Controversial 'Irish Car Bomb' Drink Linked to Painful History

The name of the popular St. Patrick's Day cocktail refers to a dark period of violence in Northern Ireland.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 4:04am

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The drink commonly known as an 'Irish Car Bomb' has a much heavier history than many people realize, tied to the decades-long violence of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Experts and industry voices say the drink's name can be offensive, and many bars now use alternatives like 'Irish Slammer' or 'Dublin Drop'. If you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day, there are plenty of better drink options that don't invoke a painful historical event.

Why it matters

The 'Irish Car Bomb' cocktail name refers to a period of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles, which saw the paramilitary group IRA regularly using car bombs as weapons. This dark history makes the drink's name highly controversial and offensive to many, especially those with personal connections to the events.

The details

The 'Irish Car Bomb' drink was first served in 1979 at Wilson's Saloon in Norwich, Connecticut. It consists of a shot glass filled with Jameson Irish Whiskey and Baileys Irish cream, dropped into a pint of Guinness. The 'bomb' reference alludes to the bubbling and splashing that happens when the shot glass is dropped into the pint. However, the name is problematic as it evokes the car bombings that were a hallmark of the Troubles conflict in Northern Ireland.

  • The 'Irish Car Bomb' drink was first served in 1979 at Wilson's Saloon in Norwich, Connecticut.
  • The Troubles, a period of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, lasted for around 30 years from the late 1960s to the late 1990s.

The players

Wilson's Saloon

The Connecticut bar where the 'Irish Car Bomb' drink was first served in 1979.

Charles Burke Cronin Oat

The owner of Wilson's Saloon who invented the 'Irish Car Bomb' drink and has since apologized and expressed regret over the name.

Diageo

The British parent company that owns both Guinness and Baileys, and has distanced itself from the 'Irish Car Bomb' drink, stating it does not support drinks that promote irresponsible consumption.

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What they’re saying

“If you invent a drink such as the car bomb, as I did so long ago, beware! You never know if it might become famous, so pick the name carefully. IRA and car bomb are 'cool' in the bar scene, but in the reality of today NOT.”

— Charles Burke Cronin Oat, Owner of Wilson's Saloon

“It depends on what Irish person you ask. If they weren't old enough to be alive during the Troubles, it's not unreasonable at all to assume they had family that were impacted by it.”

— Darby Reagan, Irish American researcher and restaurant industry veteran

“We are proud of the role our brands play in celebrating occasions such as St Patrick's Day. We have a stringent marketing code which ensures that we promote only the responsible consumption of our brands. As such, we do not seek to support drinks such as the Irish Car Bomb.”

— Diageo spokeswoman

What’s next

Many bars have already started renaming the controversial drink to alternatives like 'Irish Slammer' or 'Dublin Drop' to avoid offense. As the drink's history and impact becomes more widely known, it's likely more establishments will follow suit and discontinue serving the 'Irish Car Bomb' cocktail.

The takeaway

The 'Irish Car Bomb' drink name is highly insensitive and offensive, as it directly references a dark period of violence and tragedy in Northern Ireland's history. While the drink may have been popular in the past, its continued use promotes harmful stereotypes and fails to respect the experiences of those impacted by the Troubles. Going forward, there are many better drink options to enjoy that don't invoke such a painful past.