In Training: Irish Car Bomb: The Drink

As some might know, the Irish Car Bomb is an alcoholic drink made with an Irish stout (as in Guinness), Bailey's and Irish whiskey. I'm not a drinker and don't frequent bars/pubs so I hadn't heard of it until a couple years ago. As you can see by my blog roll I like a lot of food blogs - one of which posted a recipe for Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes. This was my introduction.

I was instantly turned off by it, as were several of the author's commenters (click the link to read through). The author eventually changed the name to Chocolate Whiskey and Beer Cupcakes, but wasn't happy with the debate in her comment section.

I've read a little bit about The Troubles in Ireland and don't think it's something that should be taken lightly. Even if I wasn't familiar with The Troubles, I wouldn't use the drink name (or any subsequent desserts) because car bombs - any sort of bomb - are a very real, very frightening threat our Armed Forces and their allies face every day overseas. My husband spent an extremely tense tour in Iraq patrolling - and not a day went by that he wasn't aware of the danger.

But it's not just that. Royal and I lost a good friend and excellent Royal Marine to an explosion in Afghanistan in 2008. He was just 26 years old. I can't put into words how devastating Elmsy's death was for his family, friends and fellow Bootnecks.

A couple days ago, another of the blogs I read posted a few recipes:
Irish Brownie Bombs (um, they have a tan top...)
Irish Car Bomb Cheesecakes.
She also does a cake bomb, imagine that.

Look, I know it's "just a drink" and I should "get over it" (clever, right!). I'm not calling for a universal beverage name change. I'm just putting out there - in time for St. Patrick's Day - that it's a crass, thoughtless and cruel way to order what sounds like a perfectly delicious drink.

My husband completely agrees, but I put it to my Twitter followers to see what they thought:

@nicorussell - "pretty distasteful name for a drink really"
@Letters2Afghan - "over here [UK] we would never call our drinks and desserts that"
@LacyinTX - "Nope, not just you. I don't like the sound of that either"
@collca - "I totally agree with you"
@jenlars8 - "Not just you, but I've never been to a bar that served anything named like that. Must be regional??"

Happily, no one responded in favor of the drink (proving once again, that I follow lots of awesome people on Twitter!)!

Comments

It's what we would call 'naff'.
ie- bad taste.
It can also be used as a verb as when Princess Anne told reporters to 'Naff off!'

Posted by: Pat | March 16, 2011 at 10:14 AM

Tell me about it - definitely naff. I should integrate it into my vocabulary... no one would know what I was talking about! ;)

Really, really happy to hear your wonderful news, Pat x

Posted by: Kath | March 16, 2011 at 10:42 AM

Kath, totally agree with you! My hubby served in N. Ireland with the Royal Marines in the 1980's and finds the names for these drinks and cupcakes to be disgusting and horrendously disrespectful! He is not fond of N. Ireland at all, as he had terrible experiences there (and lost several good friends to these terrorists bombs). He has basically said he will never set foot back in that country ever again!! Once he retires from the RMC's next year (27 years)and we immigrate back to the states, he says he plans on using St. Patrick's Day as a good day to start a "bonfire" with the N. Ireland flag...more exaggeration than anything..I think. Can understand his feelings though.

Posted by: Marci | March 18, 2011 at 09:00 AM

Marci - I'm sorry that your husband lost friends in Northern Ireland. My heart breaks for the families and friends of lost loved ones! I can completely understand why he is hurt and offended by the words and actions of ignorant people.

27 YEARS!! Congratulations to you BOTH! That is darn impressive and something to be extremely proud of! Please thank him for his service for me :)

It's lovely to hear from you!!

Posted by: Kath | March 21, 2011 at 03:49 PM