Paul Kushner
The Irish Car Bomb is what you get when you combine the greatest liquids ever created in Ireland: Guinness, Irish cream, and Jameson whiskey.
Whether it’s St. Patty’s Day or just a Wednesday, this drink is literally the bomb.
History: Where the Irish Car Bomb Comes From
This drink was invented by Charles Burke Cronin Oat in 1979, and, despite the name, that didn’t happen on the Emerald Isle. This genius concoction was dreamed up in Wilson’s Saloon in Connecticut.
You’ll also hear this drink referred to as the Irish Bomb Shot, Dublin Drop, and the Irish Slammer.
It’s worth bearing those in mind since some people are inclined to find the original name a bit offensive, especially in Ireland, as it references not only the bomb-shot style with which the drink is mixed but also the car bombings of Northern Ireland during the “troubles.
However, it’s highly popular no matter what you call it, both in the US where it was born, and over in the country to which it pays tribute.
How To Make It
Irish Car Bomb
Like other "bomb" drinks, to make an Irish car bomb you concoct the shot first, then drop it into a Guinness and drink the whole thing quickly.
Ingredients
- ½ Oz Irish Whiskey
- ½ Oz Irish Cream
- ¾ Pint Guinness
Instructions
- Slowly pour the creaminto the whiskey so you get a nice layered effect
- Drop this quickly into the shortened pint of Guinness.
- This really gives the best effect, though some philistines do actually just combine all three in one glass. You lose all the visual effects if you do this, however, so
we can't recommend it.
How To Drink It
Most of the time, we would encourage people to drink slowly, enjoying the flavors of a great cocktail instead of just chugging it down.
Chugging is encouraged here, however. That’s because the cream and the acid react very quickly, and that reaction will curdle the cream in a way no one wants to see (or drink). The drinker should drop that shot glass and get to work immediately.
Variations
You can substitute other dark stouts, of course, and you can use a different blended whiskey than Jameson’s…but why would you?
And if you do, is it really an “Irish” drink anymore? The whole point is to celebrate some of Ireland’s greatest liquid contributions to the world.
However, we have to admit that one fairly common substitution in this drink is to use Kahlua rather than Bailey’s, which might make it a Mexican-Irish Slammer.
Whatever you call this drink, it’s perfect for certain occasions.
FAQ
What is the Irish Car Bomb drink made of?
An Irish Car Bomb cocktail is made with a shot of half Jameson Irish Whiskey, half Bailey’s Irish cream. That shot is then dropped into a short-filled pint of Guinness.
Is an Irish car bomb the same as a Jager Bomb?
Both the Irish car bomb and the Jager Bomb are “bomb” drinks, where you drop a shot into a larger drink and chug the whole thing. They are not the same, however – a Jager bomb is made with Jagermeister liqueur, not Jameson and Baileys, and you drop the shot into a Red Bull, not a Guinness.
Is it rude to order an Irish Car Bomb in Ireland?
In short, yes. While not every Irish bartender may be offended, many Irish folks affected by the bombings during the troubles take offense to the drink.
Does an Irish Car Bomb have coffee?
No, the Irish car bomb does not contain any coffee. You may be thinking of the Irish Coffee, which is made with coffee, Jameson Irish whiskey, and cream.
Why do you have to drink a car bomb fast?
Drinking an Irish car bomb fast isn’t just a part of the fun – if you drink it too slowly, the cream in the Bailey’s will curdle in the acidity of the Guinness. It will be much less appetizing once the drink curdles.
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