Fireball Cinnamon Whisky

Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is a cinnamon-flavored 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).^[2]

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.^[3] Fireball is now widely available in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and can also be found in Singapore, Israel, Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, Australia, Ireland,^[4] and various other countries.^[5]

History

The product was originally part of a line of flavored schnapps developed by Seagram in the mid-1980s.^[2] The manufacturer's story line is, in part, that it was the product of a Canadian bartender's efforts to warm up from an Arctic blast. The Sazerac Company purchased the brand rights and formula from Seagram in 1989.^[2]

It was originally marketed as "Dr. McGillicuddy's Fireball Whisky".^[2] Ostensibly, the named doctor was Dr. Aloysius Percival McGillicuddy, more commonly referred to as "the shot doctor"^[2] who was "born" in the year 1808.^{[6][upper-alpha 1]} Later, in 2006, the product was rebranded as "Fireball Cinnamon Whisky".

An April 2014 article in Bloomberg Business Week said "It's also one of the most successful liquor brands in decades. In 2011, Fireball accounted for a mere $1.9 million in sales in U.S. gas stations, convenience stores, and supermarkets, according to IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm. Last year [2013], sales leapt to $61 million, passing Jameson Irish whiskey and Patrón tequila."^[2] 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][7] In 2013, it became one of the top ten most popular liquors, displacing Jose Cuervo Tequila.^[8] The Bloomberg Business Week article said that based on current trends, the brand was in position to overtake Jägermeister in popularity.^[2]

In early 2012, the Sazerac company sued Hood River Distillers over the allegedly confusing trade name and marketing of its product, SinFire Cinnamon Whisky.^[9][10][11]

Similar products

Cinnamon has become an important flavoring for many kinds of liquor, and is touted as a way to increase sales.

Somewhat similar products – Red Stag Spiced and Kentucky Fire (both bourbon-based)^[12] 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. 91.1 proof Cinerator is a higher alcohol content cinnamon-favored and whiskey-based product launched in late 2014 and produced by Heaven Hill Distilleries in Bardstown, Kentucky.^[13][14]

Joining the 'cinnamon-liquor band wagon' are products that feature cinnamon-infused vodka, including Smirnoff's Cinna-Sugar Twist.^[15] 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][16]} Yet another is Stolichnaya Zinamom Vodka.^[17][18]

A "sprinkle" of cinnamon and real cream is combined with Virgin Islands rum in Chila 'Orchata Cinnamon Cream Rum.^[19][20]

The first cinnamon flavored Tequila is Peligroso Cinnamon Tequila – made from 100% Blue Agave – launched in March, 2013.^[21] However, a cinnamon cream tequila liqueur expression called Hot Rose – made by McCormick Distilling Company of Missouri with a unique plastic package^{[upper-alpha 3]} – antedates Peligroso.^[21][22] A follower is Jose Cuervo's Cinge.^{[23][24][25][upper-alpha 4]}

Rakomelo, that is Cinnamon and honey^[26] brandy concoctions, called "Cinnamon liqueur" and made with Rakı^[27] or Tsipouro, are popular in parts of Greece.^[28][29]

For those who wish to make their own "cinnamon liqueur" there is much controversy concerning the proper ingredients.^[30] 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.^{[31][upper-alpha 5]}

Fireball has been compared to Yukon Jack, "the black sheep of Canadian liquors",^[32] which is chiefly a concoction with honey and whiskey, and lacks any cinnamon.^[7]

Concoctions

"Straight shots" or on the rocks are preferred methods to drink it.^[1] The Sazerac website says "the cinnamon flavor is often used for shooters but can add character to a mixed drink."^[7]

However, various cocktails also use Fireball as an ingredient,^[33] 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".^[34] Another is a blend of Irish coffee called "Fire Starter Coffee".^[35] An "Angry Balls" mixer is a combination of Angry orchard cider and Fireball cinnamon whisky. Listed concoctions made with Fireball include: 1. The Hotter Toddy (tea, honey, lemon; 2. Ciderball (hard cider); 3. The Drunken Dessert (hot chocolate); 4. The Ultimate French Toast Shot (Butterscotch Liqueur, Baileys Irish Cream); and 5. The F-Bomb (Red Bull).^[33] The latter energy drink bomb shot may be compared to the Jägerbomb.

Awards and accolades

• 2010 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition: Bronze Medal^[3]
• San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Gold Medal^[3]
• BTI Best Buy Bar Competition: Silver Medal, "Highly Recommended"^[3]
• International Review of Spirits: Silver Medal, "Highly Recommended"^[3]
• San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Bronze Medal^[3]
• International Wine & Spirits Competition: Bronze Medal^[3]

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"^[36]).^{[upper-alpha 6]}

• Fireball is also mentioned in the song "Ready Set Roll" by Chase Rice in the line "hit the spot like a fireball shot".

Health concerns

In Finland and Sweden it has been reported that Fireball contains high amounts of propylene glycol that surpass the EU limitations of 0.1 gram per kilo. If this is an actual health concern or not isn't clear yet, as tests are still being run, but the Swedish Systembolaget is offering all of its customers a refund, even if they've opened the bottles they've purchased.^[37]

Fireball has been recalled and is now temporarily banned in Norway, Finland and Sweden due to exceeding the limit of propylene glycol allowed in consumables.^[38][39][40]

The manufacturers of Fireball offered an explanation that this partial recall was due to a "recipe-related compliance issue" whereby product that should have gone to the United States was mistakenly shipped to Scandinavia. It is claimed that the product is safe to drink and will be back on European store shelves in a few weeks.^[39][41][42] The United States Food and Drug Administration generally deems small amounts of propylene glycol to be safe for use in food or beverages.^[43]

See also

• "Sex on Fire" is Sex on the Beach with Fireball Cinnamon Whisky in place of the vodka.
• Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd.

Notes

References

External links

• Official website