Vodka Redbull Slushy

[ProfessorChaos]

Would anyone be interested in trying these Sunday Funday specialties on the playa???

Logistically this might suck.... Buuuuuuut.

[Bounce530]

Sounds tasty.
Ever tried a Sugar-free Rockstar and vodka?

[ProfessorChaos]

Ooohhh yea. They mix real nice!!

[trilobyte]

I've tried it, and don't care for it. It doesn't really work as well, frozen margarita style. Breaking the ice down to slushy consistency is not only more work (and requires a electricity & blender), but results in the cold bits breaking down and watering down the drink more quickly than vodka and red bull in a glass with cubed ice. I suspect the same is true for rum & coke, jack & coke, and other typical 'on the rocks' type drinks. Why do frozen margaritas get a pass? I couldn't tell you.

For a slushy/blended drink, especially something that you're going to go to the extra effort to make happen on the playa, the beverage needs to be pretty special. There's a small universe of fancy frozen blended drinks out there, from boozy smoothies to daquiris and various flavors of frozen margarita. Maybe it has to do with fruit being involved? Maybe it's a freshy thing? If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say it's all about decadence and opulence (which makes sense, considering the best frozen/blended drink I've ever had on the playa was an absinthe smoothie).

[LowePro]

Yes. Yes! Would love to try it. You might try some at-home experiments first. One option might be to mix the VRB in a big ziplock and freeze in the bag (open), then close it and bring the frozen bag to the playa in a cooler. As it melts, it *might* soften to slushee consistency. I did this with hard iced tea, but it wasn't carbonated, not sure how the carbonation might affect the freezing/thawing. In general I find carbonated drinks don't do well in a blender. I would crush the ice and Vodka first and then pour redbull over it in a cup. Anyway, sounds like a fun party experiment is in your future. Try to get some sleep!

[*Kat*]

By no means I want to discourage your experiments, but...

I don't really drink energy drinks, so I only have limited experience here but I dare to say that you'll have a hard time freezing the vodka-mix. It depends on how much alcohol is in there there, of course (How much alcohol is in the vodka? How is the mixing ratio?). And then you'll have to keep it frozen on the playa until you are ready to make the smoothies, just plain ice won't do.
Plus, as trilobyte already pointed out, you'll need a blender to break it down to slushy-consistency. I don't really see it happening (not with considerable effort at least).

But maybe all of the above is just BS and it works perfectly. I'd definitely try to do it at home first though, under playa-like conditions.

[Dr. Pyro]

And then you'll have to keep it frozen on the playa until you are ready to make the smoothies, just plain ice won't do.

Or you can do what Wildman does for us at Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro: Use liquid nitrogen to freeze anything. That stuff will freeze Blue Sapphire Gin solid in a few seconds flat. Slushies, no matter how strong, would be child's play.

[*Kat*]

Yeah, that would definitely fall into the "considerable effort" category - at least for me.


On a side note... How cold can a drink be without causing damage? Dry ice "burns" are no fun when playing around with it, and that's not even swallowing something that cold.
(Yes, I know the drinks would not be that cold, I am merely wondering...)

[trilobyte]

The logistics aren't tough to do, you just bring a generator and a blender. If you're a solo camper or tiny camp that might be a hardship, otherwise maybe not so much. In various years we've brought anything from spare kitchen blenders to badass Blendtec monsters (the ones from those 'will it blend?' videos on youtube).

FYI, if you're able to freeze a vodka & red bull mix in a regular freezer... your drink's not strong enough To freeze vodka, you'd need dry ice or as Doc mentioned... liquid nitrogen (though that one's a serious 'handle with care' material).

