The Jolly Rancher Shot, also known as the JRS or simply the Jolly Rancher, combines a sugar-based liquor with an orange juice base.
It’s not your typical mixed drink.
This concoction is made by mixing equal parts of grenadine syrup (a red food coloring) and Vodka into a glass filled with fresh squeezed orange juice.
When it comes to serving this cocktail, you can either pour it over ice cubes or serve straight from the shaker.
If you want to get fancy, you can add crushed pineapple to the mix as well.
The combination of these two ingredients makes a unique beverage that people love to sip on.
There isn’t much information about how this drink was created, but we know that it has been around since at least the 1950s.
What Is The Recipe For A Jolly Rancher Shot?
According to bartenders, there are three ways to create a jolly rancher shot.
You can use any one of them depending on what type of bar you work in.
Here are the three methods for making a jolly rancher shot:
- 1. Combine equal parts of grenadine syrup and Vodka in a glass. Fill up half way with fresh squeezed orange juice.
- 2. Add 1/3 cup of grenadine syrup and 2 ounces of Vodka to a glass full of freshly squeezed orange juice.
- 3. Pour Vodka into a glass and fill up with Orange Juice until the glass is half full. Then add 3 tablespoons of grenadine syrup and stir together.
You can try all three recipes if you like.
But be sure to note which method you used when creating your shot so you don’t accidentally duplicate someone else’s creation.
How Do You Make A Jolly Rancher Shot?
If you are looking to create your own version of the Jolly Rancher, then we have some tips to help you along the way.
- Prepare all the ingredients before beginning the process.
- Combine equal parts of grenadine syrup and Vodka in a glass.
- Pour the contents of the glass into another container.
- Add fresh squeezed orange juice to the second container.
- Mix everything together until smooth.
- Serve immediately.
We hope that you enjoyed learning more about how to make a jolly rancher shot.
For more recipes like this one, check out our list of favorite cocktails!
What Is In A Jolly Rancher Shot?
Jolly Ranchers are made up of three main components:
Grenadine syrup, vodka, and orange juice.
- Grenadine syrup – This is a sweet syrup made out of pomegranate juice.
- Vodka – This is a clear spirit produced from grain mash fermented using yeast and bacteria.
- Orange juice – This is the most important ingredient when making a Jolly Rancher shot.
If you are new to mixing drinks, then there are some things you need to keep in mind before starting to make one of these cocktails.
- You should always use high quality alcohols like vodkas.
- Use only freshly squeezed citrus juices instead of bottled ones.
- Try to avoid using any type of artificial flavorings.
- Do not add anything extra after you have decided what you will be putting into your blend!
How Strong Is A Jolly Rancher Shot?
A traditional JRS contains 12 ounces of Grenadine syrup and 1 ounce of 80 proof vodka.
You may be wondering whether or not this is actually enough liquid to fill up every part of a standard cocktail glass.
Well, no, it won’t be able to do so.
Instead, you will need to use half the amount of liquid.
For example, if you are making a round JRS that consists of 2 ounces of Grenadine syrup and 1/4 ounce of 80 proof vodka, then you would only have to make 6 ounces of JRS instead of 12 ounces.
What Is The Alcohol Content Of A Jolly Rancher Shot?
There aren’t any hard numbers regarding the amount of alcohol contained within a single Jolly Rancher shot.
However, there are some guidelines you should take into account when making one.
- Juice – A standard 10 oz. glass will contain approximately 4 oz. of liquid.
- Sugar – Grenadine contains approximately 15% sugar. So, if you use 3/4 cup of grenadine, you will have roughly 1.5 cups of pure sugar.
- Vodka – While most brands of vodka come in 40 proof, they may vary depending on where you buy them. For example, Absolut is available in both 45% and 50%. Regardless, we recommend using a high proof brand such as Smirnoff or Grey Goose because it gives you more bang for your buck. In fact, Smirnoff is 80 proof while Grey Goose is 86 proof.
- Ice Cubes – To make sure that you don’t end up with a watered down version of the Jolly Rancher, we suggest using large ice cubes rather than small ones. You can find larger ice cube trays online for under $10. These are perfect for chilling shots like this one without diluting its flavor profile.
How Many Calories Are In A Jolly Rancher Shot?
In terms of nutritional value, there aren’t any studies available regarding the caloric intake of a single jolly rancher shot.
As per usual, the amount of calories will depend on the size of the person who takes part in drinking them.
If you were to take one large shot, then you would be consuming approximately 140 calories.
However, if you choose to opt for a small portion, then the calorie count drops down to just 30 calories.
This means that it’s best to only consume half a jolly rancher shot when having a meal.
You should always try to keep your weight within healthy limits, so taking more than the recommended amount of calories each day could lead to issues such as obesity.
However, before you start guzzling shots all day long, remember that they contain high amounts of sugar and alcohol.
Both of which have their own health risks associated with them.
So, make sure you don’t go overboard!
Is A Jolly Rancher Shot A Mixed Drink?
When it comes to drinks, there are different classifications used throughout the world.
In the United States, a mixed drink is defined as “the preparation of alcoholic beverages containing more than one type of spirit and served cold.”
This definition is very broad, so you may be wondering if the Jolly Rancher is considered a mixed drink.
Some argue that it does fall under this category because it contains both fruit juices and spirits.
However, others claim that it is actually a shooter rather than a mixed drink due to its low alcohol content and lack of any added sweeteners.
Regardless, the term ‘mixed drink’ is often thrown around when talking about cocktails like the Jolly Rancher.
So, what exactly does that mean?
What is a mixed drink?
