Irish Slammer

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 shot

The Irish slammer (formerly called the Irish car bomb) is a popular bar shot and incredibly easy to make. The combination of full-flavored and lightly bitter, malty beer and a creamy shot is a favorite of some. If you've enjoyed a few at the bar, it's time to learn how to create this fun party drink at home. You'll need just three Irish ingredients for your Irish slammer—Irish whiskey, Irish cream, and Guinness Stout.

How to Drink an Irish Slammer

Similar in both method and effect as the Jäger bomb and the ​boilermaker, the Irish slammer is not for the faint of heart. It is customary to chug the drink right after the shot of Irish cream and whiskey is dropped into the glass of beer. It's also popular for bartenders to skip the shot glass and simply mix everything right in the pint glass. It is a lot to get down in one shot. Unless you want to get drunk quickly (or enjoy a rather nasty hangover), then it may be best to limit yourself to one (or two) per night.

Why Isn't it Called an "Irish Car Bomb" Anymore?

Do not order this drink in Ireland. It is an American drink and the name refers to the explosive effect when the shot is dropped into the beer. Real car bombs are not taken lightly in Ireland. Ordering an "Irish car bomb" is likely to get you thrown out of the pub and few people would argue that you did not deserve it. 

Worldwide, many people choose to no longer use the name Irish car bomb. It is considered offensive in Ireland and by many Irish-Americans, and rightfully so. While the shot wasn't necessarily named after the Irish Republican Army's bombing attacks in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, the name has violent connotations. It even led the inventor of the shot, Charles Burke Cronin Oat, to regret the name once the drink became popular.

Irish Slammer

The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Margot Cavin, Food Stylist: Kristin Stangl

Recipe Tips

  • An Irish slammer must be drunk quickly—not just because it's a party shot, but because the Irish cream will curdle if the drink is left to sit for even a minute. The combination of the acidic beer and the cream will cause a reaction in the drink, resulting in a curdled, unpleasant texture.
  • Some drinkers have taken to layering the Irish whiskey on top of the Irish cream, then lighting the whiskey on fire. It's not necessary and 80-proof whiskey really doesn't flame well—you need a higher-proof liquor for that. Besides, if your intention is to get "bombed," playing with fire is not in your best interest. This is especially true if you've already had a few drinks.
  • Jameson is the most popular Irish whiskey to pour into an Irish slammer. There are many options available, including Bushmills and Kilbeggan. Pour what you like, but try not to spend too much money on the whiskey. After all, it is just a shot.

"Whiskey, cream liqueur, Guinness, what's not to like? The Irish slammer is best-known for its ritual of dropping a shot into a beer before chugging it, but the drink isn't half bad. The whiskey gives a kick and the cream liqueur, which would be out of place with other beers, blends into the Guinness seamlessly." —Tom Macy

Irish Slammer Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 3/4 ounce Irish cream liqueur

  • 3/4 ounce Irish whiskey

  • 1/2 pint Guinness

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make an Irish Slammer

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Margot Cavin, Food Stylist: Kristin Stangl

  2. Pour the whisky and Irish cream together into a shot glass.

    A hand pouring Irish cream into a shot glass of whiskey

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Margot Cavin, Food Stylist: Kristin Stangl

  3. In a tall pint glass, pour 1/2 a pint of Guinness and allow the foam to settle. When it's time to drink, drop the shot glass into the Guinness and drink as fast as you can. Enjoy.

    A hand dropping a shot glass of Irish cream and whiskey into a glass of Guinness beer

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Margot Cavin, Food Stylist: Kristin Stangl

How Strong Is the Irish Slammer?

If you pour Jameson and Baileys Irish cream into an Irish slammer and use 6 ounces of Guinness, the drink would be about 9 percent ABV (18 proof). While not extremely high in alcohol, it is meant to be chugged rather than sipped, compounding the effects.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
144 Calories
0g Fat
8g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 144
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 0mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 8mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)