Not hijacking the thread so much as diverting a bit, my personal favorite choices for playa blender drinks are daquiris for simplest (you can get pre-made mix, then just add ice and booze), smoothies for decadence (more work and cleanup but oh so good), and fruit/juice blends for all-round versatile. If you look around, you can get bottled juice concentrates that are pretty good (advantage is they don't need to be refrigerated). If you've got cooler space, for bonus points you can grab fresh fruit in Reno, and then making/serving is easy. Put some fruit in the blender, fill the rest with ice, add booze, pour in juice concentrate, blend. Okay... diversionary ramble complete, I'll get back on the topic

I'm certain that the point of failure is the red bull. Carbonated beverages already have all the water/liquid they need, and in a slushy type concoction they just can't help but taste really watered down. It's the same with coke too - if you've ever seen slushies or slurpees at convenience stores, they're not made with the regular soda, they're made with the flavoring syrup concentrate. Since red bull's not available as a fountain drink, there's no finding a commercial supplier and getting the syrup concentrate like you can with various brands of soda. The closest you might be able to get would be those 5 hour energy shots they market at truck stops. Your mileage may vary, but I tried the red bull shot once and the taste was very different than the regular canned stuff (I wasn't drinking it for the flavor).

[ProfessorChaos]

@Trilo- totally agree with you that the frozen drinks would be amazing out there. I have to make this happen now.

I'm certain that the point of failure is the red bull. Carbonated beverages already have all the water/liquid they need, and in a slushy type concoction they just can't help but taste really watered down. It's the same with coke too - if you've ever seen slushies or slurpees at convenience stores, they're not made with the regular soda, they're made with the flavoring syrup concentrate. Since red bull's not available as a fountain drink, there's no finding a commercial supplier and getting the syrup concentrate like you can with various brands of soda. The closest you might be able to get would be those 5 hour energy shots they market at truck stops. Your mileage may vary, but I tried the red bull shot once and the taste was very different than the regular canned stuff (I wasn't drinking it for the flavor).

So we are putting our heads together at my work to figure this out, it has officially become a challenge(and I never back down from a good challenge). Energy drink syrup IS available for sodastream (no power needed)!!! Here is what we have so far...

1. hand operated ice shaver for ice portion ($40-$50 for good one on ebay)* bonus for other frozen drinks*
2. sodastream to turn water into energy drink with the cO2 (cheap and basically the same)
3. Vodskas
4. Combine in cup & stir

I will be trying this method and post back with results soon... this is going to happen.
PS- you want a slushee? you crank your own ice!

[ProfessorChaos]

edit: previous submitted twice because work comps are running the operating system of a potato 1.0

[ProfessorChaos]

And then you'll have to keep it frozen on the playa until you are ready to make the smoothies, just plain ice won't do.

Or you can do what Wildman does for us at Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro: Use liquid nitrogen to freeze anything. That stuff will freeze Blue Sapphire Gin solid in a few seconds flat. Slushies, no matter how strong, would be child's play.

liquid nitrogen you say??? any excuse to play with this stuff is good enough for me

[LowePro]

I love it. Hand crank and soda stream need no electricity. You could mix the "redbull" syrup much stronger than recommended, so that with the inevitable dilution due to icy bits melting in the drink, it still tastes potent and good. Another pre-Burn experiment for you and your friends!... To find the best ratio of vodka, ice, water and syrup. You're going to be up for days. Great idea, I'd certainly crank my own ice at your camp. Can the crank be decorated as something wacky?

[ProfessorChaos]

Another pre-Burn experiment for you and your friends!... To find the best ratio of vodka, ice, water and syrup. You're going to be up for days. Great idea, I'd certainly crank my own ice at your camp. Can the crank be decorated as something wacky?

oh the joys of pre-burn experiments

[Milayna]

I want one!!! where do you plan on camping?

[ProfessorChaos]

I want one!!! where do you plan on camping?

No clue. Pitching a hexayurt with some friend's and their seasoned vet friends. Any recommendations?

[ProfessorChaos]

Bought the soda stream off CL brand new for $30. BOOM.

VRB slushies on playa!!!

just need the mixers and ice shaver now. Biggest part is done and I saved $70 by getting it on CL!!! woot woot!!!

[Token]

You gotta change the recipe to the VRV.

