Looking for punch drinks ideas? This vodka jungle juice recipe might just be what you need.
The drink possesses a classic fruity soda look— sparkling and with sweet slices of strawberry to chew on. But as you take a sip, along with the fruity aroma comes vodka, strong and makes you utter a whoo.
It is a perfect drink for any party, any occasion, any season!
Who Invented Jungle Juice?
The invention of jungle juice dates all the way back to World War II.
American soldiers wanted a cocktail but fell short on ingredients to make one. As the last resort, they had to ferment, distill the fruits they found to make alcohol, using everything they had.
We are not sure how they managed to make alcohol with little equipment, but the result is clear— the birth of jungle juice. The drink has alcohol, fruit juices, and sliced fruits floating around.
Now, this inexpensive crowd-pleaser is often seen at parties, in a large tank— its signature appearance. It’s the most beloved party drink.
For more ideas on jungle juice recipes, check out our top 10 jungle juice recipes.
Is Vodka Jungle Juice Healthy?
Alcohol in general has never been considered healthy by any means. It is defined as “empty calories” and has proven to negatively affect your body.
However, as it is an implemented part of many people’s lives, saying no to alcohol is near impossibility. This inspires us to recreate the vodka jungle juice recipe, but with a healthy amount of alcohol.
Jungle Juice Calories
Each serving of this jungle juice yields 163 calories. About 57% of the calories derive from alcohol and the rest is from the juices.
In case you’re wondering, 1 gram of alcohol gives 7 calories. Our recipe uses 1.5 fl oz per serving, but it alone contains 13.8 grams of pure alcohol— 96 calories.
For yielding this many calories, alcohol can lead to weight gain, eventually obesity if overly consumed. Therefore, it is best to drink alcoholic beverages in moderation, possibly along with frequent exercise.
Choosing Ingredients for Jungle Juice
Let’s take a look at our grocery list for this vodka jungle juice recipe.
1. Vodka
In the spirit of keeping every item low-cost, you can pick up the cheapest bottle of vodka you can find. In the end, it is the juices and fruits that decide the flavors of jungle juice.
The bottle we chose was 1.75 mL, at the cost of 17$. That equates to 28 cents per ounce, relatively cheap in our opinion.
2. Lemon Juice vs Lime Juice
Lemon juice gives a milder zing, and we prefer our juice not too sour. Plus, lemons are far more fragrant than limes.
If you prefer a sharper sour note, use a combination of the two. One gives the zing, and the other makes your drink super fragrant.
3. Fruits
Always serve this party drink with fruit slices floating around. Slurping and chewing is the nature of jungle juice.
We used strawberry for simplicity. You can add citrus slices or any fruits of your choice.
4. Juices
As long as the juice is your favorite, you’re good to go. A popular combination is orange juice, lemon juice, and berry juice (we went with our favorite fruit juices anyways).
It is tempting to get bottled fruit juice, but as health enthusiasts, we encourage you to juice your own. Along with convenience comes additives, which have questionable effects on our health.
How to Make Jungle Juice with Vodka?
Cocktails are often concocted with a shaker, but we won’t need it for this vodka jungle juice recipe. After all, no cocktail shaker was in the supply trunk back then.
This recipe makes four servings, so you will need a pitcher or anything of that size to mix the ingredients.
Step 1: Mix the juices and sugar
Add pre-made pineapple juice and apple juice in a large pitcher. Add sugar and stir with a spoon to dissolve.
Step 2: Add the vodka and lemon juice
Stir in vodka and lemon juice.
Step 3: Add ice and strawberry to serving glass
Top serving glasses halfway with ice. Place strawberry slices on top.
Step 4: Assemble the drink
Pour juice from the pitcher into the glasses. Slowly pour the soda on top so it creates layers. Decorate with rosemary, a stirring spoon, and serve.
To serve this drink at parties, serve it in a large punch bowl.If you have a tank, use that for the full jungle juice experience.
How Long Does Vodka Jungle Juice Last in the Fridge?
With fruit juice involved, it is best used within 2 hours after making for the best experience. The soda doesn’t get flattened and the juices still have its original color, not darkened.
If you still decide to keep the juice anyway, it won’t go bad within 24 hours. Do expect the sparkling to go away and the color to get darkened.
Vodka Jungle Juice Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 3/4 cup 80-proof vodka
- 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 oz strawberry sliced
- 1 cup soda
- 0.5 oz rosemary fresh
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Instructions
- Add pre-made pineapple juice and apple juice in a large pitcher. Add sugar and stir with a spoon to dissolve.
- Stir in vodka and lemon juice.
- Top serving glasses halfway with ice. Place strawberry slices on top.
- Pour juice from the pitcher into the glasses. Slowly pour the soda on top so it creates layers. Decorate with rosemary, a stirring spoon, and serve.
Nutrition
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