Grown-Up Jungle Juice Recipe

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While we can't say we totally miss dark, sticky frat houses, there are plenty of things to miss about those golden years of college. Namely, the giant coolers, plastic tubs, storage bins, or random boxes filled with several gallons' worth of alcohol, sugar, and fruit, affectionately named jungle juice. Whether you miss jungle juice or cringe at the thought of the sickeningly strong punch (don't worry, we've all been there), we've got a good recipe for you. 

Written by developer Michelle McGlinn, this jungle juice recipe revisits the juice-filled concept of the punch, but this time, adjusting the ratios to taste less sweet and a bit more refined. Still using fruit juices and vodka, this punch tastes like fresh pink lemonade with raspberries and orange slices garnishing the top. It's delicious, strong, classy, and still easy to make. It's perfect for football Sundays, Galentine's Day, or even a normal, yet hot, summer day. And hey — if you still want to put it in a plastic cooler, be our guest.

Ready for a juice-heavy grocery list? You'll need lemonade, orange juice, cranberry juice, and pomegranate juice. You don't need to measure exactly, but to make a full batch (and hide the taste of the liquor), you'll want to be generous with the fruit juices. You can also opt for fruit punch instead of cranberry juice, or skip the pomegranate juice if you hate the flavor. Want extra flavors? Try flavored lemonades like peach or raspberry.

You'll also need about a full 750-milliliter bottle of vodka and rum. You can swap the rum for other clear liquors, like Everclear or tequila, if you prefer the taste or strength. We don't recommend swapping out the vodka, since it's such a neutral spirit. To make this jungle juice a little fancier, add sliced oranges, raspberries, and pomegranate arils. You don't have to use Cara Cara oranges, but we love the juicy, extra-sweet flavor, and bright color. You can also add blueberries, blackberries, or even fresh peaches.

It doesn't matter too much what order you add things, as long as it is mixed together well in the end. Pour the vodka, rum, lemonade, orange juice, cranberry juice, and pomegranate juice into a punch bowl or beverage dispenser, then taste and adjust as needed. If the mixture is too sweet or too strong, you can always dilute it with water or ice. If it's too spirit-forward, you can add more lemonade or orange juice. If you want a sweeter punch, try adding a splash of simple syrup.

Add the sliced orange, fresh raspberries, and pomegranate arils directly into the jungle juice. The longer the fruit sits in the punch, the more flavor it will add to the drink, making this drink perfect for prepping ahead. If you're afraid of the pomegranate seeds being a nuisance, you can also try freezing the seeds into ice cubes to add to the punch later on.

To chill the jungle juice, you can do a few different things. You can prep the juice ahead of time and refrigerate it, so the entire batch is cold and ready. You can add ice directly to the punch, if your guests are eager, and your punch is self-serve. To avoid diluting the punch, add ice cubes to the serving glasses, and ladle the punch over top.

Because this jungle juice is more like a lemonade punch than a mystery concoction, you can feel confident bringing it to any potluck-style party. The pretty pink color is perfect for a Galentine's Day party, and the easy assembly makes it ideal for busy Super Bowl parties. You can also throw all the juices in a beverage dispenser or glass pitcher, and sip throughout summertime like an extra-boozy lemonade. And don't worry, it's still delicious straight out of a cooler, but this time, try taking it to the beach for a shareable summer punch.

You can also top the jungle juice with tonic water or prosecco for a sparkling version. It's surprisingly appropriate for any occasion — maybe our college-aged selves had the right idea after all.

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Our version of jungle juice may be boozy, but it's designed to be delicious and refreshing rather than simply inebriating. In jungle juice's earlier days, however, the end game might have been to combine the most and strongest alcohol in any receptacle that would hold it. The origin story of jungle juice is as murky as the typical ingredients list, but it's possible that it was first mixed — and named — during the early 20th century to describe the concoction made by bootleggers in the areas on the edges of dry towns.

What's more certain, and better documented, is that during World War II, the name was given to the frighteningly strong, wildly improvised mixture of booze created by American soldiers in the Southwest Pacific looking to forget their harsh reality, if only for a short while. Relying on any liquid they could find, fermenting it, and storing it in anything that would hold it, from garbage cans to gasoline drums, they came up with something that might have helped in the moment but would surely be regretted the next day.

The same might be said for the potion created by college students to this day, which is how most of us probably fondly or regretfully remember the drink. It might have included Everclear and any random liquor and been served in a plastic cooler, but the experience of drinking it will be stored in our foggy memories forever.

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