Equipment
- Shot Glass
- Basic Bar Tools
Ingredients
- 1 oz Triple Sec
- .5 Can(s) Energy Soda Red Bull
Instructions
Prepare the Shot:
- Pour 1 oz of Triple Sec into a shot glass. This provides the sweet and citrusy flavor that forms the base of the Skittle Bomb.
Prepare the Glass:
- Fill a cocktail glass with ½ a can of Red Bull. The energy soda adds a bubbly, tangy element to the drink, giving it a lively and refreshing taste.
Combine and Drink:
- Drop the shot glass of Triple Sec into the cocktail glass filled with Red Bull. This method is similar to the Jager Bomb.
Enjoy:
- Drink immediately to enjoy the full effect of the sweet, citrusy flavors and the energizing boost from the Red Bull.
Video
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
The Skittle Bomb is part of the early-2000s bomb-shot wave that gave us the Jagerbomb, the Irish Car Bomb and the Vegas Bomb. Triple sec was the cheapest orange liqueur on every back bar. Red Bull was the loudest mixer on every front bar. The two of them together was inevitable.
It surfaced first in UK student bars and Australian RSL clubs around 2003 to 2005, where it became the gateway shot for anyone who could not yet stomach Jagermeister. The candy-shop flavour was the marketing.
It is a buck’s-night drink. Hens parties, 21st birthdays, last-orders trays. Not a sit-down drink and not a sipping drink.
What it tastes like
Orange peel up front from the triple sec. Tropical fruit punch through the middle from the energy drink. A long sweet finish that fades into a caffeine buzz.
About 8 percent ABV in the glass. One ounce of triple sec stretched into half a can of Red Bull. Reads as a long shot, drinks as a short one.
The technique
Pour an ounce of triple sec into a shot glass. Pour half a can of Red Bull (or any energy soda) into a half-pint glass. Drop the shot, glass and all, into the energy drink. Drink in one go before the carbonation drops.
Use a wide-mouth half-pint glass, not a champagne flute. The shot glass needs to fall in cleanly without splash.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The triple sec
- Use
- Cointreau, De Kuyper or any orange liqueur.
- Skip
- Orange juice. The drink is named for its candy flavour, not for fruit juice.
- Why
- Triple sec is the orange-peel note that makes this taste like Skittles. A weak triple sec reads as nothing.
The energy drink
- Use
- Red Bull, Monster Original, or any quality energy soda.
- Skip
- Sugar-free energy drinks. The artificial sweetener clashes with the triple sec.
- Why
- Energy soda is the second half of the flavour and the carbonation that carries the drop. Sugar-free flattens the candy effect.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
The dressed-up version
- Skittle Rainbow
- Use a different colour energy drink for each round. Tastes the same, looks like the rainbow on the bag.
The Aussie version
- Aussie Skittle
- Use V Energy and an Aussie-made triple sec. Same drink, drier carbonation.
The party version
- Skittle Tray
- Line up six bombs on the bar. Fire on a count. Filmed for someone’s birthday Instagram every weekend.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Cointreau, Grand Marnier or any orange liqueur. Cointreau is cleaner, Grand Marnier adds brandy depth.
Monster, V, Mother, or any energy soda. The bomb works with any carbonated energy drink.
A pint glass works if you bump the energy drink to a full can. The shot glass needs room to drop.
A small whisky glass or a 30 ml jigger works as long as it is heavy enough to sink fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Skittle Bomb shot?
One ounce of triple sec dropped into half a can of Red Bull or any energy drink, served in a wide-mouth half-pint glass.
How do you make a Skittle Bomb?
Pour the triple sec into a shot glass. Pour half a can of Red Bull into a wide-mouth half-pint glass. Drop the shot glass into the energy drink and drink in one go.
What does a Skittle Bomb taste like?
Orange peel up front, tropical fruit punch in the middle, a long sweet finish. Tastes exactly like a packet of Skittles.
Is the Skittle Bomb strong?
About 8 percent ABV. One ounce of triple sec in roughly five ounces of energy drink. Reads as a long shot, drinks as a short one.
Where did the Skittle Bomb come from?
Early 2000s UK student bars and Australian RSL clubs. The drink rode the same bomb-shot wave that produced the Jagerbomb.
Can I make a Skittle Bomb without Red Bull?
Yes. Any energy drink works. Monster, V, Mother, or any other carbonated energy soda is fine.
Why is it called a Skittle Bomb?
Because the drink, when downed in one go, tastes exactly like a packet of Skittles. The name is the flavour.
How many calories are in a Skittle Bomb?
Around 180 calories per drop. The energy soda contributes most of the sugar. Sugar-free energy is not recommended, the candy effect breaks.
What glass do you serve a Skittle Bomb in?
A wide-mouth half-pint glass or rocks glass for the energy drink, plus a 30 ml shot glass for the triple sec. The shot glass needs to drop in cleanly.
Can I make a Skittle Bomb mocktail?
Yes. Use orange syrup or fresh orange juice in place of the triple sec. Drop into half a can of energy drink. Tastes close enough.
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