Irish Trash Can Cocktail Recipe

Irish Trash Can Nutrition Facts

Calories:250

Fat:0g

Protein:0g

Carbohydrates:28g

Alcohol %:20

Created by

Nic Polotnianko

I fell in love with the art of mixology 6 years ago. Since then, I've honed my skills, crafting a myriad of cocktail recipes, and sharing my passion with other enthusiasts.

Last Updated: August 23, 2024

History

The Irish Trash Can is a modern cocktail, popular among younger drinkers and party-goers. It's known for its vibrant blue color and the fact that it's served with an upside-down can of Red Bull. This cocktail is often associated with St. Patrick's Day celebrations, but it's a hit at any party or gathering. It's a strong, high-energy drink that's sure to get the party started.

How Irish Trash Can Tastes?

The Irish Trash Can is a sweet, fruity cocktail with a strong, energizing kick from the Red Bull. The combination of peach schnapps, blue curacao, and vodka gives it a complex, layered flavor profile, while the sour mix and lemon-lime soda add a refreshing tang.

Interesting facts about Irish Trash Can

  • The Irish Trash Can is not actually Irish. The name is more of a fun play on words, as the drink is often served on St. Patrick's Day.
  • Despite its name, the Irish Trash Can is actually quite visually appealing, with its bright blue color and unique presentation.
  • The drink gets its name from the fact that it's made with a mix of different liquors, much like how a trash can might contain a mix of different items.

Ingredients

A few good options for Irish Trash Can are:

  • Grey Goose
  • Belvedere
  • Khor
  • Smirnoff

Learn everything on which Vodka to choose

A few good options for Irish Trash Can are:

  • Brockmans
  • Silent Pool Gin
  • Hendrick's Gin

Learn everything on which Gin to choose

Peach Schnapps

  • Adds a fruity, peachy sweetness that complements the citrus and tropical flavors. Not using it may result in a less fruity profile. If you're fresh out, try apricot liqueur for a similar stone-fruit vibe.

Alex Green

Blue Curacao

  • Lends a citrusy orange flavor and a vibrant blue color. Skipping this will affect the signature color and reduce the citrus notes. A dash of orange liqueur could substitute minus the blue hue.

Emma Rose

Vodka

  • Provides a clean, neutral alcohol base. Without it, you would lose some of the cocktail's potency. Substitute with more gin or a flavored vodka to keep the spirit but change the tune.

Mary Mitkina

Gin

  • Introduces herbal notes. Missing gin would strip the cocktail of its botanical flair. For a twist, try using a floral gin to accentuate the flowery aspects.

Alex Green

Light Rum

  • Offers a sweet and slightly tropical taste. Leaving it out would diminish the complexity. As an alternative, try a spiced rum for a hint of intrigue.

Emma Rose

Triple Sec

  • Brings additional citrus and sweetness. If omitted, the cocktail loses some zest. Consider an orange extract as a non-alcoholic substitute.

Mary Mitkina

Sour Mix

  • Balances sweetness with acidity. It's key for the sweet-and-sour dynamic. Without it, the drink might be too sweet. Lemon or lime juice mixed with simple syrup could work in a pinch.

Alex Green

Lemon-Lime Soda

  • Adds carbonation and a refreshing citrus tang. No soda means a flatter, less zesty cocktail. You could use club soda and a squeeze of lemon and lime to compensate.

Emma Rose

Red Bull

  • Provides caffeine, a unique taste, and effervescence. Without the Red Bull, the drink loses its energy kick. There's no perfect substitute, but an energy drink with similar flavor notes might suffice.

Mary Mitkina

Recipe. How to make Irish Trash Can Drink

  1. Fill a pint glass with ice.
  2. Add the peach schnapps, blue curacao, vodka, gin, light rum, and triple sec to the glass.
  3. Add the sour mix and lemon-lime soda.
  4. Stir well to combine.
  5. Open a can of Red Bull and invert it into the glass. The Red Bull will slowly seep out and mix with the other ingredients.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

Pro Tips

  • Make sure to pour the Red Bull in last, as it needs to be inverted into the glass.
  • Stir the drink well before serving to ensure all the flavors are well combined.
  • Serve with a straw for easier drinking.

Perfect Pairings

Food Pairings

  • Salted Nuts: The saltiness provides a nice contrast to the sweetness of the cocktail.
  • Chicken Tenders: A flavorful and casual food choice that matches the laid-back vibe of this drink.
  • Burgers: Juicy burgers pair nicely with the variety of flavors in this energetic cocktail.

Drink Pairings

  • Water: Always a good idea to keep hydrated when you're consuming cocktails with multiple types of liquor.
  • Coffee: For those who are planning to stay awake, a cup of strong coffee might be a welcome contrast.

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What you could change in Irish Trash Can

  • If you don't have peach schnapps, you can use another fruit-flavored liqueur.
  • If you don't have blue curacao, you can use another orange-flavored liqueur and add a drop of blue food coloring.
  • If you don't have Red Bull, you can use another energy drink.

Explore all drinks starting with I here

And of course - twists🍹

Green Energy Trash Can

  • Substitute Red Bull with a green-colored energy drink for a St. Patrick's Day inspired twist. This changes the color and potentially the flavor, depending on the brand of energy drink used.

Ingredients: same as the original, but with a green energy drink. Recipe: Just as the original, but the green energy drink creates a fun and festive look.

Tropical Trash Can

  • Add a splash of coconut rum and pineapple juice to bring a tropical twist to the classic cocktail.

Ingredients: add 0.5 oz coconut rum and 1 oz pineapple juice. Recipe: Follow the original recipe and add these ingredients before the Red Bull. The drink will have a more fruity, island-inspired feel.

The Herbal Bin

  • Use an herbal tonic instead of sour mix for a more sophisticated profile, highlighting the botanicals in the gin.

Ingredients: substitute sour mix with herbal tonic. Recipe: Mix as usual, adding the herbal tonic in place of the sour mix. The drink will be less sweet and more herb-centric.

In case you forgot basics how to make Irish Trash Can

Insert the spoon into the glass until it touches the bottom. Keep the back of the spoon against the inside wall of the glass, and stir in a smooth, circular motion. The goal is to swirl the ice and ingredients together without churning or splashing.

Learn everything on how to stir

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Frequently Asked Questions on Irish Trash Can

Why is it called an Irish Trash Can? Is it an authentic Irish cocktail?

The name 'Irish Trash Can' is a playful jest. The cocktail isn't genuinely Irish, it's actually made for St. Patrick's Day celebrations mostly found outside of Ireland. The diverse mix of spirits in it is said to resemble a 'Trash Can'.

What kind of taste and drink experience should I expect from the Irish Trash Can?

The Irish Trash Can cocktail delivers a potent, sweet, and fruity flavor. The mix of spirits gives it a layered complexity, while the sour mix and lemon-lime soda provide a refreshing tang. The addition of Red Bull injects a jolt of energy, making it a perfect party drink.

How does the Red Bull can influence the drinking experience?

The inverted can of Red Bull seeping into the drink creates a unique visual appeal and interactive drinking experience. As you drink, the Red Bull gradually mixes with the cocktail, maintaining the effervescence and energizing kick.

With so many ingredients, is the Irish Trash Can expensive to make?

It can vary depending on the quality and brands of the spirits you choose to use. If you're regularly making cocktails at home, you may already have several of the necessary ingredients.

Is there any particular order to add the ingredients when making the Irish Trash Can?

Yes, there's a certain order to follow when making this cocktail. The alcoholic components come first followed by the sour mix and soda. Remember to add the Red Bull can last, inverted into the glass.

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