🥃 Fireball Cinnamon Whisky
American brand of cinnamon drink based on Canadian whisky, 33% ABV; created in Canada in the mid-1980s; owned by Sazerac Company since 1989.
Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is a brand of cinnamon drink based on Canadian whisky, 33% ABV. It is made by the American company Sazerac. The drink descends from the Dr. McGillicuddy's line of flavoured liqueurs, created in Canada, and it has carried its current name and red label since 2007.
History. According to Tasting Table, the drink appeared in Canada in the mid-1980s, and Sazerac bought it from Seagram in 1989. Sales were modest for a long time; growth began after the 2007 rebrand. According to Bloomberg Businessweek via Punch, retail sales rose from about 2 million dollars in 2011 to 61 million in 2013.
How it is made. The maker does not disclose the recipe, and the official site says only that the class and strength depend on the product. Tasting Table names the base as Canadian whisky from used bourbon barrels, flavoured with natural cinnamon and other ingredients. Because of European batches containing propylene glycol, the source states that this ingredient has been removed from all versions.
The range. Besides the original there is Blazin' Apple, with an apple flavour, and the limited Torch'd Vanilla, which is vanilla. Ready-to-drink cans, large packs and party buckets of miniature bottles are also sold.
Why this matters to you. Because of its low strength and flavouring, this is closer to a liqueur than to classic whisky: it cannot be called "Canadian whisky". At 33% ABV it is lower than the usual 40%, but a sweet taste does not mean less alcohol. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | mid-1980s, Canada (Seagram); Sazerac since 1989; current name and label since 2007 (per sources) |
|---|---|
| EU category | by composition closer to liqueurs (category 33); check the label of the specific market for the exact category name |
| Raw material | Canadian whisky, natural cinnamon, sugar; full composition not disclosed |
| Cask type | the base whisky is aged in used bourbon barrels (per Tasting Table) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 33% ABV (66 proof) for the original; other versions differ |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Fireball Cinnamon Whisky → similar → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Sazerac Company
- Made from
- 🥃 Canadian whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🍸 Liqueurs
- Related to
- 🌍 North America
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Jägermeister, 🥃 Strega, 🥃 Strega, 🥃 Patxaran, 🥃 Patxaran, 🥃 Goldschläger
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Fireball is ordinary whisky?
No. It is a cinnamon-flavoured drink based on Canadian whisky, 33% ABV. Tasting Table writes that, given its strength and flavouring, it is effectively a liqueur.
Who makes Fireball?
Sazerac Company of Louisville, Kentucky. The company bought the brand from Seagram in 1989.
What is the ABV of Fireball?
The original is 33% ABV, which is 66 proof. Other versions may differ, since the maker's site says the strength depends on the product.
What is Dr. McGillicuddy's?
The line of flavoured liqueurs the brand descends from. The name Dr. McGillicuddy was dropped from Fireball in 2007, according to Tasting Table.
What is Fireball based on?
According to Tasting Table, Canadian whisky from used bourbon barrels. The maker does not publish the full composition.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🌍 North America — US and Canada: 9.5 million US cows gave 232 billion lb of milk (2025); Wisconsin makes a quarter of US cheese; Canada runs on dairy quotas.
- 🥃 Jägermeister — German herbal liqueur from Wolfenbüttel: 56 herbs, flowers, roots and fruits are steeped in alcohol, and the base then ages for about a year in oak casks.
- 🥃 Patxaran — Spanish drink of sloe (Prunus spinosa) and anise from Navarre and the Basque Country; in the EU, at least 25% ABV and at least 125 g of sloes per litre.
Similar
🥃 Beirão · 🥃 Southern Comfort · 🥃 Pisang Ambon · 🥃 Goldschläger · 🥃 Killepitsch · 🥃 Tuaca
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Punch: What's behind the cocktail world's obsession with Fireball (Dr. McGillicuddy line, Sazerac, 33 %, rebrand, 2011-2013 sales)
- Tasting Table: Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, the ultimate bottle guide (Canada mid-1980s, Sazerac 1989, 2007 rebrand, Canadian whisky base, 66 proof)
- Fireball Whisky (Sazerac Company, Louisville KY): product range — Cinnamon Whisky, Blazin' Apple, Torch'd Vanilla
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)