Irish Car Bomb

As a guy with an Irish background who loves cocktails, I wanted to explore the Irish car bomb cocktail, a very controversially named cocktail, and delve into its history.

The Irish Car Bomb is a type of cocktail that is great for parties and a fun way to add a bit of a kick to the traditional glass of stout beer.

If you have friends who are fans of Guinness or any other Irish stout, this drink is perfect for them.

Let me forewarn you now: Never go into a bar and ask for an Irish car bomb. Please refer to it as the Dublin Drop or Irish Slammer instead.

What is an Irish Car Bomb/Irish Slammer/Dublin Drop?

The Irish Car Bomb is a crazy cocktail that gets its name from the dropping of a shot glass (often called a bomb shot) filled with Irish Cream and Irish Whiskey into a glass of Stout (beer).

In many places, the name is considered offensive (for instance, in Ireland), so it’s often referred to by other names instead, such as Irish Slammer, Irish Bomb Shot, or Dublin Drop, to avoid upsetting patrons.

Being half Irish and half Scottish, I am conflicted by the name. The Irish part of me is offended, but the Scottish side of me is telling me to make it at home and be quiet because I’m saving myself from spending the total price at a bar for one.

So let’s call it the Irish Slammer instead and make it at home to save money!

Who Invented It?

This drink was NOT invented by the Irish; it was invented by an American—in 1979, Charles Burke Cronin Oat invented it at Wilson’s Saloon in Connecticut. That is why you never go anywhere in Ireland and ask for this drink.

The only Irish part about this drink is that it traditionally uses all Irish ingredients:  Guinness, Irish Cream, and Irish whisky. If you like Irish Whiskey, be sure to try my Irish Sour recipe as well.

How to Make an Irish Car Bomb/Irish Slammer/Dublin Drop

Watch the video below or scroll down for easy instructions to make this cocktail. I’ve included pictures for each of the steps to make things easier.

Ingredients

To make an Irish Slammer, you need the following ingredients:

• Irish Cream (Bailey’s is an example of a typical brand)
• Irish Whiskey (such as Jameson
• Irish Stout (such as Guinness)

Directions

1. First, you’ll pour three-quarters of a glass of stout into a beer glass or mug (as pictured), being sure to leave some room. Then, you’ll drop a shot glass filled with two ingredients (Irish Cream and Irish Whiskey) into the glass.

The more you fill the glass with stout, the more likely you are to splash the beer or cause a spill, so be sure to leave some room. If you aren’t sure what I mean, watch the video below to learn the process.

Next, pour 3/4 of an ounce of Irish Cream into a shot glass.

Using a spoon, pour 1/4 ounce of Irish Whiskey over the back of a spoon on top of the Irish Cream in the shot glass. The goal here is to layer the shot without the two ingredients combining. Pouring over the back of a spoon helps disperse the whiskey, allowing for layering.

The final step is to drop the shot glass you filled with the stout into the beer glass and enjoy!

Now don’t be surprised if you get a bit of a splash when the shot glass is dropped, it’s very likely to happen so just be forewarned.

The foam looks curdled; is that ok?

Yes! The foam from the shot glass’s contents curdles on the top of your glass. This is a normal reaction and nothing to worry about. It’s perfectly safe to drink.

There you have it, folks, the Dublin Drop, the Irish Slammer! Safe drinking!
~ Mike

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