If you think you know Irish Cream, Two Stacks is here to politely, but firmly, shake things up. As one of Ireland’s few independent whiskey bonders, the team has never been shy about doing things their own way. So when they set out to make an Irish Cream, they didn’t just tweak the recipe; they rewrote the script. Now arriving across the U.S. via Foley Family Wines & Spirits, Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur contains eight times more whiskey than the leading Irish Cream brands. Yes, eight. This is Irish Cream that wants to be noticed.
The magic begins with Two Stacks The First Cut Signature Blend Irish Whiskey, the bonded creation of founders Shane McCarthy and Liam Brogan. It’s a thoughtful, character-packed blend from Great Northern Distillery: 40% grain aged in bourbon casks, 40% grain from American oak, 8% pot still, 10% double malt, and a cheeky 2% peated malt. That last bit, peated malt, doesn’t happen in Irish Cream. But here it adds a feather-light wisp of smoke, the kind that makes you pause and think, Wait, what is that? before going back for another sip.
The result is an Irish Cream that leans into the character of whiskey rather than masking it. On the nose, the liqueur opens with lush notes of dairy cream, milk chocolate, and vanilla, accompanied by a delicate warmth of whiskey. The palate is lush and silky, with cocoa, caramel, toffee, and a hint of spice. The finish lingers with silky sweetness wrapped around unmistakable Irish whiskey notes, balanced, inviting, and far more layered than conventional expressions in the category.
To build a cream worthy of that whiskey, Two Stacks headed to Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, partnering with Robert A. Merry & Co. in the heart of the Golden Vale, basically Ireland’s dairy dreamland. With Master Blender Don Crowley, they crafted a recipe where the cream isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a co-star. Together, they created an Irish Cream that works beautifully in nostalgic holiday favorites but has enough personality to shine in modern cocktails.
“We are unapologetically focused on the whiskey taking the spotlight in our Irish Cream Liqueur,” said Two Stacks co-founder Shane McCarthy. “Innovative, unique Irish whiskeys are our calling card, so that hasn’t changed with our first liqueur. Even the double cream was intentionally selected to enhance the bold whiskey flavor.”
One such serve is the Ultimate Irish Coffee, a decadent yet balanced interpretation that showcases the spirit’s depth. A simple combination of Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur and freshly brewed coffee is crowned with a luxurious whipped cream infused with the liqueur itself, creating a layered, aromatic, and seasonally perfect drink. See the recipe below:
1 oz Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur
3.5 oz Freshly Brewed Coffee
Whipped Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur
In a Nick and Nora glass, add Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur and then coffee. Top with whipped Two Stacks Double Irish Cream and freshly ground nutmeg. To create the whip, combine Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur and heavy whipping cream in a 3:1 ratio.
At $35.00 for a 700 ml bottle and available in 48 states and online, Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur proves that the category is far from sleepy. With a bold whiskey backbone and a playful, modern edge, it’s Irish Cream for people who thought they’d tried them all, and for anyone ready to fall in love with it for the first time.
