There are a lot of things I miss from my time at Rutgers University, but one thing that really still stings as each week of "adult life" comes and goes is the lack of Thirsty Thursday in my regular routine.
At Rutgers, Thursday marked the start of the weekend for most, because no one ever took a Friday class unless it absolutely couldn't be avoided. Thirsty Thursdays were usually the wildest of all the weekend days, and discounted drinks were offered at the majority of the local bars. This, of course, made it extra appealing to broke college students like myself to leave our apartments and walk through the cold/rain/seemingly always terrible weather to squish ourselves against too many strangers in a bar that was packed wall-to-wall with people trying to get drinks. It really was more enjoyable of an experience than it seems, but truthfully, I don't know any other way to describe it.
It was on a Thirsty Thursday that I first tried a Hpnotiq cocktail, suggested to me by a bartender friend. I had just recently turned 21, and I really had fallen in love with the LIT, but it was always too sugary and got me way too drunk way too quickly. I couldn't tell you what was in the Hpnotiq cocktail I was introduced to that made me move away from the infamous LIT, because I really don't even remember what it tasted like. I just know that I liked it, and that it was citrusy or tropical or something. Also, it was turquoise. Despite the fact that I try to suppress the girlish instinct in me to flock towards any drink that is colorful and pretty looking, I just can't resist a turquoise-colored drink. If it's turquoise, it just has to taste good. I've yet to be proven wrong in that theory.
I haven't had a Hpnotiq cocktail in years (well, up until last week), mainly because I quickly realized that I needed to keep an eye out for how much sugar I was taking in with each drink, or just drink less in general. I moved on to ordering Vodka, Seltzer, and Lime only about a month or so after discovering the beloved Hpnotiq cocktail, and still order VSL most often to this day. It does the job.
However, that's not to say that I don't like to switch things up every once in a while, so last Thursday I made these Tropical Turquoise Hypnotic Cocktails to commemorate my short obsession with the drink in my beginning bar days. They tasted pretty similar to what I remember drinking. Maybe even a little better. I might have to make some more tonight, actually.
Tropical Turquoise Hpnotiq Cocktail
Description
Tasty and turquoise, what more could you ask for?
Ingredients
- 3 oz Hpnotiq
- 1 oz orange rum
- 1 oz sour mix
- 1 oz pineapple juice
- 1oz blue curacao
- Club Soda
- Juice of ½ lemon
Instructions
- In a Hurricane or Pilsner glass filled ⅓ with ice, combine hypnotiq, sour mix, orange rum, blue curacao, and pineapple juice.
- Fill the remainder of the glass with club soda.
- Squeeze the juice from ½ lemon on top. Garnish with a lemon wedge and serve.
- Category: Cocktail
Ellie says
Would this work as a punch? I'm in need of a turquoise cocktail I can serve in bulk for a party I'm hosting in September. Suggestions?
Morgan says
Ellie, I think it would work well as a punch, but Hpnotiq is a tad expensive for a main punch ingredient (since you're making it in bulk) so you might want to play around with that. Another idea that should get you a turquoise color is to make a white-yellow cocktail and add blue curacao until you reach your desired color. I'd suggest doing so with pina coladas if you like them! If you're making the punch for 30 people, I'd suggest using 1 46oz can of pineapple juice, 1 750ml bottle of vanilla vodka, 1 750ml bottle of Malibu coconut rum, and 1.5-2 cups of blue curacao. Hope that helps! If you'd like more ideas, let me know, I'll try to think of some more.
Morgan says
By the way, when I say for 30 people, I really mean 30 servings. If your guests will drink more than 1 cup, then adjust accordingly!
Ellie says
Thanks Morgan! I'm pretty positive there are a few people in attendance with coconut allergies and at least one picky aunt who just dislikes it lol if not that would be a fantastic idea. Any other suggestions are very welcome. Thanks for your help again.
Morgan says
I'm thinking you could probably do it without the coconut if people like pineapple. Maybe 1 46 oz can of pineapple juice, 2 cups of heavy cream, 1 quart of vanilla ice cream, white rum (try a tropical flavored rum) to taste, about half a liter of club soda or 7up, and blue curacao to color. Just add the pineapple juice, heavy cream, and rum to a punch bowl, and then add the blue curacao until it's a few shades darker than you'd prefer it (but don't make it too dark, or the flavor will be over-powering!) then scoop in the vanilla ice cream and top with 7-Up, and serve immediately. Experiment with a smaller amount first just so you know exactly what you'd wind up with-- I've never made it but I'm almost certain it would turn out great!
Ellie says
I definitely don't want something that has to be served immediately. I've purchased a 2 gallon glass drink dispenser and ideally I'd like it to be on display at the cocktail and appetizer table (which will be adjacent to the dessert table). Sorry if I'm flooding you page with all these niceties. I really appreciate all your help and ideas!
Morgan says
The only other turquoise punch combination I know of is equal parts lemonade and blue Hawaiian punch, and then your choice of liquor, to taste. I would add a flavored rum. Another thing that would work is using a base of white cranberry juice and a bit of fresh lemon juice, and adding blue curacao and your liquor of choice until the desired color is achieved. I basically do that in this recipe for a Cosmo, but I'd advise using a lot less vodka (or any kind of alcohol) for a punch. Maybe use sparkling wine instead? I've never tried that, but it might be worth giving a go!