Sky Juice Drink

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Cool off under the hot sun with the creamy and refreshing Sky Juice cocktail.

A few weeks ago, I was traveling back to Los Angeles after an extended stay with my family on the East Coast. While I still tackled the world of cocktails on this vacation of sorts, it was by the pool, often with a drink of my own and sometimes followed by a sojourn in the hot tub. And it was the company of my family that was the icing on a very relaxing cake.

So flying back was a tad bittersweet. I was happy to go home to the West Coast, but sad that summer was over, and that I’d be saying goodbye to my family until the holidays.

At the airport I always fly out of, Reagan National, I was enjoying a pre-flight Gin Martini at a comfy little bar right outside my gate. Next to me was a lovely fella named Pat Metzker, and as he was waiting for his flight, he was sipping on a Bloody Mary. On his way to Canada to blog for his travel page—which I recommend everyone follow—we got to talking, and a new friendship was born over what I whimsically thought to myself as sky juice. Before boarding, I looked up that turn of phrase and discovered it was already a cocktail with a history of its own.

Sky Juice—the drink we’ll be making tonight—is a mixture of gin, sweetened condensed milk and coconut water served over crushed ice. It is said to have been invented in the Bahamas during the Prohibition years, as gin was a more inexpensive alternative to rum at the time. Even though any cocktail you have at an airport while toasting with newfound friends can be considered “sky juice” in the fun sense of the words, tonight’s recipe is the real deal.

What is the best gin to use in a Sky Juice drink?

You’ll want the flavors of the condensed milk and coconut water to shine in this recipe, but the bite from the gin should cut through and meld in a balanced way as well. So what spirit shall we choose? A London Dry gin is always a welcome and wonderful option, and something like Beefeater, Bombay, and Tanqueray will bring a crisp and strong sting on the finish of every tropically-tinged sip.

What glassware and garnish are used?

Fill a highball glass with crushed ice all the way to the top. Pour your cocktail in and grate some fresh nutmeg on top before serving.

Shaken or stirred?

We’ll want to prep this cocktail the way 007 prefers his libations… shaken. This will ensure the ingredients are blended together nicely and will give your drink the perfect frothy texture after it’s poured.

Similar drinks to the Sky Juice cocktail

After taking flight with the Sky Juice, you may still be in the mood for more coconutty libations after coming in for a landing. Don’t worry about trying to find the perfect drink that’ll have that tropical flavor you’re seeking, as Twist & Toast offer a lovely selection of easy-to-make concoctions that you can craft at home. Try these out the next time the island mood strikes you.

• Coconut Margarita – Make your next ‘Rita a creamy and smooth affair with this recipe.
• Coconut Mojito – Craft this minty and smooth sipper the next time you’re by the pool.
• Coco Loco – Powerful and punchy, this coconut-flavored elixir has almost everything in it.
• Caribeño – Refresh your senses with this rum and coconut water potion.