You’re standing at a bar or staring at a grocery shelf. Maybe you’re playing a word game. You need drinks that start with I, and suddenly, your brain just... stalls. It's a weirdly specific category. Most people can rattle off an "Ice Water" or maybe an "IPA," but things get niche pretty fast after that. This isn't just about listing liquids. It’s about understanding the weird overlap between Italian bitters, obscure Indian yogurts, and the sugary neon sodas of the 90s.
Let’s be real. If you’re looking for something that starts with the letter I, you’re usually either trying to sound sophisticated at a cocktail lounge or you’re desperately trying to win a trivia night. I’ve spent way too much time around beverage menus and distillers to let you settle for the basics. There is a whole world of flavor profiles here that most people completely ignore because they can’t pronounce the names or they assume everything starting with I is just "Iced" something.
The Heavy Hitters: From India Pale Ales to Italian Classics
If we’re talking volume, the IPA is the undisputed king of this list. It stands for India Pale Ale. Interestingly, it wasn't actually invented in India. British brewers in the 18th century just needed a beer that wouldn't spoil on the long sea voyage to the subcontinent, so they packed it with hops—a natural preservative. Now, it’s the backbone of the craft beer revolution. You’ve got West Coast IPAs that taste like a pine forest and New England IPAs that basically look and taste like orange juice.
Then you have Iced Tea. Simple? Yes. But the history is actually kind of chaotic. While people were drinking hot tea for millennia, iced tea didn't really explode until the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. It was sweltering hot, and Richard Blechynden realized nobody wanted his hot samples. He poured the tea over ice, and a multi-billion dollar industry was born.
The Italian Influence
Italy dominates this letter. Seriously.
Take Illy. It’s not just a brand; for many, it’s the definitive Italian espresso experience. Founded in Trieste in 1933 by Francesco Illy, the company actually invented the first automatic coffee machine. When you order an espresso in a high-end European cafe, there’s a massive chance you’re drinking an "I" drink without even realizing it.
And we have to talk about Isolabella. It’s a classic Italian sambuca. It’s intensely anise-flavored, viscous, and often served with three coffee beans floating in it—representing health, wealth, and happiness. If you hate licorice, stay far away. If you like it, it’s one of the smoothest spirits on the planet.
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Why Drinks That Start With I Are Mostly About Temperature
Ever notice how many "I" drinks are just cold versions of other things? It feels like a bit of a cheat code, but it’s how the English language works.
Iced Coffee is the obvious one. But there’s a massive difference between "iced coffee" (hot coffee poured over ice, which often tastes watered down) and "cold brew" (coffee grounds steeped in cold water for 12+ hours). If you’re at a specialty shop, asking for an iced coffee might get you a Flash Brew, where they brew the coffee hot directly onto ice to lock in the aromatics. It’s science, basically.
Ice Wine (or Eiswein) is where things get fancy. This isn't just wine with ice cubes in it. To make authentic ice wine, grapes are left on the vine until they literally freeze. The water inside the grape freezes, but the sugars don't. When you press these frozen marbles, you get a tiny drop of extremely concentrated, syrupy juice. It’s incredibly expensive because one vine might only produce a single bottle. Canada and Germany are the big players here. If you see a "cheap" ice wine, it’s probably a fake made by putting regular grapes in a commercial freezer. Don't fall for it.
The Refreshment Category
- Isotonic Drinks: Think Gatorade or Powerade. These are formulated to match the salt and sugar concentrations in the human body. That’s why they hydrate you faster than plain water when you’re sweating.
- Inca Kola: If you’ve ever been to Peru, you know this stuff. It’s a bright yellow soda that smells and tastes exactly like bubblegum. It is so popular in Peru that Coca-Cola eventually had to just buy a massive stake in the company because they couldn't beat them in the local market.
- Irn-Bru: Scotland’s "other" national drink. It’s a bright orange carbonated soft drink with a flavor that’s hard to describe—kinda like rusty nails and citrus? It’s a cult classic. For years, Scotland was one of the only places on Earth where Coca-Cola wasn't the number one selling soda, all because of Irn-Bru.
The Sophisticated "I" Cocktails You Should Know
If you want to impress a bartender, don't just ask for a gin and tonic.
The Irish Coffee is the most misunderstood drink in the world. A real Irish Coffee—the kind perfected at the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco (who brought it over from Shannon Airport)—should never have canned whipped cream. It’s hot coffee, Irish whiskey, brown sugar, and a layer of cold, lightly whipped heavy cream floated on top. You drink the hot coffee through the cold cream. It’s a masterpiece of temperature contrast.
