Cinnamon whisky · Canada / US · since the 1980s

Fireball

The cinnamon whisky liqueur that tastes like hot cinnamon candy. Everything about the alcohol percentage, the taste, how to drink it as a shot and mixed, and the right glass for it.

Cinnamon whisky33% alcoholCanadian whiskyCinnamon, sweet & hot
NIX18 - Under 18, no alcohol
Bottle of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky 70 cl
33%Cinnamon Whisky · 70 cl
What is Fireball?

Tastes like heaven, burns like hell

Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is a liqueur made with Canadian whisky, cinnamon and sweetener, with 33% alcohol. It was created in Canada in the 1980s and was known for a long time as Dr. McGillicuddy's Fireball Whisky; since 2007, it has simply been called Fireball and has belonged to the American Sazerac Company. It later grew into one of the country's best-selling shots in the US, and that popularity spread to the Netherlands.

The taste is exactly what the slogan promises: first sweet, hot cinnamon like a cinnamon candy, then a warm glow from the whisky. Officially, Fireball is not whisky but a liqueur, because the whisky is diluted with cinnamon and sweetener to 33%. Drink it ice-cold as a shot, or mixed with cola, ginger ale or apple cider.

In brief

TypeCinnamon whisky liqueur
Alcohol33%
OriginCanada · Sazerac Company (US)
BaseCanadian whisky, natural cinnamon flavor, sweetener
TasteSweet, hot, cinnamon, hint of whisky
GlassShot glass, ice-cold; highball glass, mixed
Types

Fireball and the other cinnamon shots

Fireball comes in one flavor, in a large and a small bottle. These are the cinnamon shots it is usually compared with.

Bottle of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky 70 cl

Fireball Cinnamon Whisky

33% · 70 cl

The red bottle with the fire-breathing dragon. Sweet, hot and full of cinnamon, with a warm whisky base.

Best for: ice-cold shots, Fireball and cola
Bottle of Fireball 5 cl

Fireball 5 cl

33% · 5 cl

The mini bottle: just right for one or two shots, or for trying before you buy a large bottle.

Best for: trying it, as a gift
Bottle of Gold Strike 50 cl

Goldstrike

50% · alternative

Bols' Dutch cinnamon shot, with real gold flakes. Stronger and drier than Fireball, without whisky.

Best for: golden shots
More about Gold Strike →
Bottle of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire 70 cl

Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire

35% · alternative

Cinnamon liqueur made with Jack Daniel's Old No. 7. A little more whisky, a little less candy than Fireball.

Best for: whisky lovers
More about Jack Daniel's →
Not sure?

Sweet and hot? Fireball. Strong and golden? Goldstrike. More whisky? Tennessee Fire.

To the shots →
What does Fireball taste like?

Sweet, hot, and full of cinnamon

Nose

Cinnamon candy

Intense, sweet cinnamon, like a bag of hot cinnamon candies. You can barely smell the whisky.

Palate

Sweet and burning

First sweet and thick, then the heat of the cinnamon lingers and tingles on your tongue. Underneath, a light hint of whisky vanilla.

Finish

Warm and lingering

A long, warm glow of cinnamon and alcohol. Ice-cold, the heat is milder and the sweetness more rounded.

Sweet 4/5
Spicy 5/5
Fruity 1/5
Strength 3/5

Flavor profile of Fireball ice-cold as a shot. Mixed with cola or cider, it becomes smoother and sweeter.

How to drink it

Three ways to drink Fireball

Fireball is best served ice-cold. Put the bottle in the freezer: because of the sweetener and its 33% alcohol content, it will not freeze, but becomes thick and smooth.

Ice-cold as a shot

2 to 4 cl straight from the freezer in a shot glass, all at once. The classic way, and the reason Fireball has become so popular.

Glass: shot glass →

Fireball with cola or ginger ale

50 ml Fireball with 150 ml cola or ginger ale in a highball glass filled with ice. Cola makes it sweet and spicy, while ginger ale makes it fresh and fiery.

Glass: highball glass →

Fireball with apple cider

50 ml Fireball in a glass of warm apple cider or apple juice, with a cinnamon stick. Tastes like apple pie; also delicious cold with cider and ice.

Apple pie shot →
From the webshop

The right glass for Fireball

Sturdy shot glasses that can handle a knock, a highball glass for Fireball and cola, and a tea glass for the hot version. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.

100% delivered breakage-free
Arcoroc Islande Shot Glass
For shots · 12 pieces

Arcoroc Islande Shot Glass

Set of 12 · 6.5 cl · tempered glass, built to withstand knocks
€ 18,95View
Bormioli Rocco Oxford Shot Glass
For shots · small and sleek

Bormioli Rocco Oxford Shot Glass

Set of 6 · 3.8 cl · small and sleek, exactly one shot
€ 13,95View
Arcoroc Islande Highball Glass
For Fireball and cola

Arcoroc Islande Highball Glass

Set of 6 · 33 cl · tempered glass, the affordable all-rounder
€ 14,95View
Onis Bill Irish Coffee Glass
For hot cider

Onis Bill Irish Coffee Glass

Set of 6 · 24 cl · heat-resistant stemmed glass
€ 21,95View
Frequently asked questions

Everything you still wanted to know about Fireball

Can't find your question here? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.

To the cocktail recipes →
What percentage of alcohol is in Fireball?
Fireball Cinnamon Whisky contains 33% alcohol. That's less than regular whisky (40%) and less than Goldstrike (50%), but more than most shots such as Flügel or Kleiner Klopfer.
Is Fireball real whisky?
Officially, no. Fireball is made with Canadian whisky, but due to the added cinnamon and sweetener and its lower alcohol content, it falls into the liqueur category. The label therefore says 'Cinnamon Whisky' as the brand name, but it is a whisky liqueur.
What does Fireball taste like?
Like hot cinnamon candy: sweet, spicy and burning on the tongue, with a warm whisky glow behind it. The brand's slogan is 'Tastes like heaven, burns like hell'.
What is the difference between Fireball and Goldstrike?
Both are cinnamon shots, but Fireball is a 33% whisky liqueur, sweet and hot. Goldstrike is a 50% Dutch cinnamon liqueur from Bols, with gold flakes, drier and considerably stronger. Fireball is also drunk mixed; Goldstrike almost exclusively as a shot.
What can you mix Fireball with?
With cola, ginger ale, apple cider or apple juice, hot or cold. It's also delicious in hot chocolate, coffee or as a 'bomb' in a glass of energy drink. For a Hot Toddy, Fireball replaces both the whisky and the cinnamon.
Does Fireball need to go in the freezer?
It isn't necessary, but it's best served ice-cold: the heat of the cinnamon becomes milder and the liqueur becomes thick and smooth. Due to the 33% alcohol and sweetener, the bottle won't freeze.