Ingredients
- 15 ml Crown Royal whisky
- 15 ml peach schnapps
- 15 ml cranberry juice
- 120 ml Red Bull half a can, in the pint glass
Instructions
- Pour the Red Bull into a pint glass, about halfway up.
- In a separate shot glass, combine the Crown Royal, peach schnapps and cranberry juice.
- Drop the shot glass into the pint of Red Bull.
- Drink it down in one go before the foam dies.
Notes
Where it came from
No one's quite sure who dropped the first Vegas Bomb, but it's a safe bet it happened sometime after Red Bull hit the mainstream in the late 90s. This isn't a pre-Prohibition classic you'll find in old texts. It's pure modern bar culture, probably born in a high-volume venue in a city that likes to get loud.
Think of it as a cousin to the Jager Bomb, but with a sweeter, fruitier personality. While many bomb shots rely on a single spirit, the Vegas Bomb builds a small cocktail in the shot glass itself, layering whisky with peach and cranberry before the big drop. It's a bit more complex than just a spirit and an energy drink.
You'll find this drink at any bar where the music is loud and the night is young. It's a staple in nightclubs, college bars, and anywhere people are looking to kick things up a notch. Don't expect to see it on a craft cocktail menu, but it absolutely has its place when the goal is a good time, fast.
What it tastes like
Expect a rush of sweet and tart fruit up front, thanks to the peach schnapps and cranberry. The Crown Royal brings a subtle caramel and vanilla note, grounding the sweetness a bit. Then the Red Bull takes over with its distinct, almost bubblegum-like flavor and a healthy dose of carbonation. It's a sugary, high-octane mix.
Despite the quick gulp, this drink packs a decent punch. With 15ml of 40% whisky and 15ml of 23% schnapps mixed into 120ml of Red Bull, you're looking at around 5.7% ABV for the entire 165ml. That's a bit stronger than your average light beer, but delivered in a much more concentrated, faster hitting format. Treat it with respect.
The technique
Building a Vegas Bomb is straightforward, but it's a two-stage operation. First, fill a pint glass about halfway with Red Bull. Then, in a separate shot glass, combine the Crown Royal, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice. The whole point is the dramatic drop and the quick consumption, so make sure your glassware is ready.
The crucial bit isn't the mixing, it's the drinking. Once that shot glass hits the Red Bull, a foamy reaction kicks off. You need to drink the whole thing down in one swift motion before that foam dissipates. Hesitate, and you'll be left with a flat, syrupy mess. Commit to the chug.
Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Crown Royal Whisky
- Use
- Standard Crown Royal is the go-to. Any decent blended Canadian whisky with a smooth, slightly sweet profile works too.
- Skip
- Don't bother with a high-end single malt Scotch or anything heavily peated. Its nuances will be lost under the Red Bull and fruit.
- Why
- It provides a smooth, approachable whisky base with a hint of vanilla and caramel that plays well with the peach and cranberry, without overpowering the rest of the party.
Peach Schnapps
- Use
- Any widely available peach schnapps will do the trick. Brands like DeKuyper or Bols are standard for this kind of drink.
- Skip
- Trying to use fresh peach puree or a super fancy peach liqueur is overkill. The specific sugary, artificial peach flavor is what you're after here.
- Why
- This is where the signature sweet, fruity kick comes from. It's a load-bearing flavor that makes the Vegas Bomb what it is, cutting through the other ingredients.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink.
O-Bomb
- Citrus twist
- Swap out the cranberry juice for orange juice in the shot glass. It gives the drink a brighter, more zesty fruit punch alongside the peach and whisky.
Cherry Bomb
- Darker fruit profile
- Replace the peach schnapps with a cherry schnapps or cherry liqueur. This deepens the fruit flavor and gives the shot a bolder, more intense sweetness.
Vegas Whiskey Swap
- Different whiskey base
- Try using a different accessible whisky like Jameson Irish Whiskey in place of the Crown Royal. It offers a slightly spicier, less sweet foundation for the fruit.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Any decent blended Canadian whisky will work, or even a smooth American whiskey like a lower-shelf bourbon.
Peach liqueur can stand in, though it might be a bit less sweet. You could also try a touch of another stone fruit liqueur.
Any energy drink with a similar flavor profile will do the job. Just make sure it's carbonated and cold.
Any tall, sturdy glass that can comfortably hold the shot glass and the Red Bull without overflowing will work. A large highball glass is fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Vegas Bomb Shot?
A Vegas Bomb Shot contains Crown Royal whisky, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice, which are combined in a shot glass and then dropped into a pint glass filled with Red Bull.
Is a Vegas Bomb strong?
It's definitely not a light drink. With whisky and schnapps, the full 165ml drink comes in at around 5.7% ABV, which is similar to a strong beer, but consumed quickly.
Why is it called a Vegas Bomb?
The name likely comes from its association with high-energy party scenes, similar to what you'd find in Las Vegas, combined with the 'bomb' action of dropping a shot into a larger drink.
How do you drink a Vegas Bomb?
You drop the shot glass containing the whisky, schnapps, and cranberry into the pint glass of Red Bull, then drink the entire mixture down in one quick gulp before the foam settles.
What's the difference between a Jager Bomb and a Vegas Bomb?
A Jager Bomb typically uses Jägermeister dropped into an energy drink. The Vegas Bomb uses a mix of Crown Royal, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice for its shot component.
Does a Vegas Bomb get you drunk?
Yes, it contains alcohol, so consuming them will lead to intoxication, especially given the speed at which they are typically consumed. The Red Bull can also mask the effects of the alcohol.
What does a Vegas Bomb taste like?
Expect a very sweet and fruity taste from the peach and cranberry, with a slight caramel note from the whisky, all mixed with the distinct, sugary flavor and carbonation of Red Bull.
Can you make a Vegas Bomb without Red Bull?
You could technically drop the shot into a different carbonated beverage, but it wouldn't be a true Vegas Bomb. The energy drink component is key to its character and effect.
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