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US bars slammed for serving ‘Irish car bomb’ drink

By
CATHY HAYES,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, July 5, 2010, 8:29 AM
Updated Tuesday, July 6, 2010, 9:35 PM

 

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Ingredients for an Irish car bomb
Ingredients for an Irish car bomb

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Bars in the United States have been slammed for trivializing the suffering of hundreds of victims by serving up a cocktail called an ‘Irish car bomb.”

An IRA victim’s group, Fair, has criticized the selling of the cocktail claiming the suffering of bomb attack victims, who have been maimed or killed, should not be celebrated in such a way.

Willie Frazer, a spokesman for the group said “It is disgusting that IRA car bombs which killed and maimed so many in Northern Ireland are being trivialized or celebrated in this way.

"I would have expected Americans, of all people, to behave more sensitively and responsibly. How would they like it if we developed the Al-Qaeda car bomb, the Twin Towers cocktail, or the 9/11 ice-cream sundae?"

The group has called for authorities in the United States to clamp down on the sales of the cocktail and asked that the websites advertising the drink be shut down.

Frazer said “All those who drink this cocktail and see it as a great joke wouldn't think it funny if they were caught in a car bomb themselves.

“I'd challenge them to meet victims of bombings – people who have lost arms and legs and are scarred for life."

The cocktail made from Guinness, Bailey’s Irish cream and whiskey has become hugely popular in the United States.

An Irish poker player, visiting Las Vegas was shocked to see the drink advertised in lights outside O’Shea’s casino.

“I was stunned when I saw an 'Irish car bomb' advertised in lights at a Vegas casino. You'd never see anything like that at home,” he told the Irish Sunday Tribune.

The story goes that the drink was invented 30 years ago by Charles Burke Cronin Oat, owner and bartender at Wilson’s Saloon, Connecticut.

While experimenting with drinks he added whiskey to Bailey’s Irish cream, in a shot glass and it bubbled like an explosion. He remarked “the IRA just showed up.”

During his experimenting, adding whiskey to the Bailey's Irish cream made the shot glass bubble up like an explosion, causing Oat to remark that "the IRA just showed up".

The drink is made by dropping this shot of Bailey’s and whiskey into a pint of Guinness. If not drunk immediately the drink will curdle.

Some bars in the United States have refused to sell the cocktail as they find the name offensive. However Irish car bomb ice-cream sundaes and cupcakes are now also selling well. The drink even has its own website, www.irishcarbomb.com.