Then there’s the Italian Greyhound. It’s a twist on the standard Greyhound (vodka and grapefruit juice) but adds Campari or Aperol. The bitterness of the Italian liqueur cuts through the tartness of the grapefruit. It’s sophisticated, pinkish-orange, and perfect for brunch when you’re tired of Mimosas.
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Imperial Stout. This is the heavy hitter of the beer world. "Imperial" usually denotes a higher alcohol content. These beers are dark, thick, and often taste like dark chocolate, espresso, or burnt toast. They were originally brewed in England for the Russian Imperial Court—hence the name. Catherine the Great was a huge fan.
Surprising International Options
We often overlook the non-Western world when thinking about these lists.
Imbuljuta tal-Qastan is a traditional Maltese drink. It’s a spicy, cocoa-based drink made with chestnuts, usually served during Christmas or New Year's Eve. It’s thick, nutty, and incredibly comforting. It’s basically a hug in a mug.
Indri is a name you’re going to hear a lot more often. It’s an Indian single malt whisky. For a long time, the world ignored Indian whisky, but Indri has been winning "Best in Show" awards at international competitions lately. The heat in India causes the whisky to age much faster in the barrel than it does in Scotland, leading to a really intense, woody flavor profile.
Iced Milo. In Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia and Singapore, Milo (a chocolate malt powder) is a way of life. An "Iced Milo" or "Milo Ais" is a staple at every street stall. They sometimes make it "Milo Dinosaur," which is an iced Milo with a massive heap of dry Milo powder on top. It’s a sugar bomb, but it’s delicious.
Getting Specific: The "I" Ingredients
Sometimes the drink starts with "I" because the main ingredient does.
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- Infusions: This is a broad category. Think hibiscus tea (an infusion of dried flowers) or fruit-infused waters.
- Idjit: This is a specific, very high-alcohol craft beer by Dugges Bryggeri. It’s an Imperial Stout that gained a massive cult following among beer nerds.
- Islay Scotch: While "Scotch" starts with S, enthusiasts often just refer to these as "Islays" (pronounced Eye-la). These are the peatiest, smokiest whiskies on the planet. Drinking one feels like licking a campfire, in the best way possible. Laphroaig and Ardbeg are the icons here.
The Health Angle: Is There Anything Good For You?
If you’re looking for "I" drinks that won’t spike your blood sugar, you’re mostly looking at Infused Waters. Mentally, it’s easier to drink a gallon of water if it has some cucumber and mint in it.
There’s also Immunity Shots. You’ve seen them in the produce aisle—those tiny, overpriced bottles of ginger, turmeric, and lemon. Do they work? Sorta. They’re packed with antioxidants, but they aren't a magic shield against the flu. They do, however, give you a massive kick in the pants if you’re feeling sluggish in the morning.
Misconceptions and Naming Fails
A lot of people think Irish Cream is a specific drink. It’s actually a liqueur (like Baileys). You don't usually just drink a pint of Irish Cream—unless you’re having a very specific kind of weekend. It’s a blend of cream, whiskey, and cocoa.
Also, Iced Latte vs. Iced Macchiato. Most people get these confused because of Starbucks. In a traditional sense, an iced latte is milk with espresso poured in. An iced macchiato is essentially the same but the espresso is poured over the milk (marking it). At the end of the day, it's all just milk and coffee, but the "I" names make them sound much more distinct than they actually are.
How to Use This Knowledge
Don't just memorize this list. Use it to expand your palate. If you always drink light lagers, try an Imperial Stout. If you’re bored with orange juice, look for Inca Kola at an international market.
The best part about drinks that start with I is the sheer variety. You have the most basic thing on earth (Ice Water) and the most complex, climate-dependent luxury item (Ice Wine) starting with the same letter.
Actionable Next Steps:
- For the Beer Lover: Track down an Imperial IPA. It’s the "I" letter squared. It’ll be high alcohol (usually 8%+) and intensely aromatic. Look for brands like Russian River or Dogfish Head.
- For the Home Bar: Try making a proper Irish Coffee. Skip the pressurized whip. Shake some heavy cream in a mason jar until it’s thick but still pourable, and float it over sweetened coffee and Jameson.
- For the Adventurous: Visit a Peruvian restaurant and order an Inca Kola. Pair it with Pollo a la Brasa (rotisserie chicken). The sweetness of the soda perfectly counteracts the salty, savory skin of the chicken.
- For the Health Conscious: Make your own Infused Water tonight. Slice up some ginger and lemon, throw it in a pitcher, and let it sit in the fridge overnight. It’s cheaper and fresher than anything you’ll buy in a plastic bottle.