Remember back in the day how excited you would get when you would open the packed lunch your mom had made you for school? You’d take out the smushed up peanut butter and jelly sandwich, some baby carrots that were either way too wet or way too dry, a rice crispy treat if you were lucky, but most importantly, you’d take out your drink.
SunnyD, Capri Sun, Kool-Aid and Squeezit 100% Fruit Juices were just a few of the classics that defined childhood drinks. And they were so delicious. So why do only kids drink these wonderful juices nowadays? Beats us, but we decided to pick up a few and adult-ify them our own ways and turn those distant child juice memories into reality. So join us as we take these childhood favorites and turn them into this generations next greatest collection of drinks with some bar classics.
1. Makeshift Screwdriver
Photo by Jeffrey Ho
The screwdriver is a classic drink, just some good ole’ orange juice and vodka, mixed together to form a refreshing alcoholic mixed beverage. We decided to take a spin on this textbook drink by switching out orange juice for a childhood favorite, SunnyD. The result? Absolutely delightful, tastes like soccer practice meets Sunday brunch.
This simple two ingredient drink will have you reminiscing over the days of carpooling and bologna sandwiches. Well, maybe not because who even likes bologna, but believe us, this drink is a definite throwback and we highly recommend it.
2. Makeshift AMF
Photo by Jeffrey Ho
Trust us, you’ll still be saying “Adios Motherf*****s” with our kiddie version of an AMF. It’s Friday night, spring term and you’re feeling a little funky, so go out with your girls, buy a couple of empty fishbowls, and get ready for a wild night.
This absurd blue mixture is a bar staple but can easily be made at home. Skip the rum and curacao for some equally vibrant and even more delicious blue Kool-Aid, add equal parts vodka, tequila and gin and get sippin’. You’re in for a good time.
3. Makeshift Cherry Bomb
Photo by Jeffrey Ho
Feeling nostalgic? Put a twist on your cherry bomb with a cherry Squeezit 100% Fruit Juice to take this drink to the next level. Squeezit 100% Fruit Juice is a classic TBT drink – who didn’t love biting off those weird wax tops as a vicious little third grader? I know we did.
Yet, what even is a cherry bomb? It’s quite simple really, just vodka and cherry juice. But why not switch out that gross, tart cherry juice for some artificially sweetened “100% Fruit Juice” instead? We promise you, you will not be disappointed in your decision. And to make this drink even more fun, you can transfer your mixture back into the wax bottle and pretend like you’re a kid again.
4. Makeshift Long Island Iced Tea
Photo by Jeffrey Ho
Not to toot our own horn or anything, but this L-I-T is pretty LIT. If you’re a fan of getting crazy but can’t stand the taste of alcohol, this is definitely the drink for you. To tell you the truth, while creating this drink, we actually thought that a long island iced tea consisted of tea. Newsflash, it doesn’t.
But here is our recipe for it anyways because it was fracking good. Instead of using Coca-Cola, trade this out and replace it with all of our previously used childhood drinks: SunnyD, Blue Kool-Aid and a cherry Squeezit 100% Fruit Juice plus the addition of some Pacific Cooler Capri Sun. Don’t worry, we didn’t forget the alcohol. After you have your concoction of juices, add in equal parts tequila, vodka, rum and gin and violà, the lit-test LIT you’ll ever drink. You’re welcome.