Skittles Shot

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

They say candy is dandy but liquor is quicker, and when you and your friends enjoy a few Skittles Shots you’ll understand why.

As a kid, I used to love eating candy. Those sweet and fruity-flavored teeth destroyers were especially great when you’d go to the movies. You had to get a big tub of buttered popcorn, a gallon of soda that required two hands, and of course a box of candy. If I wasn’t washing down fistfuls of SweeTarts with Cherry Coke or Dr. Pepper, it was either some Sour Patch Kids or Skittles. More often than not, it was Skittles.

Tonight’s drink, the Skittles Shot, isn’t the first foray into candy-flavored adult beverages we’ve explored here. Most just taste like whatever it is they’re inspired by, like the Mexican Candy or Lemon Drop Shots. The Skittles Shot is honestly no different. A combination of vodka, melon liqueur, pineapple juice and sweet and sour mix, its flavor favors the rainbow the candy entices you to taste. But our recipe does suggest you infuse the vodka with some Skittles themselves, which will give your mixture a more authentic candied expression.

Not to be confused with a Skittle Bomb, which is Cointreau and Red Bull, the Skittles Shot could very well have taken its inspiration from a random episode of The Simpsons. Homer makes a stop at the Kwik-E-Mart to pick up his requisite beer and asks Apu for a six-pack of something called “SkittleBrau”, which the shopkeeper promptly says doesn’t exist, and that poor Homer must’ve dreamt it. Undaunted, our hero purchases some bottles of ordinary suds and a bag of said candy.

You can float a bunch of Skittles in your next bottle of beer as Homer did, but I’d suggest trying some colorful and sweet Skittles Shots out with your friends first. Especially since our delicious recipe is already at your fingertips.

What Is The Best Alcohol To Use In A Skittles Shot?

If you plan on infusing Skittles in your vodka, go with an unflavored variety. The notes from the candy won’t be competing with anything in the spirit, and will help it meld with the pineapple juice and sweet and sour mix. Midori is the most popular brand of melon liqueur and will work well for you in this recipe.

WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH IS USED?

Chill some standard shot glasses in your freezer for fifteen to thirty minutes before serving. For garnish, I’d suggest placing a few pieces of candy off to the side for decoration as opposed to throwing them in the drink. They could present a choking hazard.

CAN THIS SHOT BE UPSCALED TO A FULL-SIZE COCKTAIL?

Of course! Instead of doling these out into shot glasses, you can serve larger versions on the rocks in a highball or an Old-Fashioned glass. You can also drink them straight up in a coupe or martini glass if you’re feeling a little fancy.

Similar Drinks To The Skittles Shot

If you’re throwing a party and know that the guests who will arrive have a sweet tooth (and aren’t exactly the Gin Martini crowd) then libations such as the Skittles Shot and others like it might be more to their liking. Twist & Toast can offer up more than a few colorful and fun tipples to treat yourself and your friends with. Check these out below and explore the site for even more recipe ideas.

• Gummy Bear Shot – This candy-inspired shooter isn’t just sweet, it’s strong too.
• Jell-O Shots – The classic and flexible party favorite never goes out of style.
• Cherry Bomb Shot – Red Bull and cherry-flavored vodka combine in this sweet and potent eye-opener.
• Birthday Cake Shot – Sweet and creamy, this little tipple is the perfect way to celebrate.