Fireball Cinnamon Whisky

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Type Whisky-based liqueur
Manufacturer Sazerac Company
Country of origin Canada
Alcohol by volume 33%
Flavour cinnamon
Ingredients Canadian whisky
cinnamon
sweeteners
Website http://fireballwhisky.com/

Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is a cinnamon-flavoured whisky-based liqueur produced by the Sazerac Company. Its foundation is Canadian whisky, and the taste otherwise resembles the candy with a similar name, Ferrara Candy Company's "Atomic Fireball" candy.[1] It is bottled at 33% alcohol by volume (66 U.S. proof).

According to the official Fireball website, the product was developed in Canada in the mid-1980s, and for a long time was little known outside of Canada.[2] Fireball is now widely available in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and can also be found in Israel, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, France, Australia, Ireland,[3] and various other countries.[4]

History

The origin of the Fireball brand is not publicly recorded. The Sazerac Company purchased the brand rights and formula in the early 2000s and originally launched it as "Dr. McGillicuddy's Fireball Whisky". Ostensibly, the named doctor was Dr. Aloysius McGillicuddy "born" in the year 1808.[5][upper-alpha 1] Later, in 2006, the product was rebranded as "Fireball Cinnamon Whisky".

In 2012 and 2013, the product had a surge in popularity, which the company achieved by using social media, cultivating bartenders, word of mouth, and a relatively-small advertising budget.[1]

In early 2012, the Sazerac company sued Hood River Distillers over the allegedly confusing trade name and marketing of its product, SinFire Cinnamon Whisky.[6][7][8]

Similar products

Somewhat similar products — Red Stag Spiced by Jim Beam, DeKuyper Hot Damn!, Gold Strike cinnamon liqueur containing gold snippets, produced by Lucas Bols, and Goldschlager Cinnamon Schnapps containing gold flecks — which also have cinnamon as an ingredient in high potency liqueurs.

Joining the 'cinnamon-liquor band wagon' are products that feature cinnamon-infused vodka, including Smirnoff's Cinna-Sugar Twist.[9] In November 2013, Beam's Pinnacle Vodka and Cinnabon teamed up to introduce their own brand of cinnamon flavored vodka, Cinnabon Vodka.[upper-alpha 2] Yet another is Stolichnaya Zinamom Vodka.[10][11]

Cinnamon brandy concoctions, called "Cinnamon liqueur" and made with Rakı, are popular in parts of Greece.[12]

For those who wish to make their own "cinnamon liqueur" there is much controversy concerning the proper ingredients. Particularly, some purported "cinnamon" (that found in "cinnamon sticks") isn't in fact cinnamon. as the latter may be banned or limited in some countries due to the presence of coumarin.[13][upper-alpha 3]

Concoctions

"Straight shots" or on the rocks are preferred methods to drink it.[1]

However, various cocktails also use Fireball as an ingredient, and the company has encouraged the development of such cocktails.[1] They include "Cinna-Rita", "Fire Nut Ball", "Hot Cherry Fizz", "Red Apple Spice", and "Ring-of-Fire".[14] Another is a blend of Irish coffee called "Fire Starter Coffee".[15] An "Angry Balls" mixer is a combination of Angry orchard cider and Fireball cinnamon whisky.[citation needed]

Awards and accolades

  • 2010 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition: Bronze Medal[2]
  • San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Gold Medal[2]
  • BTI Best Buy Bar Competition: Silver Medal, "Highly Recommended"[2]
  • International Review of Spirits: Silver Medal, "Highly Recommended"[2]
  • San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Bronze Medal[2]
  • International Wine & Spirits Competition: Bronze Medal[2]

In popular culture

It is the whiskey referred to in the Florida Georgia Line song "Round Here" (which says "That Fireball Whiskey whispers Temptation in my ear"[16]).[upper-alpha 4]

