For more than a few whiskey-drinking traditionalists, the emergence of cinnamon whiskeys is an affront to the purity of whiskey as a whole. To others, though, these different varieties offer a certain creative latitude that the traditional do not. Fireball Whisky is a cunning contender, especially with the younger set. It is being added to Angry Orchard hard cider to make “Angry Balls”, a sniper of a beverage that sneaks up without warning. And that is really what is so enjoyable about cinnamon whiskey – it is reminiscent of eating Red Hots cinnamon candy instead of drinking a traditional spirit.
Let’s be honest – traditional whiskey isn’t for everyone. The proof can be seen on any given St. Patrick’s Day, when non-whiskey drinkers are determined to be “Irish” and down a shot of Jameson. This doesn’t end well many times, because whiskey is not for the faint of heart. It is a strong, bold flavor that sometimes burns all the way down, depending on the maker. One either commits to the drink or doesn’t. Those who don’t are headed for embarassment. Those who do out of sheer willpower are bound to regret it later on.
Fireball Whisky changes the rules, though. We’re talking about a drink that, for all intents and purposes, is whiskey. It just has a hell of a lot of cinnamon flavor to it that goes really well with… well, a lot:
Coffee? Check.
Sangria? Check.
Hard Cider? Check.
A shot straight up? You bet.
And so on. It’s a versatile alcoholic ingredient that works and plays well with others. Think fall flavors. This is the pumpkin pie of whiskey.
So, what puts Fireball atop the pile of cinnamon whiskey contenders? Quite simply, sweetness. Other cinnamon flavored whiskeys go overboard on the sweetness factor, whereas Fireball uses more restraint, instead relying on actual cinnamon flavor to do the work for it. This potent flavor curve diverts this whiskey from the traditional drink menu to the more imaginative. It’s the rum of whiskeys. And yes, you can even use it in cake recipes.
Cinnamon is a powerful, aromatic spice that is made from the inner bark of trees in the Cinnamomum family. One could even argue the health benefits of drinking a cinnamon-infused whiskey, but that might be a stretch after a long Saturday night and the Sunday aftermath. Still, it pairs incredibly well with whiskey, enabling it to work its way into hundreds of concoctions. Fireball Whisky seems to have mastered its niche in the market. Its own website offers recipes to try that unabashedly feature the heat that Fireball brings. It makes no bones about the fact that it will warm the cockles of your heart on the way down, summoning the image of its dragon logo to reinforce the point. The game changer is that Fireball is finding innovative ways to use its product. It tests the waters with its combinations and knows that its flavor is not always center stage. It becomes complimentary in some drinks, providing that October-leaves-and-crisp-chill-in-the-air taste that just seems so perfect when sitting around a bonfire with friends.
Sure, you can do a straight shot, but why stop there when so many other possibilities exist? Fireball even does the legwork for you, providing a plethora of recipes on its website that take the ordinary to extraordinary. For example, a lot of pumpkin beers come out during the fall. On their own, they’re okay. Some might even be too bitter to enjoy. Try a shot of Fireball on the side to kick it up a notch and add that extra flavor that fall beer needs.
Feeling tropical? Try a Man-Mosa – a shot of Fireball, 3 oz. of champagne, and a shot of orange juice. Chill and be chill next to a swimming pool while coloring outside the lines of traditional drinks.
The list is pretty much endless. But what does it cost for all this adventurous creative drink making? Don’t fret – it’s totally within reach at about $18 for a 750 mL bottle. That’s a lot of fire for the buck.
If you’re ready to light your fire, swing on over to Fireball’s website and check out their amazing recipes fit for any season:
https://fireballwhisky.com/recipes/
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Summary: Yeah, we get it – it’s not for everyone, but we’re not going to turn it down if someone offers it around a bonfire. We’re sticking to our maximum halos on this one.