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Posted by WildIrishRose on May 04, 2011, 01:08 PM EDT
I understand why some would find the name crass and insensitive, but aren't those the very qualities that Americans have always been accused of? Our own American Soldiers have been attacked by the insidious IED's in the current war. Many, many of our soldiers have been killed or maimed by them. Yet, there is already a drink named after them. Bartenders use names that will attract attention. It's what they do. Here is the IED recipe: http://www.idrink.com/v.html?id=13682
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Posted by gksmithlcw on Mar 18, 2011, 12:39 PM EDT
So why don't we just drop the "car" and call it an Irish bomb? Or would that still be too insensitive? It /is/ a tasty drink and it is full of Irish goodness... We should enjoy it, not argue over its name.
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Posted by pouringpro on Nov 07, 2010, 10:33 AM EST
It's a shame that jameson isn't Irish owned. That way all the soaring profits would be part of Ireland's economy. Jameson's sales up over 300 percent in the last 10 years! Don't kid yourselves about why Jameson sales have sky-rocketed. Jameson owner, French owned Pernod has profits pouring in because of the "Carbomb". Baileys is also reaping the rewards as well and let's not forget the increase in Guinness sales. The notorious drink the "Carbomb" is responsible. So, on a positive note, this "politically incorrect" cocktail is responsible for hundreds if not thousands of new jobs and great profits which corporate officers spread around as well. Let us not forget the positive energy of all those raising a Carbomb toast daily throughout the world and the money going into cash registers of neighborhood pubs, bars, and restaurants. Positive Spin: NO; just looking at life as it is Now.
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Posted by bogsidebunny on Oct 21, 2010, 02:12 AM EDT
Hear about the recent recruit to the IRA who was told to blow up a Vauxhall estate and burned his lips on the hot exhaust pipe?
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Posted by maloney on Sep 08, 2010, 12:54 PM EDT
An IRA victims group. aka brits. It's none of your damn business. Freedom of speech no matter how incorrect. Drink a few & you won't mind near as much.
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Posted by adamwebb23 on Aug 16, 2010, 06:59 PM EDT
I had a Columbine the other day. Its a white russian with some grenadine. It was great..
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Posted by rooster483 on Jul 26, 2010, 07:24 PM EDT
are you kidding me it takes the brits to complain about a drink, that has been selling here for years. i guess they finally climbed out from under that rock, and finally looked away from the island to see there is someone else living in this world besides them.personally i think they should mind there own business and worry about fixing there problems at home.they love to come here now and buy things cheap on vacation.they were probably gracing one of our resturants and abusing the help when they saw or heard someone order a car bomb.maybe,they should have been minding their own business then they wouldnt have heard it. this is america not britian you dont make the rules here anymore, that stopped along time ago thank GOD. GOD BLESS AMERICA
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Posted by Sparklet on Jul 17, 2010, 02:36 AM EDT
How about The Lockerbie - that would be a good one!
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Posted by Sparklet on Jul 17, 2010, 02:36 AM EDT
How about Th
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Posted by zoetrope on Jul 15, 2010, 07:57 PM EDT
I don't believe anyone here ordering or serving this drink is laughing at the Irish who have died. The drink tastes good, and that is really what it is all about. Is it political correct, nope, but it isn't the only thing that we Americans do that isn't PC.
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Posted by RDBRENNAN on Jul 14, 2010, 04:29 AM EDT
This is an insult to the memory of those Irish who have lost their lives. I've only known one person who drank these and she thought it was funny and entertaining...gave her drinking skills a lot of attention in bars. However, others in her company never complained and encouraged her.
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Posted by Sparklet on Jul 09, 2010, 10:18 AM EDT
So it would be OK if the drink was called Orangeman Bomb. Or Drogheda Massacre.
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Posted by Watereskhill on Jul 08, 2010, 10:28 PM EDT
America is a place of novelty with no agenda to harm anyone.
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Posted by Maoleitigh on Jul 08, 2010, 06:52 PM EDT
More ridiculous so-called political correctness BS. You people need to get a life,
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Posted by irishwxman on Jul 08, 2010, 06:37 PM EDT
Oh for crying out loud. It's a flippin drink. Get over it.
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Posted by citizen69 on Jul 08, 2010, 02:16 PM EDT
@cwbrennan: Wow i can't believe an irish pub actually named a menu item after the Famine! Along with this drink name it shows that some so-called irish americans haven't got a clue about Ireland and it's sensitivities.
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Posted by Sparklet on Jul 08, 2010, 11:13 AM EDT
Those people who seem to think there's no problem should maybe go to Oklahoma City and ask for one - the name could be adapted to be called the McVeigh Truck Bomb. I'm sure people there would have a good laugh about it.
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Posted by Searlit on Jul 08, 2010, 09:26 AM EDT
Yes, black and tan is very offensive. I never knew how it was made, and I didn't care. I like Guinness just the way it is.
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Posted by Sparklet on Jul 08, 2010, 02:28 AM EDT
Black and tan is equally offensive. Shame it's such a good name though because it literally is black and tan! People have far too little respect for other people's opinions and feelings these days.
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Posted by dicanio71 on Jul 08, 2010, 12:12 AM EDT
oh lighten up peeps, its an effin drink...dont hear anyone complain about the black n tan ( guinnes and bass) and thats been around longer...its origins come from the time the british auxilleries were sent to ireland shortly after ww1 and all they had to wear were leftover uniforms from the great war which consisted of black shirts and tan/khaki pants thus the name... dont see anyone up in arms about this drink.. im irish by birth and see more offence in this drink than the irish car bomb....please lighten up folks.. jv.
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Posted by irishwxman on Jul 07, 2010, 11:50 PM EDT
whatever. They are delicious and they get you wrecked
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Posted by cwbrennan on Jul 07, 2010, 10:52 PM EDT
To citizen69: A so called Irish Pub in St. Petersburg, FL (Paddy Burke's) offers a menu item they call "Our Famine Your Delight" 'A special, ultra secret take it to my grave recipe of potato pancakes! With side of caramelized apples $4.95' To me, this is as bad or worse then an Irish Car Bomb for insensitivity. And yes, I brought to their attention the first and only time I visited as well as sending them numerous letters and emails.
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Jul 07, 2010, 08:35 PM EDT
Willy Frazer is a well known anti Irish bigot from the north who never complained about atrocities committed by the British.
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Posted by citizen69 on Jul 07, 2010, 04:56 PM EDT
I wonder when these pubs are gonna start selling Irish Famine burgers? :(
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Posted by elektros on Jul 07, 2010, 04:53 PM EDT
I certainly would never order one, with that name. It's rather crass and tasteless. I'm sure the drink itself tastes alright, though.
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Posted by GuinnessGrrl on Jul 07, 2010, 04:31 PM EDT
They're just NOW complaining about this drink when it's been around for 30 years?
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Posted by jtorpeysmith on Jul 07, 2010, 03:34 PM EDT
I agree that it's insensitive and in poor taste, and using the idea of a "Twin Towers Cocktail" is an appropriate analogy. I'm not at the age where I go to bars very often, but the younger members of our family do. I think I'll make a point of bringing up this subject at our next family dinner this weekend.
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Posted by Searlit on Jul 07, 2010, 12:16 PM EDT
I remember when I first heard of this drink, and I thought the name was awful. To some people, offensive is the new funny. I heartily disagree, of course.
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Posted by KerryLKing on Jul 07, 2010, 11:10 AM EDT
Actually, I was in a pub in Dublin a couple years ago and while talking with the barkeep he said they call this drink a "Depth Charge" in Ireland. That sounds like a much better name. However....at another pub when I told this story to that barkeep....he said "oh phish, we call them irish car bombs". Hmmm, seems some pubs even over there don't care.....
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Posted by Yerffac on Jul 07, 2010, 10:12 AM EDT
Oh for God's sake quit griping! Can't wait to try one.


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