t have a rocks glass, you can use any kind of short tumbler or a stemless wine glass. A martini glass or coupe glass also works well for any dessert drink.

favorite rocks glasses

striped old-fashioned glasses

Buy Now →

hobnail rocks glasses

Buy Now →

minimalist rocks glasses

Buy Now →

Ingredients

You only need four ingredients to make the Nutty Irishman. Here’s what to snag on your next run to the liquor store and supermarket:

Irish cream liqueur

Irish cream is a creamy alcoholic liqueur made with notes of vanilla, chocolate, coffee and Irish whiskey. It is opaque and creamy, with a slight brown color.

Baileys is perhaps the most ubiquitous brand of Irish cream here in the States, but there lots of other brands out there, including Carolan’s, Kerrygold and St. Brendan’s.

Hazelnut liqueur

Hazelnut liqueur is a sweet spirit with a strong hazelnut flavor.

The most common brand of hazelnut liqueur is Frangelico, which comes in a bottle shaped like a monk — complete with a rope belt.

Also used in the chocolate cake shot and the maple leaf cocktail, hazelnut liqueur is worth adding to your home bar for this cocktail alone.

If you can’t find it, you could substitute another nutty liqueur like peanut butter whiskey.

Irish whiskey

Irish whiskey is a type of whiskey that’s made in Ireland from unmalted barley and cereal grains. It is different than bourbon and scotch thanks to its country of origin, ingredients and distillation method.

If you have a favorite Irish whiskey, use that! The most popular Irish whiskey brands are Jameson, Bushmills and Tullamore Dew, but you can check out my Irish Whiskey 101 guide if you want some more suggestions.

Whipped cream

The last layer is whipped cream. For best results, make your own homemade whipped cream.

It’s much creamier and thicker than store-bought whipped cream, and it doesn’t dissolve into the drink as quickly.

If you want to kick things up a notch (I did), make a boozy whipped cream by stirring in a little Baileys or Frangelico into the mix for flavor.

Toasted hazelnuts

Totally optional, but a sprinkling of toasted, chopped hazelnuts give this cocktail a beautiful finish.

They also bring an extra nutty aroma to the cocktail, as the hazelnuts will be right under your nose as you take a sip.

To toast hazelnuts, carefully chop them with a sharp knife into small pieces and place them on a tray. Toast for about 5 minutes on low in the toaster oven. Remove immediately.

Variations and substitutions

Dairy-free Nutty Irishman: For Irish cream, use Baileys Almande, the dairy-free almond milk version of Irish cream liqueur. Make sure your whipped cream is vegan, too, such as coconut whipped cream.

Boozier Nutty Irishman: Use a boozy whipped cream on top of this cocktail. Stir a little bit of Irish cream into your homemade whipped cream to give it just a little kick.

How to make a Nutty Irishman drink

Making this drink is super simple. Here’s what to do:

Get out a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice.

Pour in the Irish cream, hazelnut liqueur and Irish whiskey. Then shake it up well and strain it into a rocks glass.

Next spoon whipped cream over top. You want a nice, thick layer.

If desired, sprinkle on a layer of toasted, chopped hazelnuts for a fragrant garnish.

Nutty Irishman shots

There is another way to enjoy the Nutty Irishman: as a shot recipe.

A Nutty Irishman Shooter is made with equal parts hazelnut liqueur and Irish cream.

The Irish cream liqueur is poured over a bar spoon to make a float — similar to the Baby Guinness Shot.

Tips & tricks

Shake the drink really well. The creamy elements will thicken up ever-so-slightly as the liquid makes friction with the ice cubes.

Make your own whipped cream for the thickest, creamiest effect.

Stir in a little Irish cream liqueur into the whipped cream for a little extra kick of flavor and alcohol.

What to serve with it

There are lots of great Irish treats to try with the Nutty Irishman.

It’s the perfect drink to enjoy after a hearty, Irish dinner of Irish beef stew.

A Guinness Chocolate Cake is the perfect dessert to pair with this delicious drink, too.

Or make Baileys chocolate chip cookies for an indulgent treat.

FAQ

More Irish cream cocktails

• Irish Coffee
• Baileys Iced Coffee
• Irish Cream Cold Brew
• Peppermint White Chocolate Martini