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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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.WildIrishRose | 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
WildIrishRose | 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.
pouringpro | 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.
bogsidebunny | 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?
maloney | 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.
adamwebb23 | Aug 16, 2010, 06:59 PM EDT
I had a Columbine the other day. Its a white russian with some grenadine. It was great..
rooster483 | 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
Sparklet | Jul 17, 2010, 02:36 AM EDT
How about The Lockerbie - that would be a good one!
Sparklet | Jul 17, 2010, 02:36 AM EDT
How about Th
zoetrope | 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.
RDBRENNAN | 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.
Sparklet | Jul 09, 2010, 10:18 AM EDT
So it would be OK if the drink was called Orangeman Bomb. Or Drogheda Massacre.
Watereskhill | Jul 08, 2010, 10:28 PM EDT
America is a place of novelty with no agenda to harm anyone.
Maoleitigh | Jul 08, 2010, 06:52 PM EDT
More ridiculous so-called political correctness BS. You people need to get a life,
irishwxman | Jul 08, 2010, 06:37 PM EDT
Oh for crying out loud. It's a flippin drink. Get over it.
citizen69 | 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.
Sparklet | 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.
Searlit | 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.
Sparklet | 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.
dicanio71 | 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.
irishwxman | Jul 07, 2010, 11:50 PM EDT
whatever. They are delicious and they get you wrecked
cwbrennan | 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.
seanomelbourne | 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.
citizen69 | Jul 07, 2010, 04:56 PM EDT
I wonder when these pubs are gonna start selling Irish Famine burgers? :(
elektros | 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.
GuinnessGrrl | Jul 07, 2010, 04:31 PM EDT
They're just NOW complaining about this drink when it's been around for 30 years?
jtorpeysmith | 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.
Searlit | 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.
KerryLKing | 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.....
Yerffac | Jul 07, 2010, 10:12 AM EDT
Oh for God's sake quit griping! Can't wait to try one.
MurrayGirl | Jul 07, 2010, 10:08 AM EDT
If memory serves me correctly, we had a drink with those ingredients,in Galway, Ireland in 2006. As soon as I saw the headline for this article, it brought it back to mind - I was thinking you meant the drink was being served in Galway, and wondered why it took so long for it to come to anyone's attention.
McVirgy | Jul 07, 2010, 10:04 AM EDT
"How would they like it if we developed the Al-Qaeda car bomb, the Twin Towers cocktail, or the 9/11 ice-cream sundae?".......haha, those just sound stupid....you can't do anything anymore without offending someone. People should just quit bitching
chesapeake | Jul 07, 2010, 09:59 AM EDT
This is a variation of the original "Boilermaker) where a shot of whisky in a shot glass was dropped into a glass of beer. However, even I find it offensive that such a name is used to describe an alcoholic beverage. It probably started out as as Palestinian Suicide or Terrorist Tea; but that would be inciting disrespect. Wait! I already have all of the ingredients! Did this drink originate in one of the IRA bars in Boston?
sallyorob | Jul 07, 2010, 09:28 AM EDT
I think we Americans are the most arrogant,insensitive people in the world, and I know because I am one, and some of these comments bear that out. We have no earthly idea what went on in the civil war in Ireland, and that includes those who call themsleves Irish Americans. Our press did a butcher job covering it, and still do a butcher job on the rest of the world, and yet we expect the rest of thre world to know everything about us and our problems. We would explode if the rest of the world began serving "Twin Towers Attack."
HooliganMichael | Jul 07, 2010, 09:19 AM EDT
We just call them peace makers. Oglaigh na heireann
Sparklet | Jul 07, 2010, 02:57 AM EDT
tchudson, tell the friends and relatives of car bomb victims that they're too sensitive. There are indeed worse things in the world than the name of a drink. Like car bombings. Let's see what the response would be if a UK bar started serving, the Muslim Extremist Plane Hijacking, or as someone suggested, the Twin Towers Attack.
Hurleyboy | Jul 07, 2010, 12:52 AM EDT
Well, the fact that Irish Republicanism-Nationalism will not be stopped is very troublesome, espically to cetain parties in the South and North. Yeah, the carb bomb troubles this son of Erin, but not more than a "Black and Tan", ah, that's the real sacrilege!
mandokeith | Jul 06, 2010, 09:16 PM EDT
I think you should call it a twin towers attack you insensitive ba*tards!
TheTexan | Jul 06, 2010, 02:51 PM EDT
Here in Dallas, we noticed this trend, so I offer to you all The Irish Car Bomb should now be known as The Palestinian Car Bomb!
DrTrelawney | Jul 06, 2010, 01:14 PM EDT
Whatever about the bad taste of the name, the drink itself sounds absolutely vile. Even rotten American Guinness shouldn't be wasted in this fashion.
tchudson | Jul 06, 2010, 12:45 PM EDT
We drank these in college in 1988/89 timeframe. Is it in poor taste? Maybe. But people are getting overly sensitive about everything. There are much worse problems in the world than things such as this for people to spend their time worrying about.
Kevin325 | Jul 05, 2010, 04:06 PM EDT
You can call it a Times Square bomb but it would most likely get you laughed at. It is a good drink combination but the name is in poor taste.
Southernpride | Jul 05, 2010, 02:45 PM EDT
Typical Irish-American, IRA supporting scum. They are so dumb that they don't realize that Sinn Fein/IRA are marxist and hates everything American
citizen69 | Jul 05, 2010, 12:54 PM EDT
It is a very insensitive name. Who would think a 'car bomb' should be used in a fun way? Many people in Northern & Southern Ireland lost their lives that way at the hands of the IRA & UVF. Call it a Times Square Car Bomb and suddenly it doesn't sound so fun.
Woodkern | Jul 05, 2010, 11:26 AM EDT
Hmmm... I always heard it sepcifically referred to as a "Belfast Car Bomb"... I would be helpful to many readers to know a little bit more about the background of Willie Frazer, FAIR, their tactics and their agenda. Indeed, it must be a slow news week in the North of Ireland if Willie Frazer needs to look to U.S. pub drinks to whinge and issue a press release in order to keep his name in the press. And a slow news week in there is often a good thing.
GeorgeDavis | Jul 05, 2010, 10:47 AM EDT
I agree that the name of the drink is tasteless, just as Cruise Missile would be a tasteless name for a drink, just as the US Army's use of the term "Shake and Bake" during the Iraq War was a disgusting trivialization of suffering. The group that calls themselves FAIR are actually a long way from being fair, since they have links with perpetrators of violence, by the way.
yiyibai | Jul 05, 2010, 08:57 AM EDT
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manyangyang | Jul 05, 2010, 08:41 AM EDT
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