I’ve never met a popsicle I didn’t like. I’ve also never met a bottle of alcohol I didn’t like. Put the two together, and you’ve got one of my all-time favorite summer treats: alcohol popsicles.
The invention isn’t novel, but it’s pretty tricky to master within the confines of a home kitchen. Most types of booze — at least on their own — won’t freeze unless they’re in negative digits (which is either technologically impossible or a hefty electric bill when it comes to most mainstream freezers). This means recipes require a precise ratio of water-heavy ingredients such as juice or simple syrup to ensure you get that icy, sweet goodness you crave during a pool party or beach day.
What’s In The Best Alcohol Popsicles?
The possibilities are endless, frankly. Many spirits are combined with fruit juices to model some of your favorite boozy cocktails like strawberry daiquiris, piña coladas, mojitos and even whiskey sours. For the health-conscious, be sure to read nutritional labels as many brands tend to use high-fructose corn syrup and added sugars to achieve an additional level of sweetness.
How to Make Alcohol Popsicles
It’s pretty simple, actually! I have a wonderfully simple frosé recipe in my cookbook, Basic Bitchen, that you can pour into popsicle molds and freeze.
- Purchase a bottle of your favorite rosé (the darker the hue, the better since it will lose some of its color) and pour it into a freezer bag — seal and freeze for a minimum of five hours.
- Add the frozen rosé to a blender with 1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and 1/4 cup simple syrup. (You can make simple syrup by dissolving a cup of sugar in a cup of near-boiling water on the stove. Just make sure it’s cooled to room temperature before using).
- Pour mixture into popsicle molds and freeze.
You can also make alcoholic popsicles with your favorite hard seltzer (and only four ingredients!), which I demonstrate here in a video for Entertainment Tonight.
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Where to Buy Alcohol Popsicles
Alcohol popsicles are now available in grocery and liquor stores nationwide. You can also buy them in bulk (great for parties) at membership warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club. Battling warm weather elements to mix and prepare refreshingly cold drinks can become a fruitless effort. Alcoholic popsicles are an excellent alternative for quick, easy goodies to get your buzz on in a new and unique way. Check out the five best alcohol popsicles below, and let’s start the official countdown to summer.
1. SLIQ Spirited Ice
BEST ALCOHOL POPSICLE OVERALL
Amazing taste? Check. Good value? Check. High ABV? Check. SLIQ lives up to its name with these uber-cool tasty treats that will easily make you the star of any summer house party. These alcoholic popsicles are also available in three liquors — vodka, rum and agave — so there’s a flavor to accommodate every palate and drink preference. The company has also pledged a commitment to sustainability by partnering with Terracycle to lower its carbon imprint, making it an indulgence you can feel even better about. Cheers!
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2. Truly Lemonade Freeze Pops
BEST VALUE ALCOHOL POPSICLE
Truly made a splash in 2016 when it came after White Claw’s market dominance in the hard seltzer space. It may not have surpassed the company in sales, but it sure beat them to the boozy popsicle game with this line of delectably tart libations. The 12-pack box retails for less than $20, which means you’re paying less than $2 a pop(sicle) — significantly less than your standard cocktail. I’ll take that over waiting in line at a busy bar any day.
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3. FrutaPOP
BEST ALL-NATURAL ALCOHOL POPSICLE
If you’re looking for a line of boozy popsicles that mimic actual cocktails, FrutaPOP is the brand for you. Flavors include Sparkling Mango Mimosa, Watermelon Margarita, Pina Colada, Coconut Rosé and Moscow Mule, and every flavor boasts zero added sugars, syrups or dyes. They’re practically a health food, said no doctor ever, but after a few are knocked back and go straight to your head, you can certainly convince yourself otherwise.
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4. Slim Chillers
BEST LOW-CALORIE ALCOHOL POPSICLE
Binging alcohol isn’t the most healthy activity, so Slim Chillers has released lines of Skinny Vodka Freezers, Wine Freezers, and their latest concoction: the Skinny Threezer. These triple-layered, rum-based freeze pops have a creamy center that sets them apart from every other option on this list. And at only 100 calories per serving, you’ll get the biggest pay-off in taste without the guilt of consuming more than your body can (and should) handle.
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5. Natural Light Naturdays Frozen Icicles
BEST ALCOHOLIC POPSICLE WITH HIGH ABV
If you can get past the fact that this is produced and manufactured by frat boy beer favorite Natural Light (affectionately known as Natty Light), you’ll enjoy these frozen icicles that pack an 8% ABV punch. They also don’t taste too booze-heavy, so you’ll be well on your way to Blackout City without having to gag or wince in the process.
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