Ingredients
- 5 oz Cinnamon Schnapps Spicy
- 4 oz Energy Soda (Red Bull)
Instructions
Combine Ingredients:
- In a glass or soda can, pour 5 oz of spicy cinnamon schnapps.
Add Energy Soda:
- Add 4 oz of energy soda (Red Bull) to the glass.
Serve:
- Serve immediately and enjoy your fiery and energizing Fire Bomb Shot.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
The Fire Bomb is a 2000s American bomb-shot that came out of college bars during the energy-drink-cocktail wave. The build is a layered shot of cinnamon schnapps dropped into a half-pint of cold energy soda, served as a single pour-and-drop combination. The fire in the name is the cinnamon-and-caffeine combination, not a literal flame.
It sits in the bomb-shot family with the Jaegerbomb, the Vegas Bomb and the Skittle Bomb. All four lean on a layered shot dropped into a fizzy mixer for the bomb format. The Fire Bomb separates itself with the cinnamon schnapps lead and the absence of multiple spirits; the shot is a single-spirit bomb that emphasises the cinnamon character.
Best ordered at a college bar or a sports bar after midnight, when the goal is a fast strong pour with a candy edge. Not a craft cocktail menu order and not a sipper. Drink fast or the cinnamon schnapps loses its kick.
What it tastes like
Sharp cinnamon up front, soft caramel schnapps sweetness through the middle, fizzy citrus and caffeine on the finish from the energy soda. The shot is a hot-cinnamon-candy bomb that the energy drink turns from a hard shot into a long-pull beverage; the fizz lifts the cinnamon character.
Around 8 percent ABV in the combined glass once the shot is dropped into the soda. Five ounces of cinnamon schnapps at 30 to 40 percent ABV in nine ounces of total volume drinks fast and strong; the energy drink dilutes the alcohol and provides the caffeine lift.
The technique
Pour five ounces of cinnamon schnapps (Goldschlager, Hot Damn, or Fireball) into a tall shot glass. Pour four ounces of cold energy soda like Red Bull or Monster into a separate half-pint glass. Drop the shot glass into the energy soda and drink the combined pour fast in two pulls.
The energy soda must be cold; warm soda kills the format. Use a tall straight-sided shot glass that drops cleanly to the bottom of the half-pint. Avoid tapered shot glasses; they catch on the rim and lose the layered shot before it reaches the soda. Drink fast for the bomb effect.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The cinnamon schnapps
- Use
- Goldschlager (gold-flake), Hot Damn, or Fireball cinnamon whisky.
- Skip
- Cinnamon syrup or cinnamon-flavoured non-alcoholic mixers. No alcohol, wrong texture.
- Why
- Cinnamon schnapps is the load-bearing spirit and the entire flavour story. The cinnamon-and-spirit character delivers the fire of the Fire Bomb; without it the shot is just an energy drink. Goldschlager adds a visual gold-flake bonus.
The energy soda
- Use
- Cold Red Bull, Monster, or any caffeinated energy drink.
- Skip
- Lemon-lime soda or cola. Wrong format, no caffeine.
- Why
- The energy soda is the volume and the fizz lift. The caffeine-and-citrus combination cuts through the cinnamon schnapps sweetness and gives the bomb its lift; lemon-lime soda or cola does not deliver the energy-drink character that defines the Fire Bomb format.
The shot glass
- Use
- A tall straight-sided shot glass that drops cleanly into the half-pint.
- Skip
- A tapered shot glass. Catches on the rim and loses the bomb effect.
- Why
- The shot glass shape is the technique. A straight-sided glass drops cleanly to the bottom of the half-pint; a tapered shot glass catches on the rim and loses the layered shot before it reaches the soda. The shape is functional, not decorative.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
The standard bomb
- Fire Bomb, dropped fast
- Five ounces of cinnamon schnapps in a tall shot glass dropped into four ounces of cold energy soda. Drink in two pulls.
The Goldschlager build
- Fire Bomb with gold flakes
- Use Goldschlager for the gold-flake visual. The drinker sees gold flakes swirling in the glass as they drink; same flavour, more theatrical presentation.
The shot-only build
- Fire Bomb, no energy drink
- Drop the energy soda. Drink the cinnamon schnapps neat in one pull. Loses the fizz lift and the caffeine; closer to a Fireball shot.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Fireball cinnamon whisky. Slightly more whisky-forward; holds the cinnamon character.
Cold lemon-lime soda like Sprite. Different lift and no caffeine, but the bomb format still works.
A small whiskey glass that fits the half-pint. The bomb format works as long as the glass drops cleanly.
A pint glass with extra energy drink to make up the volume. The format works in a larger glass; just adjust the drop angle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Fire Bomb shot?
Five ounces of cinnamon schnapps in a shot glass dropped into four ounces of cold energy soda like Red Bull. Two ingredients, one drop, fast drink.
Why is it called a Fire Bomb?
Named for the cinnamon-and-caffeine combination, which delivers a hot-cinnamon-candy bomb effect on the palate. The fire is the cinnamon, not a literal flame; the shot is not flambeed or set alight.
How strong is a Fire Bomb?
Around 8 percent ABV in the combined glass once the shot is dropped into the soda. Five ounces of cinnamon schnapps in nine ounces of total volume drinks fast and strong; the energy drink dilutes the alcohol on the palate.
What does it taste like?
Sharp cinnamon up front, soft caramel schnapps sweetness through the middle, fizzy citrus and caffeine on the finish. Reads like a hot-cinnamon-candy bomb in liquid form.
Why is the energy drink important?
The energy drink is the volume, the fizz lift, and the caffeine. The caffeine-and-citrus combination cuts through the cinnamon schnapps sweetness and gives the bomb its lift; without it the shot is just a cinnamon spirit pour.
Can I use Fireball instead of Goldschlager?
Yes. Fireball cinnamon whisky works for the Fire Bomb and is more widely available than Goldschlager. The flavour is slightly more whisky-forward; the cinnamon character remains the lead.
Is the shot literally on fire?
No. The fire in the name refers to the cinnamon-and-caffeine combination, not a literal flame. The shot is not flambeed; it is a standard bomb shot with cinnamon as the lead flavour.
What other bomb shots are similar?
A Jaegerbomb (Jaegermeister and Red Bull), a Vegas Bomb (whisky-butterscotch-coconut bomb), a Skittle Bomb and a Sake Bomb. All four work on the same drop-and-drink principle.
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