The other day, I saw someone asking if the “Irish Car Bomb” drink is popular in Ireland.
From what I’ve read, this cocktail is a mixture of Irish cream, whiskey and stout.
Another name for this drink is the “Irish Slammer”. This is because you have to drink it quickly before the cream begins to curdle.
Do they serve “Irish Car Bombs” in Ireland?
Personally speaking, I have never heard of such a drink. And I have been living in Ireland for over thirty years. Nor have I ever seen it on any cocktail menu.
While researching this topic, I came across multiple stories about American tourists attempting to order the cocktail in Irish pubs. In most cases, the bartender had no clue what they were talking about. In some cases, the bartender became offended by the name of the drink.
Essentially, the “Irish Car Bomb” is an American cocktail whose name derives from the fact that it consists of Irish drinks.
Will Irish people get offended if I ask for one?
Personally speaking, the name does not offend me. However, I cannot pretend to know how other Irish people will react if you ask them for such a drink.
If you are in Ireland and you really want to drink an Irish Car Bomb, then you should probably just call it an “Irish Slammer” instead.
That way, you can play it safe and avoid offending anyone. If you ignore this advice, then there is a possibility that someone will mock you or berate you.
Think of it this way. If I were to walk into a bar in the United States and order a drink that was named after a dark moment in American history, how would people react?
This would be like an Irish person mixing Jack Daniels with Laird’s Applejack and then calling it a “9/11”.
Why is the name offensive?
The name of this cocktail is inspired by “The Troubles” that occurred in Ireland between 1970 and 1998.
For example, in 1998, a car bomb exploded in the town of Omagh, killing 29 people. In 1974, 34 Irish people lost their lives when four car bombs exploded in Dublin and Monaghan.
Many people in Ireland still remember these tragic events. As a result, they may feel as though the name is making light of those atrocities.
Furthermore, Ireland is a pretty small country. Therefore, there is always the possibility that someone within earshot will have lost a relative during the “The Troubles”.
People may also feel angered that a tourist would have the audacity to travel to Ireland and ask for such a cocktail.