Ingredients
- 1 oz Blue Curacao Liqueur
- .5 oz Vodka
- .5 oz Rum
- .5 oz Gin
- .5 oz Triple Sec
- .5 oz Peach Schnapps
- Energy Soda (Red Bull)
Instructions
- In your cocktail glass add blue curacao, then some ice.
- Add vodka and gin, then rum and triple sec then peach schnapps
- Add ice and turn a can of red bull upside down in the glass.
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
This is a modern bar invention, likely born in the late 20th or early 21st century, in American college towns or dive bars. There is no storied past or classic cocktail lineage to speak of. It came from the desire for a potent, fast acting party drink, not a craft cocktail movement.
The Irish Trash Can falls into the "kitchen sink" or "party punch" category, a distant cousin to drinks like the Long Island Iced Tea due to its multiple spirit base. What separates it is the inclusion of an energy drink, giving it a unique, stimulating kick rather than just a boozy one. The name itself hints at its unrefined, anything-goes nature.
You would typically find or serve this drink in high volume, high energy environments. Think college bars, fraternity parties, or anywhere people are looking to get a night started quickly. It is not a drink you would order at a quiet cocktail lounge or a sophisticated restaurant.
What it tastes like
Expect a sweet, fruity, and intensely boozy flavor profile, masked by the cloying sweetness and distinctive tang of an energy drink. The sheer number of spirits creates a muddled, hard to distinguish taste, but the overall impression is sugary and potent. You will taste the Red Bull more than any individual liquor.
With 0.5 oz each of six different spirits (gin, vodka, light rum, tequila, triple sec, peach schnapps) and an 8.4 oz can of Red Bull, this drink clocks in around 9.6% ABV. That is roughly double the alcohol content of a standard 5% ABV beer, packed into a single glass. Handle with care.
The technique
To build an Irish Trash Can Cocktail, fill a pint glass or large highball with ice. Pour 0.5 oz each of gin, vodka, light rum, tequila, triple sec, and peach schnapps over the ice. Then, carefully open an 8.4 oz can of Red Bull and invert it directly into the glass, letting the contents mix as it drains. Garnish is optional, perhaps a lime wedge.
The single most important technique tip is to ensure all your spirits are well chilled before mixing. This helps keep the drink cold and slows down ice melt, which is crucial for a drink that takes a while to finish and is already packed with flavor.
Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Red Bull
- Use
- Standard Red Bull, or a similar reliable energy drink brand. Sugar-free versions work if you need to cut sweetness, but the original is classic.
- Skip
- Off-brand, overly sweet, or poorly carbonated energy drinks. They will ruin the balance and texture.
- Why
- Red Bull is the defining ingredient. It provides the signature flavor, the carbonation, and the stimulating kick that sets this drink apart from other multi-spirit concoctions. Without it, it is just a boozy fruit punch.
Clear Spirits
- Use
- Any standard brand of gin, vodka, light rum, and tequila. Don't reach for your top shelf bottles; their nuances will be lost.
- Skip
- Expensive, artisanal, or flavored spirits. Their subtle qualities are completely wasted in this mix.
- Why
- These spirits form the bulk of the alcohol content. Their primary role is to provide a potent base, and their individual flavors are largely overwhelmed by the other components.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink.
Blue Trash Can
- A vibrant, sweet alternative
- Swap the standard triple sec and peach schnapps for blue curaçao and maybe a splash of pineapple juice for a bright blue hue and a slightly different fruity profile.
Tropical Trash Can
- Island vibes, high octane
- Replace some of the clear spirits with coconut rum and a splash of passion fruit liqueur. Top with a tropical flavored energy drink for a vacation in a glass, with a kick.
Half Empty Can
- Less chaos, same spirit
- Reduce the number of spirits to three or four, keeping the 0.5 oz measure for each. This dials back the booziness slightly while retaining the energy drink punch. It is still potent, just less of a liquor cabinet raid.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Any other standard energy drink brand like Monster, Rockstar, or even a store brand will work. The flavor profile will shift, but the core experience remains.
Any orange liqueur like Cointreau or an orange curaçao will work. If no orange liqueur, a splash of orange juice and a bit more sugar or simple syrup can approximate the sweetness.
Any sweet fruit liqueur like raspberry or apple schnapps can be used. If no fruit liqueur, a bit more simple syrup can compensate for the sweetness.
A large highball glass, a mason jar, or any tall, sturdy glass with a capacity of at least 16 ounces will suffice. The key is volume.
You can omit one or two of the standard clear spirits (gin, vodka, rum, tequila) without completely destroying the drink. Just be aware it will reduce the overall potency slightly. Do not substitute with dark spirits like whiskey or dark rum, as they will clash with the energy drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Irish Trash Can Cocktail?
An Irish Trash Can Cocktail typically contains 0.5 oz each of gin, vodka, light rum, tequila, triple sec, and peach schnapps, topped with an 8.4 oz can of Red Bull or a similar energy drink.
Why is it called Irish Trash Can?
The "Irish" part is a bit of a misnomer, as it has no true Irish origin or traditional Irish ingredients. It is likely just an added descriptor, possibly for a perceived "green" color if blue curaçao is used, or simply to imply a potent, anything-goes mixture, much like a "trash can" of spirits.
How strong is an Irish Trash Can Cocktail?
It is a very strong drink. With 0.5 oz of six different spirits, it can be around 9.6% ABV for a single drink, which is roughly double the alcohol content of a typical beer.
Does an Irish Trash Can contain whiskey?
No, despite the "Irish" name, a traditional Irish Trash Can Cocktail does not contain whiskey. It is primarily made with clear spirits like gin, vodka, rum, and tequila.
Can I make an Irish Trash Can without Red Bull?
Yes, you can substitute Red Bull with other energy drinks like Monster or Rockstar. If you want to avoid energy drinks entirely, a lemon-lime soda or ginger ale could be used, but it would fundamentally change the drink's character and remove the stimulating effect.
Is the Irish Trash Can a good drink?
That depends on your definition of "good." It is excellent for its intended purpose: a potent, sweet, and stimulating party drink. It is not a sophisticated cocktail for savoring complex flavors.
What kind of glass should I use for an Irish Trash Can?
A pint glass or a large highball glass is ideal, as it needs to accommodate the several ounces of liquor, ice, and an entire can of energy drink.
Can I make a pitcher of Irish Trash Can?
Yes, you can batch the spirits ahead of time. Just multiply the spirit quantities by the number of servings you want. When serving, pour the batched spirits over ice in individual glasses and top each with a fresh can of energy drink. Do not pre-mix with the energy drink, as it will lose carbonation.
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