In Ireland, there’s a cocktail with a provocative name: the Irish car bomb. It’s an alcoholic drink made with Guinness, Bailey’s Irish Cream and Irish whiskey. One heck of a mix! It’s traditional to throw a shot of Bailey’s and whiskey into a pint of Guinness: a ceremony that creates an amazing chemical reaction in the glass! But be careful, consume in moderation!
Before we learn more about this beverage, it’s worth noting that the name of this cocktail may be considered offensive due to its connection with the conflict in Northern Ireland. Its name refers to the car bombs that regularly exploded during the Troubles, a period marked by deadly attacks and outbursts of violence.
Also, this cocktail makes a most provocative parallel. The name comes from the combination of Irish ingredients and the “explosive” effect when the different elements are combined.
To avoid problems, we advise you to refer to it as the “Irish slammer”.
The Irish Car Bomb was created in the USA in the 1980s, not in Ireland as you might think. It quickly gained popularity in bars and parties, especially during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and was eventually adopted in pubs across Ireland.
Since then, this cocktail has remained a classic on the Emerald Isle.
But don’t even try to order an Irish car bomb in an Irish pub: the bartender is sure to refuse. So it’s best to ask for the various ingredients separately, so you can assemble them yourself.
Irish Slammer is a fairly codified drink. In fact, there’s a whole ceremony surrounding its consumption. This cocktail uses 3 different alcohols: Guinness, whiskey and Baileys. But mixing the three creates a veritable chemical reaction… which means you have to drink the beverage straight from the bottle as soon as it’s mixed!
Why? Firstly, because the cocktail starts to curdle in the very first seconds!
Also, don’t expect to taste it after 5 minutes: the whole thing would be more than unpleasant on the palate!
Tradition dictates that you first pour Guinness into a pint, then prepare a shot made up of half Baileys and half whiskey. All you have to do is literally “drop” the shot glass into the pint, then drink it straight down.
We therefore recommend that you take care not to overdo it. It is essential to consume sensibly and in moderation. This type of drink can get you drunk very quickly, due to its high alcohol content and the need to consume it in one go. Alcohol can go straight to the head, and many people have been surprised by the Irish slammer!
Far from encouraging you to try it out, we recommend that you exercise extreme caution.
Let’s face it, the Irish Car Bomb isn’t the most sensible of cocktails. It’s a highly alcoholic drink used at parties.
The taste is a complex blend of malt, cocoa and cream, with a touch of bitterness from Guinness and whiskey. The whole is full of flavor: enough to confound lovers of light tastes. Sometimes you get lost in the analysis of flavors, so rich is the blend.
It’s not unpleasant, but expect a heavy, powerful cocktail: not for everyone!
