Cocktail | |
---|---|
Type | Mixed drink |
Served | cold, set in a solid state |
Standard drinkware | various (cup, glass, bowl, tray, etc) |
Commonly used ingredients | Gelatin mix (normally Jell-O), water, alcohol |
Notes | Some versions are served a shooter |
A jello shot, colloquially, or Jell-O shot, is a gelatin and alcohol mixture consumed as a shot. The shot is commonly made with vodka or other hard liquors. Shots made with non-branded or unflavored gelatin rather than Jell-O are sometimes known as jelly shots or gelatin shots. [1]
A jello shot is made by adding an alcoholic beverage to the gelatin mixture, complementing the water normally used to make gelatin. The shots are named after the popular gelatin brand Jell-O, although the term jello-shot has since become genericized.
The shot is normally served in shot glasses, plastic cups, or ice-cube trays. [1] Jell-O shots are commonly made with vodka but can be prepared using almost any type of hard liquor, grain alcohol, or wine. [1] Fruit juices or flavored alcohol can be used in the shot to add extra flavor or mask the taste of alcohol. [1]
Proper proportioning of alcohol and water is needed to ensure the shot mixture is properly set –this proportioning can vary based on the type of alcohol used. Some liquids like pineapple juice will disrupt the ability of the gelatin mixture to set and should be avoided. [1]
Jello shots are commonly associated with Spring break, [2] though variations exist for other holidays. [3] [4] The shot is popular due to its low cost and easy preparation. [2]
Some vendors sell pre-made gelatin shots for consumption. [5] [6] Vegan variants of the shots exist, featuring seaweed or agar instead of animal-derived gelatin. [7]
The exact origin of the jello shot is unknown, as gelatin and alcohol mixtures predate the commercialization of Jell-O in 1897. Several precursors to jello shots have been described, such a recipe in the 14th century Le Viandier de Taillevent for aspic flavored with wine. The invention of gelatin powders in the 19th century resulted in the popularization of jellies, some of which involved combining alcohol with gelatin; famed bartender Jerry Thomas included a recipe for a "punch jelly" in his 1862 work How to Mix Drinks that called for adding isinglass gelatin to a bowl of fruit punch spiked with cognac and rum. [2] [8] The jello shot is sometimes attributed to 19th-century chef Marie-Antoine Carême, who created a recipe for pink champagne jelly flavored with orange flowers. [2] The San Francisco Chronicle claims to have published the first recipe for a jello shot, as in 1902 the newspaper published a recipe for a "wine jelly" made with lemon Jell-O, orange slices, and sherry. [8]
Modern jello shots originated in the 1950s when Jell-O was at the height of its popularity in the United States. Multiple sources [1] [2] attribute the creation of the modern jello shot to American satirist and musician Tom Lehrer, who claimed to have invented the jello shot as a way to circumvent a ban on alcohol at a navy base he was stationed at. According to Lehrer, he and a friend were barred from bringing alcoholic beverages to a Christmas party at a naval base, and so the two mixed orange Jell-O with vodka in cups so that the mixture could be smuggled into the party. [9] [10] Comedian Luke Ski later wrote a song celebrating Lehrer's creation of the shot. [9]
Changing tastes and economic trends resulted in a decline of Jell-O sales in the 1960s and 70s. However, Jello shots remained in demand, reaching their now-established level of popularity in the 1980s. [1] [11]
An alcopop is any of certain mixed alcoholic beverages with relatively low alcohol content, including:
Gelatin desserts are desserts made with a sweetened and flavoured processed collagen product (gelatin). This kind of dessert was first recorded as jelly by Hannah Glasse in her 18th-century book The Art of Cookery, appearing in a layer of trifle. Jelly is also featured in the best selling cookbooks of English food writers Eliza Acton and Isabella Beeton in the 19th century.
Jell-O, stylised as JELL-O, is an American brand offering a variety of powdered gelatin dessert, pudding, and no-bake cream pie mixes. The original gelatin dessert is the signature of the brand. "Jell-O" is a registered trademark of Kraft Heinz, and is based in Chicago, Illinois.
A liqueur is an alcoholic drink composed of spirits and additional flavorings such as sugar, fruits, herbs, and spices. Often served with or after dessert, they are typically heavily sweetened and un-aged beyond a resting period during production, when necessary, for their flavors to mingle.
Vodka is a clear distilled alcoholic beverage. Different varieties originated in Poland, Russia, and Sweden. Vodka is composed mainly of water and ethanol but sometimes with traces of impurities and flavourings. Traditionally, it is made by distilling liquid from fermented cereal grains and potatoes since the latter was introduced in Europe in the 18th century. Some modern brands use corn, sugar cane, fruits, honey, and maple sap as the base.