See also

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ See his apocryphal will where he "present[s] the recipe for Dr. McGillicuddy’s Schnapps, whose intense taste made me a bit of a legend in these parts." "Dr. Aloysius McGilicuddy". October 20, 2008. Retrieved July 31, 2013. 
  2. ↑ It "offers lip-smacking indulgence that combines the decadent flavors of cinnamon, brown sugar and rich cream cheese frosting with hints of caramel to create a taste reminiscent of warm, freshly-baked cinnamon rolls. At 70-proof, the product is smooth, five-times distilled and can be served chilled, on the rocks or mixed in festive cocktails at any brunch or get-together." "Pinnacle Vodka and Cinnabon join forces to develop an industry-first vodka innovation" (Press release). Deerfield, IL. November 21, 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014. 
  3. ↑ Coumarin is currently listed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States among "Substances Generally Prohibited From Direct Addition or Use as Human Food", according to 21 CFR 189.130 Food and Drug Administration but some natural additives containing coumarin, such as the flavorant sweet woodruff are allowed "in alcoholic beverages only" (21 CFR 172.510). In Europe, popular examples of such beverages are Maiwein (white wine with woodruff) and Żubrówka (vodka flavoured with bison grass). In the late 1970s, the latter drink disappeared from shelves in the United States, and it was thereafter renamed and reformulated for U.S. distribution. In addition to the Coumarin problem, American authorities determined that the trademark on Żubrówka brand was diluted and unenforceable, as it was a generic name, like "Aspirin". Michaels, Daniel (18 January 2011). "Name Your Poison: How a Banned Polish Vodka Buffaloed Its Way Into the U.S.". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 6 January 2014. 
  4. ↑ Goldschläger may also have been referred to in the song "Hell raisin' heat of the summer" by Florida Georgia Line with the line "and the gold flakes glimmer in the cinnamon booze". As noted earlier, gold foil and cinnamon liquor appear in several products. In addition to the other listed gold-enhanced liquors, Goldwasser is from Poland and Schönbrunner Gold Liqueur is from Austria, but neither is cinnamon based.

Endnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Melendez, Elazar David (29 July 2013). "Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey Is The Most Popular Liquor Brand You've Never Heard of". Huffington Post. Retrieved 5 January 2013. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Fireball Cinnamon Whisky Brand Portfolio Entry on official web site.
  3. ↑ About Fireball Cinnamon Whisky on official web site.
  4. ↑ Distributors list on official web site.
  5. ↑ "Fireball Whisky". Proof66.com. Retrieved July 31, 2013. 
  6. ↑ Barrouquere, Brett (14 February 2012). "Fireball Whiskey vs. SinFire Whiskey: Sazerac, Inc. Sues Hood River Distillers for Cinnamon Whiskey Names". Huffington Post. Retrieved 5 January 2013. 
  7. ↑ Farrell, Kenan (21 December 2012). "Oregon Trademark Litigation Update --Sazerac Company v. Hood River Distillers". Oregon Intellectual Property Law. Retrieved 5 January 2014. 
  8. ↑ Simpson, Judge Charles R. III (19 December 2012). "Sazerac Company, Inc. v. Hood River Distillers, Inc. - Document 37 Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION". Retrieved 5 January 2013. 
  9. ↑ "Smirnoff Cinna-Sugar Twist". Smirnoff. Retrieved 6 January 2014. 
  10. ↑ "Drinks containing Stolichnaya ( Stoli ) Zinamom Cinnamon Vodka". Bar None. Retrieved 6 January 2014. 
  11. ↑ "2013 Stolichnaya expanding in local markets in four new flavours". JSC Latvijas balzams. Retrieved 6 January 2014. 
  12. ↑ "Where can you buy Green cinnamon brandy in the UK?". Retrieved 6 January 2014. 
  13. ↑ "How to make cinnamon liqueur or so I thought". http://pureliqueur.com/. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2014. 
  14. ↑ "Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey". The Local's Hottest. Retrieved July 30, 2013. 
  15. ↑ "Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey". MyBestCocktails.com. Retrieved July 30, 2013. 
  16. ↑ Florida Georgia Line. "Round Here Lyrics". MetroLyrics.com. Retrieved July 31, 2013. 

External links

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