The cocktail was invented in the US in 1979 in Wilson's Saloon in
Norwich, Connecticut by Charles Burke Cronin Oat.[3] He had originally created a mixed shot drink called a Grandfather combining
Baileys Irish Cream and
Kahlúa. On 17 March 1977 (
Saint Patrick's Day), he added
Jameson Irish Whiskey to the drink, calling this drink "the IRA." In 1979, Oat spontaneously dropped this shot into a partially-drunk Guinness, calling the result a Belfast Carbomb or Irish Carbomb.[4]
Name
The "Irish" in the name refers to the drink's Irish ingredients; typically
Guinness stout, Baileys Irish Cream, and Jameson Irish Whiskey.[5]
The term "car bomb" combines reference to its "
bomb shot" style, as well as the noted
car bombings of Northern Ireland's
Troubles.[5][6][7] The name is considered by many to be offensive, with many bartenders refusing to serve it.[8][9][10] Some people, including Irish comedians, have likened it to ordering an "
Isis" or "
Twin Towers" in an American bar.[6][11]
In 2014, The Junction nightclub in
Oxford included the drink in promotional material for
St. Patrick's Day.[12][13][14] This drew complaints, followed by withdrawal of the promotion and a public apology by the bar manager.[12][13][14]
The drink is known by other names, including: "Irish slammer",[15] "Dublin drop",[1] or simply the "Irish bomb" [citation needed] to avoid offending patrons.
Preparation
The whiskey is layered over the Irish cream in a shot glass, and the shot glass is then dropped into a glass of stout. The drink should be consumed quickly as the alcohol will cause the cream to
curdle within a short time.[7][16][17]
While
Kahlúa was part of the original recipe, it is often excluded from the drink today. Some refer to the original recipe as a Belfast car bomb.[18][19][20][21]