Cinnamon. The word, the smell, the feel–it conjures up notions of warm fireside sweets and spicy holiday flair. Mix cinnamon with a heady dose of whiskey and you get Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, a liquor enjoyed around the world.
Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is a sugary-sweet whiskey with a spicy twist to give it a unique, warming kick. Instead of branching out into different flavors and bottles, Fireball has chosen to do one thing and do it well. Its signature whiskey is, very simply, an accessibly-priced sipping liquor that works well alone, in cocktails, in hot and cool drinks, and more.
We’ll raise a fireball shot to that.
Fireball bottle prices and sizes
Fireball is a highly popular and accessibly-priced liquor available online and in many stores around the globe. Here’s what you can expect in terms of Fireball Whiskey price.
| Bottle Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 375 ml | $9 |
| 750 ml | $17 |
| 1750 ml | $29 |
| 50 ml | $1 |
Where to buy Fireball online?
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The story behind Fireball Whisky
First things first: Does Fireball actually qualify as a whisky or whiskey? Is it bourbon? Is it something else entirely?
According to commonly accepted definitions of ‘whiskey’, it’s neither a whiskey nor a bourbon. Whiskey must have an ABV of 80 proof or more. Fireball alcohol content falls a bit lower, at only 66 proof. This makes Fireball a less potent drink than many believe–and makes it less a whiskey, and more properly a liquor.
However, what Fireball lacks in strength, it makes up for with fiery taste.
Fireball Whisky: Dangerous or not?
If you’ve checked Fireball’s list of ingredients in the past, you may have found a potentially scary name.
Propylene glycol: It doesn’t exactly sound delicious, but can it actually hurt you? In low enough concentrations, the chemical is harmless. You’ve likely come across it before, in fact. Propylene glycol is also an ingredient in some ice creams and cosmetics and is approved by the food safety regulatory boards in many countries.
However, its similarity to ethylene glycol, a highly toxic component of antifreeze, has caused lots of people to question Fireball’s safety. It was even banned for a time in some European countries like Sweden and Norway!
For the rest of the world, this didn’t do much to damage Fireball’s reputation. In fact, this news coincided with a huge spike in popularity for Fireball, suggesting that many of us enjoy a side of danger with our drinks.
However, don’t worry: After Fireball was temporarily banned in Sweden and Norway, Fireball updated its recipe so it is now 100% free of propylene glycol. Ultimately, whether you’re enjoying Fireball from an old bottle or a new one, rest assured that it is perfectly safe to drink.
Fireball: Shots fired
There is perhaps no liquor more beloved for creative, upscale shot recipes than Fireball. Because drinking it straight is so intense and it’s slightly less alcoholic than other forms of whiskey, mixing it for shots is seen as attractive by many.
This has led to a treasure trove of Fireball-based shots, including the ‘Firish Cream’ (feat. Fireball, Creme de Menthe, and Irish Cream), the ‘Oatmeal Cookie’ (feat. Fireball, butterscotch schnapps, and coffee liquor), the ‘Bananas Foster’ (feat. Fireball, whipped cream vodka, and banana liquor), and more.
Basically, if you’re interested in making an alcoholic riff off a favorite dessert, there’s probably a Fireball shot for that.
Fireball’s rise to popularity
Did you know that Fireball was a Canadian drink? As its origin story goes, Fireball was likely invented during a long, cold winter night. A Canadian bartender thought to mix cinnamon and sugar with alcohol for a drink that couldn’t not warm you up, and the rest is history.
Except–not quite. Fireball was established in 1984. For the first seventeen years of its existence, the cinnamon liquor was known as ‘Dr. McGillicudy’s Fireball Whisky’–an extremely obscure Canadian treat. It was only after Sazerac bought Fireball in 2001 (and completely upgraded its branding strategy) that Fireball became known on a larger scale.
Today, whether you think of Fireball as a party drink or a delicious after-dinner aperitif, it’s come a long way–and now, it’s here to stay.
How to enjoy Fireball Whisky
There are two basic theories as to the best way to enjoy Fireball: as a shot, or not.
While it’s not as alcoholic or bitter as many other sipping liquors, its intensely sweet, hot taste, and cinnamon dryness make for a heady drinking experience. Shooting Fireball can feel festive, and it’s certainly a great way to warm yourself up quickly.
However, because it’s a cinnamon liquor, Fireball also makes for a good dessert cocktail or evening drink. Sipping on it straight and chilled will be simple and refreshing, but mixing it up with a few other ingredients can help make the strong liquor more drinkable and help open up the cinnamon flavor.
The best glasses for fireball whiskey are ones with wider mouths. Have you ever tried sniffing pure cinnamon? Don’t; it won’t be pleasant! Allowing the aroma to open up and dissipate a little with a wide or fluted glass will make the experience more enjoyable.
The best whisky glasses to drink Fireball
NORLAN
TOM DIXON
VENERO
NEAT
Popular Fireball cocktails
Interested in knowing the perfect ratios and cocktails to enjoy Fireball at its finest? Read on for our three favorite Fireball whiskey recipes.
Fireball Sangria
Ingredients:
- 1 cup orange or mango juice
- 1 cup Fireball Whisky
- 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine
- frozen fruit to chill and taste (berries, pineapple, mango, peaches, whichever you prefer!)
Cocktail recipes: In a large pitcher, combine all liquid ingredients and stir. Then, add the frozen fruit. Chill in a refrigerator until ready to serve.
Fuzzy Fire
Ingredients:
- 30 ml Fireball Whisky
- 15 ml peach schnapps
- 90 ml peach juice
Cocktail recipes: Add a few ice cubes to a tall glass, then pour in all ingredients. Stir to mix and serve immediately.
Apple Pie on the Rocks
Ingredients:
- 30 ml vanilla vodka
- 30 ml Fireball Whisky
- 120 ml apple juice
- A pinch of cinnamon + a cinnamon stick for garnish
- brown sugar for the rim
- ice
Cocktail recipes: Begin by wetting the rim of a rocks glace, then overturning in a dish filled with brown sugar. Overturn and set aside. Using a martini shaker, combine the vodka, apple juice, cinnamon, and Fireball, as well as a few ice cubes. Close the shaker, and shake vigorously. Pour into the rocks glass. Chill, or serve immediately; garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Excited for more inspiration for your mixed drinks? Check out our cocktail list for recipes galore.
Frequently asked questions about Fireball Whiskey
Fireball whiskey is safe to drink! It is a cinnamon-flavored liquor that is good alone or in a cocktail.
Fireball whiskey does not have antifreeze in it. However, in the past, Fireball whiskey has contained propylene glycol, a common antifreeze. While generally considered nontoxic, the formula has been updated to be 100% free of propylene glycol.
Fireball whiskey is bad for you the same way all strong alcohol is! It should be enjoyed in moderation to avoid intoxication.
Fireball was banned because of health concerns in some countries. For example, in Finland, Sweden, and Norway, it was found to have more than trace amounts of propylene glycol, so it was banned in those areas until the recipe was updated.
Fireball whiskey costs $14 for a 750 ml bottle. Their prices and sizes range from $1 for a tiny shot to $25 for their largest commonly available size, 1750 ml.
