Step 1 Brush butter over bread and toast lightly on 1 side. Cube and set aside.
Step 2 Soak raisins in Irish whiskey. Combine milk and cream in saucepan. Scoop black seeds from vanilla bean into milk and cream and add pod. Heat, remove pod and allow mixture to cool.
Step 3Beat eggs with 1 cup sugar and add milk mixture. Stir in bread cubes and raisins, and allow to stand 15 minutes.
Step 4Pour bread mixture into buttered glass baking dish. Dot with additional butter. Mix together remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over to taste. Bake at 350 degrees until set, about 1 hour. Serve with Caramel Irish Whiskey Sauce, fresh fruit or as is.