Fishbowl Cocktail – A Lovely Mess

Once or twice in my life, I have ordered a fishbowl drink with friends. These admittedly silly cocktails are bright blue and served in an actual fishbowl. I find this level of novelty extremely charming and I had so much fun creating this recipe so you can make your own fishbowl cocktail at home. This classic punch recipe is perfect for pool days and makes an excellent summer cocktail.

More tropical drinks: Rum Runner, Mai Tai, Pina Colada, Painkiller, Blue Hawaii.

Ingredients

• White Rum – Choose a mid-priced white rum like Bacardi. You can also use coconut rum if you wish. 
• Vodka – Choose a mid-priced vodka like Tito’s. You can also use strawberry vodka or raspberry vodka if you want to add more tropical flavor. 
• Blue Curaçao – A bright blue Caribbean liqueur made with the dried peel of the Laraha citrus fruit.
• Pineapple Juice – For sweetness and flavor.
• Sprite – Or any lemon-lime soda. You can also use club soda if you want to tone down the sweetness. 
• Swedish Fish – Or any fish shaped candy as garnish.

The best glassware to serve a fishbowl cocktail in is (drum roll please…) an actual fishbowl. The key to garnishing this drink is to make it look festive so adding a few paper umbrellas and a paper straw for each person. This is a great party punch to share!

Blue Curaçao

Blue Curaçao bright blue Caribbean liqueur is made with the dried peel of the Laraha citrus fruit. It is similar to triple sec and usually made with additional spices along with the bright blue color. It is dyed blue with blue food dye. Here are some other drinks that call for Blue Curaçao.

Instructions for a Fishbowl Drink Recipe

In a mixing glass (or a large cocktail shaker), mix rum, vodka, blue curacao and pineapple juice. Stir to combine. 

Pour the mixture into a fishbowl filled with ice cubes. Top with lemon-lime soda. 

Garnish with Swedish Fish (or any tropical gummy candy). 

Add a paper straw for each person and cocktail umbrellas. Enjoy!

Tips for Making

• Swedish Fish candy are a popular choice for this drink. You can also find Scandinavian Swimmers at Trader Joe’s, which is their brand of fish candies. Another fun option is to swap them out for shark candy in honor of Shark Week. 
• You can easily turn this drink into a mocktail by swapping the liquor for lemonade and choosing a nonalcoholic blue curacao syrup. If making this drink for children, we recommend a plastic fishbowl. 
• Choose a different color straw for each person so they don’t get mixed up. Guests will appreciate this detail.
• Add some “gravel” to the bottom of your fishbowl by pouring a layer of Nerds candy in the bottom of the bowl before assembling the cocktail.
• More garnish ideas: lime slices, orange slices, lemon slices and pineapple wedges.
• If you prefer, you can double this recipe and serve it in a punch bowl or a pitcher.  This makes an excellent batch cocktail.

FAQ

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