Cinnamon-flavored whiskeys are something people either love or loathe, with few exceptions. Known more for being the start (or the end) of what will be remembered as a memorable and sometimes bad night out, there is no denying that many consumers absolutely love Fireball Whisky. This leads to the question, does the market really need a more upscale Fireball Whisky? Thanks to Fireball Small Batch Dragon Reserve Whisky, we’ll soon find out.

Fireball Whisky has lived a much longer life than most know. Back in the 1980s, the whiskey was originally branded and only sold in Canada as Dr. McGillicuddy’s Fireball Whisky. This was part of a line of flavored liqueurs created by Seagram’s. Sazerac Company bought the brand from Seagram’s in 1989, finally bringing the brand to the U.S. market in 2001. In 2007, Sazerac re-branded Fireball - dropping the Dr. McGillicuddy’s name and introducing the now familiar package design seen in bars nationwide. The rest is history, as Fireball sales have skyrocketed with it being so well loved it claims the title of best-selling spirit in some states.

In 2023, Sazerac announced they’d be releasing their first ever barrel aged Fireball Whisky, calling it Dragon Reserve. This was initially announced as a limited Father’s Day release, with only 618 bottles being released. Since that initial release, Sazerac has now turned Fireball Dragon Reserve into an ongoing release.

I’m no stranger to Fireball Whisky, having taken on the assignment a few years ago to see how it stacked up against Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey. When taking on the challenge of confronting the Dragon head-on, I expected to encounter a similar cinnamon taste as the standard Fireball with an artificial oak flavor to it. To my surprise, Dragon Reserve stands out as its own beast altogether.

There’s no denying that Dragon Reserve has a slightly darker appearance compared to standard Fireball. While this could easily be done via additives or a tweak of ingredients, the flavor profile itself also comes across as more refined compared to standard Fireball, and is head and shoulders better compared to something like Evan Willams Cinnamon, which has more of a medicinal flavor profile. Dragon Reserve isn’t going to win any whiskey competitions, but in a world of crowded cinnamon whiskeys, it does enough to distinguish itself.

Dragon Reserve comes in slightly more premium packaging compared to standard Fireball, including a more upscale label and cork for the bottle. This implies (along with its increased price point) that it is a more premium product that consumers are about to embark on. What’s unclear, however, is whether this whiskey has actually been aged in a charred oak barrel. While the original release in June 2023 stated, “Cinnamon whiskey finished in charred oak barrels for a superior fiery smoothness,” this new ongoing release instead states, “Cinnamon whisky rested with charred oak for a fiery smoothness,” which leaves wiggle room on whether the whiskey actually spent any time aging in barrels. That said, it probably doesn’t really matter, and the brand's target consumer may not be too concerned about this either.

Is Fireball Small Batch Dragon Reserve Whisky a serious whiskey? No, and it shouldn’t be taken as one. Thankfully, it’s not priced to be either. While $20 will get you a much better traditionally-tasting whiskey, if you’re a fan of cinnamon whiskey, the flavor profile of Dragon Reserve is actually one that can be sipped versus taken as a shot. This makes Dragon Reserve’s price of $20 justifiable at just $4 more than the standard version.

As I sat with a glass of Dragon Reserve in my Glencairn, I began to question my sanity and wondered what whiskey god I pissed off to come to this moment in my life. Yet the more I sipped on Dragon Reserve, the more I had to admit, it wasn’t half bad for what it is. It’s nowhere near as interesting to talk about as George Dickel Tabasco Barrel Finish, but it’s also the most well-rounded cinnamon whiskey I’ve explored as I taste my way through the category. It’s by far not for everyone, but for those who are a fan of this category, or those who have always been curious about cinnamon whiskeys, Dragon Reserve is actually a fun product to spend time with.

Fireball Small Batch Dragon Reserve Whisky (Batch 001) Tasting Notes

Classification: Whiskey Specialty

Company: Sazerac Company, Inc

Distillery: Undisclosed Canadian distilleries

Release Date: Ongoing

Proof: 66

Age: NAS

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Color: Golden Honey

MSRP: $20 / 750mL (2024)

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A sweet cinnamon syrup aroma wafts gently out of the glass, shoving all other scents to the side. The faintest hint of oak is also present, but there is no denying that this is a cinnamon-flavored whiskey through and through. It delivers on its promise in a way that those seeking out a cinnamon whiskey will expect.

A cornucopia of cinnamon flavors kick off the midpoint. Cinnamon syrup, Red Hots candy, and Fireball candy all add a variation of cinnamon spice to the mix. The mouthfeel is incredibly viscous and adds slight intrigue to the palate.

Rounding things out in the finish, Red Hots spice rushes forward and is joined by the heat you’d pick up off any number of hot candies. A faint note of cinnamon syrup lingerings in the background, but it’s the Fireball candy heat that presses forward for the entirety of the finish and is the most noticeable trait. This light heat lingers for a surprisingly decent amount of time to end the sip.

Dragon Reserve’s overall sip contains that base cinnamon flavor that Fireball is known for, but it adds slightly more depth to it, along with a much-improved mouthfeel. Amazingly enough, it didn’t feel completely out of place in a Glencairn, delivering a sip that isn’t something most bourbon enthusiasts would reach for, but also one that they wouldn’t immediately pour out either. Its syrupy mouthfeel borders on being overdone but reels itself in to be tolerable. In the end, if you’re ever going to be forced to drink a cinnamon whiskey, Dragon Reserve is the one that you’ll want to reach for.