Irish Trash Can

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Don’t let the name fool you, because the Irish Trash Can cocktail is far from a garbage drink.

In the early aughts, when I was living in Astoria, Queens in New York City, my friends and I would frequent a fantastic bar that became our hangout. The Hellgate Social Club is what it was called, named for the Hellgate Bridge that loomed over our neighborhood. The place was large, had a lounge-like vibe, low-lit red lighting, oodles of atmosphere and a spacious backyard for those warm summer nights. The owner, George Rallis, would throw Halloween parties, screen movies and was an all-around great guy. On an ordinary night, it was usually the regulars, just relaxing and sipping on a few drinks. Unfortunately, this beautiful haunt no longer exists, as it closed in 2013.

The Hellgate was the first bar where I had a drink made with Red Bull, a Vodka Red Bull to be precise. Got pretty tipsy and energized after a few of them, it was a very interesting sensation. Tonight’s beverage follows a similar route, but packs some extra luggage.

The Irish Trash Can cocktail doesn’t come from Ireland, nor is it served in a trash can. In fact, this recipe’s origins are a mystery. There are claims that it first began to pop up in bars around the late 1990s and early 2000s. Nobody has claimed to be its inventor, but some people have pointed at New York bartender George Devlin as its creator. While this has never been confirmed, others say the drink was an accidental concoction, born when a bunch of college students threw a bunch of random liquors together. Whatever the case may be, The Irish Trash Can is a hefty cocktail.

Mixing triple sec, peach schnapps, vodka, rum, gin and blue curaçao over ice in a glass big enough to hold an upside-down can of Red Bull, whoever invented this drink didn’t do it for their Irish grandmother. I had an Irish grandmother, she preferred tea and toast.

What is the Best Alcohol to Use in an Irish Trash Can?

In this drink, what isn’t the best booze to put into it? I’ve written about the Long Island Iced Tea and its numerous offshoots here before, and while they seem like an exaggerated mix of spirits, the Irish Trash Can might outdo those. You probably already have the ingredients on hand, as they’re all fairly common in many mixtures. Just make sure the rum is a white, or silver, spirit. You want your base liquors to be clear in color.

What glassware is used?

Grab a pint glass or something big enough to hold the ice, drink and the inverted can of Red Bull. Pop a straw in, and as you sip, the energy drink will seep out of the can and into your cocktail.

Can you use other brands of energy drinks?

You can use any of your favorite brands of energy drinks, just make sure the can isn’t so big that it doesn’t fit in the glass.

Similar Cocktails to the Irish Trash Can

If you like “kitchen sink” cocktails, meaning a drink with a lotta different liquors in it, you’ve found yourself at one of the best places to discover a variety of them. Twist & Toast has a plethora of recipes that are easy to make and fun to drink. So if you have a lot of different spirits on hand in your home bar, and you’re feeling adventurous, try out some of these this weekend.

• Long Island Iced Tea – This booze bomb was born in the 1970s and is just as popular today.
• AMF (Adios, Motherf***er) – The name for this Long Island Ice Tea riff says it all, so be careful.
• LA Water – This murky and strong tipple tastes much better than its namesake.
• Holy Water – Bless yourself with this blue and tropical-tasting cocktail.