Vodka RedBull n Viagra.

Guaranteed good time!

[Captain Goddammit]

Trilo, I'll have to make you one of my playa "fruit boozies".
I pour a little strawberry margarita mix into the blender, add a banana, a can of peaches, rum, tequila, and ice.
It's wholesome fruity goodness. There's a blender and all supplies right on the boat!

[Fidget]

I'd like a ride on that boat!

[ProfessorChaos]

Will trade Vodka redbull slushie (or VRV ) for a mutant vehicle rides.

[Captain Goddammit]

Mutant rides are free for all... all those who wait.
I'll be back with the Yacht next year.

[ProfessorChaos]

Guess what we are testing today???

And DAMN are they good...
I might have had a few as of posting this and I am WIRED.

All the supplies assembled. Bagged ice used for authenticity. The electrical outlet in the back is attached to the coffee maker not the grinder (poor placing on my part). Nothing here requires power. Each thing of syrup makes the equivalent of 50 cans of redbull . The sodastream uses only water and CO2.
Soda Stream, water, energy drink syrup, vodka and shaver.


Oh these are just delightful (and super strong). GF shaved the ice with zero issues. It was suprisingly a pretty fun process. We are thinking of modifying the handle to be something a little more... fun. lol. Any ideas? I am pretty good at reverse engineering and could make this thing a lot of fun.


See you in the dust

[LowePro]

A++

And all this stuff is portable, you could bike around with your "Energy Kit". Please stop by our camp if so! Thursday happy hour might need a pickmeup.

[chuckularone]

We are thinking of modifying the handle to be something a little more... fun. lol. Any ideas?

If you think of something, I have a 3D printer and can try to print it out for you.

[trilobyte]

The sodastream have redbull syrup?

[AntiM]

Unfortunately, I can't have most of the soda stream syrups (stupid sodium benzoate). HOwever, some years we do bring out the hand crank shave ice machine. It is an antique Japanese cast iron beast, so we rarely bring it. But oh, it is nice to have snowy ice. We have a hand crank blender too, but rarely use it.

[mudpuppy000]

So the few times I've tried putting soda cans (or beer) in the freezer it actually does come out as a slushy consistency when the cans explode... Maybe there's some way you can use that property to skip the shaved ice part.

[ProfessorChaos]

Testing went great!!! Thanks everyone for the support on the project!

A++

And all this stuff is portable, you could bike around with your "Energy Kit". Please stop by our camp if so! Thursday happy hour might need a pickmeup.

Never even considered it. I could sling it around in a backpack!!! I will swing by thursday!

If you think of something, I have a 3D printer and can try to print it out for you.

Thank you so much! That would be so awesome!

The sodastream have redbull syrup?

Oh heck yes they do Trilo! and let me tell you... that stuff is rocket fuel. One bottle of it costs about $6.50 and makes the equivalent of 50 cans of redbull.

Unfortunately, I can't have most of the soda stream syrups (stupid sodium benzoate). HOwever, some years we do bring out the hand crank shave ice machine. It is an antique Japanese cast iron beast, so we rarely bring it. But oh, it is nice to have snowy ice. We have a hand crank blender too, but rarely use it.

We looked for a some cast iron ones too but like you said... they are a beast. It was so fun having everyone make these yesterday. Cannot wait to gift these creations.

So the few times I've tried putting soda cans (or beer) in the freezer it actually does come out as a slushy consistency when the cans explode... Maybe there's some way you can use that property to skip the shaved ice part.

I will do my best lol.

[GreyCoyote]

In my mis-spent youth a bunch of us mad scientists used to make drinks we called a Dirty Snowball (aka, Vomit Comets). They consisted of Kahlua, vodka and dry ice in equal proportions. Really awful stuff, but the result was not only very cold, it was carbonated. (Warning: Do NOT drink. Spoon little bits into your mouth and follow with a water chaser, if necessary).

Could you appropriate this technique (dry ice and vodka) for your Redbull Slushy?