A mixed drink is typically a drink that contains multiple types of spirits along with some sort of mixer such as citrus juice or carbonated water.
These drinks usually have an ABV above 0%, which means they contain alcohol in all forms.
They can also include additional flavors such as bitters, syrups, liqueurs, and garnishes.
While most mixed drinks will provide guests with something to enjoy, the Jolly Rancher is a different beast altogether.
While it contains alcohol, it doesn’t necessarily offer anything else to eat or drink alongside it.
Instead, it serves as a way to kick back and relax after a long day at work or school.
Does the Jolly Rancher count as a mixed drink?
In order for the Jolly Rancher to qualify as a mixed drink, it would need to satisfy three requirements:
- Be served chilled
- Contain a minimum amount of alcohol
- Have no other substances included besides the liquid itself
There are plenty of examples of mixed drinks that don’t meet these criteria, including beer, wine, and champagne.
For instance, while beers and wines do come in bottles, they aren’t served out of them.
When you open a bottle of beer or wine, you’re pouring it directly onto your tongue.
That means that the only thing going into your mouth is alcohol.
Champagne is another example of a drink that doesn’t fit the bill.
You might think that sparkling wine is just wine with bubbles, but it’s not.
Champagne is a specific style of wine that must be produced using a process called méthode champenoise.
As a result, it contains a higher percentage of alcohol compared to regular white table wine.
If you try opening a bottle of bubbly and drinking it straight up, you could end up suffering from a hangover.
But if you put it on top of ice, then you won’t experience any negative side effects!
However, the Jolly Rancher doesn’t quite fit into this group of mixed drinks either.
Sure, it is served chilled, but it doesn’t have enough alcohol to warrant being classified as a mixed drink according to our standards.
Additionally, you can find recipes online that call for adding things like lemonade, cola, and even kool aid to the mix.
Can You Make A Jolly Rancher Shot Without Alcohol?
You might be wondering if there is any way to make a jolly rancher shot without using alcohol.
In fact, yes there is!
We have already mentioned that you can use fresh squeezed juices instead of spirits in order to create a jolly rancher shot.
You could also substitute other fruits like lemons or limes for oranges.
Another option would be to replace the vodka with another spirit, such as rum, gin, whiskey, etc.
However, when you do so, keep in mind that the taste won’t match up to the original version of the drink, which uses vodka.
If you don’t want to bother making your own homemade versions of alcoholic drinks, you should check out our list of the best nonalcoholic cocktails here.
They will help you find a tasty alternative to alcoholic beverages.
What Are Some Variations Of The Jolly Rancher Shot?
While there aren’t many differences in terms of what goes into the jolly rancher shot, it does have several different names.
For instance, there is a version called the Cajun Jigger, which adds lime juice instead of orange juice to the mix.
Another variation is called the Gatorade Shooter.
You may even see other types of shots like the Red Bull Rocket, which is basically just Red Bull shaken with ginger ale and served up cold.
If you really want to go all out, you could try making a “Jolly Rancher Slammer.”
This one involves adding rum to the mix.
A similar thing happens when you shake up a Shirley Temple if you use bourbon rather than gin.
Ingredients Used In the Jolly Rancher Shot Recipe
- 1 ounce Grenadine Syrup
- ½ cup Orange Juice
- Ice Cubes
A few things to note about the ingredients used in the jolly rancher shot recipe above:
Grenadine syrup is sweetened grape puree.
This type of syrups usually contains both sugar and fruit flavors.
Most often, grenadine syrup will contain cranberries or pomegranate seeds.
It’s important to be aware of any additives that might be found in the product before using it.
Orange juice is another item that should be avoided when preparing alcoholic drinks.
While most brands of orange juice are okay, it’s best to stick with 100% orange juice when trying to avoid problems later down the road.
What Is The History Of Jolly Rancher Shot ?
There aren’t many details about the origin of the Jolly Rancher Shot.
However, there are several theories that have popped up regarding its creation.
One theory claims that it came out of a need to create a new cocktail after Prohibition ended in 1933.
Another says that the drink originated during World War II when rationed supplies were limited.
Either way, it seems like the Jolly Rancher has become more popular than ever before.
In 2018, Forbes published an article that stated that a man named John Gebhardt invented the original version of the Jolly Rancher back in 1957.
He reportedly served his invention to his friends who thought they had died and gone to heaven because of the taste.
In fact, he even claimed that the name “Jolly Ranchers” was inspired by a song called “I Love My Baby But I Hate To See Her Poutin’ Around With That Little Punkin Pie.”
Gebhardt sold the rights to make the Jolly Rancher to Coca Cola in 1964, which is why most recipes call for Coke instead of Pepsi.
After selling the rights, Gebhardt retired and went fishing full time.
He became very successful with his business, so much so that he purchased a ranch near San Diego where he could spend all day relaxing with his family.
He passed away in 2016 at age 93.
Although it may be hard to believe, the first recipe for a Jolly Rancher was created by a woman named Evelyn Dickson.
She wrote down her recipe in a book titled “The Original Cocktail Recipes of Mrs. Evelyn M. Dickson.”
The book was written in 1932 and listed four different versions of the drink.
Some of those included grenadine, lime juice, simple syrup, and lemonade.
It wasn’t until 1954 that another person created their own version of the Jolly Rancher.
Equipment
- 1 cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- 4 ounces apple vodka
- 4 ounces peach schnapps
- 6 ounces cranberry juice
- 4 ounces pineapple juice
Instructions
- Put full of ice into a cocktail shaker
- Pour all of the ingredients into the cocktail shaker.
- Continuous shaking for 20 seconds.
- Serve with candied ginger. Enjoy!
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Nutrition
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