Impress your guests and get the party started with cocktail shots that highlight a beloved candy, the Swedish fish. This fish-shaped gummy candy, with its mysterious fruity flavor the company simply calls "red," has been around for decades and is a familiar sight at any candy store. You can recreate the tasty Swedish fish flavor in a mixed shot, better known as a shooter, using flavored liquors and fruit juice. Kick things up a notch with a boozy gelatin version that includes embedding the Swedish fish candy into the shot.
Swedish Fish Shot
Add a handful of crushed ice to a cocktail shaker.
Pour one part blackberry schnapps, one part vodka and one part cranberry juice into the cocktail shaker. As an alternative, add sweet and sour mix instead of the vodka, if you prefer. Lessen the amount of cranberry juice if you want the liquor to be more pronounced.
Close the shaker with its lid and shake vigorously for about 10 seconds, and then pour into a tall shot glass to serve.
Swedish Fish Gelatin Shot
Combine boiling water and gelatin mix in a large mixing bowl, using half the amount of water called for in the directions. Use cherry or blackberry flavored gelatin, or if you want a less intense flavor, plain gelatin.
Stir in chilled blackberry schnapps and cranberry vodka or gummy vodka, if you can find it, equal to the amount of water you mixed in.
Pour the mixture into individual paper or plastic shot glasses. Refrigerate just until the gelatin starts to thicken.
Stick a Swedish fish in the middle of each shot of gelatin, leaving the tail sticking out. Return the shots to the refrigerator to allow the gelatin to fully set before serving.
Tip
Combine gelatin with cranberry, cherry, blackberry juice or a combination of both instead of water for a more intense, Swedish fish-like flavor.
Add blue food coloring to plain gelatin for shots that look like the Swedish fish gummy candy is "swimming" in water.
References
- The Little Black Book of Shots and Shooters; Eric Furman et al;
- Bar School: Swedish Fish Shot Drink Recipe
- Bar One Drinks: Swedish Fish #1
- Liquor.com: Jello Shots
- Jellinator: Perfect Jello Shots Recipe
Writer Bio
Based in Los Angeles, Zora Hughes has been writing travel, parenting, cooking and relationship articles since 2010. Her work includes writing city profiles for Groupon. She also writes screenplays and won the S. Randolph Playwriting Award in 2004. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in television writing/producing and a Master of Arts Management in entertainment media management, both from Columbia College.