Mulled wine, also known as spiced wine, is an alcoholic drink usually made with red wine, along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins, served hot or warm. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas. It is usually served at Christmas markets in Europe, primarily in Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Nordics, Baltics and eastern France. There are non-alcoholic versions of it. Vodka-spiked mulled wine can be found in Polish Christmas markets, where mulled wine is commonly used as a mixer.
The term punch refers to a wide assortment of drinks, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic, generally containing fruits or fruit juice. The drink was introduced from the Indian subcontinent to England by employees of the East India Company in the late 17th century. Punch is usually served at parties in large, wide bowls, known as punch bowls.
Fruit wines are fermented alcoholic beverages made from a variety of base ingredients ; they may also have additional flavors taken from fruits, flowers, and herbs. This definition is sometimes broadened to include any alcoholic fermented beverage except beer. For historical reasons, mead, cider, and perry are also excluded from the definition of fruit wine.
Pruno, also known as prison hooch or prison wine, is a term used in the United States to describe an improvised alcoholic beverage. It is variously made from apples, oranges, fruit cocktail, fruit juices, hard candy, sugar, high fructose syrup, and possibly other ingredients, including crumbled bread. Bread is incorrectly thought to contain yeast for the pruno to ferment. Pruno originated in US prisons, where it can be produced with the limited selection of equipment and ingredients available to inmates. It can be made using only a plastic bag, hot running water, and a towel or sock to conceal the pulp during fermentation. The end result has been colorfully described as a "bile-flavored wine cooler". Depending on the time spent fermenting, the sugar content, and the quality of the ingredients and preparation, pruno's alcohol content by volume can range from as low as 2% to as high as 14%.
Drunken chicken is a way of preparing chicken using alcoholic beverages. Different varieties of the dish exist in Chinese, Taiwanese, Malaysian, Singaporean, Greek and Latin American cuisine.
Aguardente (Portuguese), or aguardiente (Spanish), is a type of distilled alcoholic spirit that contains between 29% and 60% alcohol by volume (ABV). It is a somewhat generic term that can refer to liquors made from various foods. It originates from and is typically consumed on the Iberian Peninsula and in Iberian America.
Liquor is an alcoholic drink produced by the distillation of grains, fruits, vegetables, or sugar that have already gone through alcoholic fermentation. Other terms for liquor include: spirit, distilled beverage, booze, spirituous liquor or hard liquor. The distillation process concentrates the liquid to increase its alcohol by volume. As liquors contain significantly more alcohol (ethanol) than other alcoholic drinks, they are considered "harder." In North America, the term hard liquor is sometimes used to distinguish distilled alcoholic drinks from non-distilled ones, whereas the term spirits is more commonly used in the UK. Some examples of liquors include vodka, rum, gin, and tequila. Liquors are often aged in barrels, such as for the production of brandy and whiskey, or are infused with flavorings to form flavored liquors, such as absinthe.
Jello salad is an American salad made with flavored gelatin, fruit, and sometimes grated carrots or other vegetables. Other ingredients may include cottage cheese, cream cheese, marshmallows, nuts, or pretzels. Jello salads were popular in the early 20th century and are now considered retro.
A beer cocktail is a cocktail that is made by mixing beer with other ingredients or another style of beer. In this type of cocktail, the primary ingredient is usually beer.
A flaming drink is a cocktail or other mixed drink that contains flammable, high-proof alcohol, which is ignited before consumption. The alcohol may be an integral part of the drink, or it may be floated as a thin layer across the top of the drink. The flames are mostly for dramatic flair. However, in combination with certain ingredients, the flavor of the drink is altered. Some flavors are enhanced, and the process may impart a toasted flavor to some drinks.
There are many cocktails made with cachaça, the national spirit of Brazil. The caipirinha is by far the most popular and internationally well-known, but bartenders have developed other mixed drinks using the spirit.
An alcoholic beverage is a drink that contains ethanol, a type of alcohol and is produced by fermentation of grains, fruits, or other sources of sugar. The consumption of alcoholic drinks, often referred to as "drinking", plays an important social role in many cultures. Alcoholic drinks are typically divided into three classes—beers, wines, and spirits—and typically their alcohol content is between 3% and 50%.
An astro pop cocktail is a layered cocktail, mixed drink or shooter so named because it resembles the Astro Pop lollipop candy brand. Various recipes exist that use liquor and liqueurs to produce the drink. A version of the drink exists that is layered with red, white, and blue colors and served in a shot glass. It is a popular alcoholic beverage in some drinking establishments.
Mosaic gelatin is a gelatin dessert that is popular in Mexico and Brazil. However, it is unclear if it is of Mexican or Brazilian origin. It is sometimes called broken or stained glass gelatin due to its appearance. This dessert is sold at fairs, markets, plazas, and food carts. It can even be found in upscale restaurants. It is popular amongst individuals of all ages, but particularly children because of its colorful, attractive appearance. It can be served at special occasions, and is often found at birthday parties for children. It is a relatively simple and inexpensive dessert to prepare.