Fireball Alcohol Content
Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is 33% alcohol by volume, or 66 proof.2 That makes it a little weaker than regular whiskey or vodka, which are usually 40%. A 1.5 oz shot of Fireball is 0.8 standard drinks.
There is a catch. Not every bottle that says Fireball is the whisky. Sazerac also sells a Fireball made from malt, like a flavored beer, and a version made from wine. Both are much weaker than the whisky, and both are easy to mistake for it on the shelf.4,5
Fireball ABV by Version
These strengths come from the labels each version was approved under by the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB):
Check the small print under the logo. The whisky says "whisky". The weaker ones say "malt beverage" or "grape wine". Because they are not legally liquor, they can be sold in many grocery and convenience stores that can't sell the whisky.
How Many Standard Drinks Are in Fireball?
One U.S. standard drink is 14 grams of pure alcohol, the amount in a 1.5 oz shot of 40% liquor.1 At 33% ABV, here is how Fireball adds up:
| Serving | ABV | Standard drinks |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 oz shot | 33% | 0.8 |
| 50 ml mini bottle | 33% | 0.9 |
| 375 ml bottle | 33% | 7.0 |
| 750 ml bottle | 33% | 13.9 |
| 1.75 L bottle | 33% | 32.5 |
A 750 ml bottle holds about 17 shots. At 33%, that is roughly 14 standard drinks, so a bottle split between two people is about 7 drinks each.
Fireball vs Other Drinks
| Drink | Typical ABV | Standard drinks per 1.5 oz shot |
|---|---|---|
| Vodka | 40% | 1.0 |
| Jack Daniel’s | 40% | 1.0 |
| Fireball Cinnamon Whisky | 33% | 0.8 |
| Fireball (wine) | 21% | 0.5 |
| Baileys | 17% | 0.4 |
| Fireball (malt) | 16.5% | 0.4 |
To count any mix of drinks, use the standard drink calculator.
How Much Fireball Does It Take to Get Drunk?
That depends on your weight, your sex, and how fast you drink. Enter your weight below to see how many shots of Fireball reach each level.
Actual BAC depends on metabolism, food, and time.
Try our BAC calculator for more detailed tracking
Fireball Alcohol FAQ
What proof is Fireball?
Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is 66 proof, which is 33% alcohol by volume. The malt-beverage version is 16.5% (33 proof) and the wine-based version is 21% (42 proof).
Is Fireball alcohol?
Yes. Every Fireball product contains alcohol. The original is a 33% cinnamon whisky. The versions sold where liquor is not are a 16.5% malt beverage and a 21% wine.
Is Fireball real whiskey?
The original is. Its label calls it Cinnamon Whisky, and it is approved as a whisky product. It is bottled at 33%, below the 40% of most whiskeys.
How many shots of Fireball does it take to get drunk?
A shot of Fireball is 0.8 standard drinks. How many it takes depends on your weight, your sex, and how fast you drink. The calculator on this page shows your number.
How much alcohol is in a mini Fireball?
A 50 ml mini of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is 0.9 standard drinks. A mini that says malt beverage on the label has about half that alcohol.
To see how Fireball affects your blood alcohol level, use the BAC calculator.
Sources
- NIAAA. What is a standard drink?
- TTB COLA 22111001000867. Fireball Cinnamon Whisky label, 33% alc. by vol. (66 proof). Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, public COLA registry.
- TTB COLA 24123001000114. Fireball Blazin’ Apple label, 33% alc./vol. (66 proof). Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, public COLA registry.
- TTB COLA 25260001000072. Fireball Cinnamon malt beverage label, 16.5% alc./vol. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, public COLA registry.
- TTB COLA 24045001000129. Fireball Cinnamon grape wine label, 21% alc./vol. (42 proof). Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, public COLA registry.