Irish Car Bomb Drink: Easy Recipe and Ingredients

A controversial cocktail with a complex history, the drink commonly known as the “Irish Car Bomb” (AKA the “Irish Slammer”) was invented in the U.S. in 1979.

Made by dropping a shot of Irish cream and whiskey into a pint of stout, it’s similar to a boilermaker but with a creamy twist.

Below, you’ll discover how to make it, how to avoid it curdling and why I’d recommend that you never ask for it in parts of Ireland!

Irish Slammer / Irish Car Bomb ingredients

The ingredients for the Irish Car Bomb drink couldn’t be more straight forward, and you can find each of them in most connivence stores, both online and offline:

1. A can of Guinness
2. Baileys Irish Cream Liquor
3. A good Irish whiskey

Irish Car Bomb drink recipe

So, once you have your Irish Slammer / Irish car bomb ingredients together, it’s time to get rolling:

Step 1: Chill your glass with some ice

This is a handy way of cooling your glass completely before you plop in the stout. You simply fill the glass with ice, place your hand over the top and then swirl the ice around the glass.

Do this for 15 – 20 seconds and then empty out the ice and the water.

Step 2: Add the stout

Next, 1/2 – 3/4 fill a glass with Guinness or with one of your favourite Irish stouts. As you need to chug/knock back this drink, it’s often easier if you only 1/2 fill the glass.

Step 3: Making the shot

The shot is the key component of the Irish Car Bomb drink. Take a shot glass and 1/2 fill it with one of your favourite Irish whiskey brands and fill the other half with Baileys Irish Cream.

If you want to be fancy, stick a spoon in the glass and then gently pour the Baileys down along the spoon. It should sit right on top of the whiskey.

Step 4: Drop it in and knock it back before it curdles

Although I’d never usually recommend chugging, if you don’t knock back your Irish Car Bomb drink right after you drop the shot in, it’ll start to curdle and make it awful to drink.

Just be mindful of the fact that you’re drinking stout, whiskey and Baileys all in one go, so there’s a good kick off of it.

Why to never order one in Ireland

While this drink may be popular in some bars abroad, it’s not a thing in Ireland—and for good reason.

The name, which is extremely offensive to many that suffered during The Troubles in Ireland (see my guide to the differences between Northern Ireland and Ireland).

If you’re visiting Ireland and looking for a traditional drink, you’ll find some great Irish drinks in my guide to the best Irish cocktails.