MxMO – Guilty Pleasures
Mixology Monday this month is hosted by Stevi over at Two At The Most and has the theme of guilty pleasures – drinks you enjoy but are embarrassed to admit in certain circles. I’ve previously written about the Cosmopolitan which is a kind of guilty pleasure I suppose. I do believe, however, at its heart it is a fundamentally decent cocktail – it’s the surrounding publicity and bastardisation that has turned it in to a guilty pleasure – so I don’t think it’s really suitable for this months topic.
The drink I have chosen most certainly is. Consisting of vodka, peach schnapps (the sweet American style) and cranberry juice, the Woo Woo fulfils all the requirements of an embarrassing drink. It’s pink, it contains vodka, it’s sickly sweet and it has silly, embarrassing name.
Popular with students, hen parties and gentlemen who can’t catch, I first came across the Woo Woo at university where the bar nearest to my house served it in large pitchers ostensibly to share between a group of people. More often than not though students would have one to themselves, drinking from that large plastic jug with a straw. Classy no?
Since then my tastes have moved on but every so often I find myself in a bar or club for gentlemen who admire curtains. These bars have much to offer, but decent drinks rarely form part of that. Generally I’ll limit myself to basic spirit/mixer combos, but if I really want to let my hair down sometimes I can’t help but order a Woo Woo. It’s sickly, and sweet, and pretty much the antithesis of the cocktails and the drink culture I usually write about, but sometimes, just sometimes, all that doesn’t really matter…
Woo Woo
- 2 shots / 60 ml / 2 oz cranberry juice (for extra authenticity, use the super-sweet cranberry and orange J2O soft drink)
- 1 shot / 30 ml / 1 oz vodka
- 1 shot / 30 ml / 1 oz peach schnapps
- Shake all ingredients with ice and strain in to a cocktail glass, or a old-fashioned glass, or shooter glasses. Or just build it over ice, whatever. Garnish if you really think it’s worth it.
The Woo Woo has a nose of artificial peach and alcohol, and on the tongue an initial cloying sweetness gives way to more cloying sweetness and an strong artificial peach. The finish is short, and, er, sweet. The cocktail is given an extra dimension with the crunchy texture that comes from your teeth falling out after the second or third sip. Overall the drink is terribly balanced, far too sweet, and lacking in any real depth of flavour. It is good fun though.
For extra shame, you can scream “Woo Woo” like a demented, dragged-up Thomas the Tank Engine before drinking it. Not that I’ve ever done that. Ahem. If you really want to go for it the Woo Woo can be made in shot form using equal parts of each of the three ingredients. This is maybe the best way to consume the drink as it reduces the chance all the sugar will make your teeth disintegrate.
Finally, if my words haven’t persuaded you to give the Woo Woo a try, perhaps these (100% geniune) user reviews will persuade you otherwise…
could’nt feel my face after these, definately do it again!
I really like this cocktail and had two in a row when my college went out for a goodbye meal. Afterwards, someone had to put me to bed. This cocktail is so nice and i cant get enough of it.
Are u serious this is the recipe for a Wet Pussy, cause i been wanting it for so long and no 1 knows how to make it that i know, Mad i Love Wet Pussy’s..Mmmmm
Now if you’ll excuse me I feel rather dirty and ashamed, so I’m off to wash my mouth out with gin and vermouth.
Note: no photo today I’m afraid, as I’ve just sold my camera to upgrade to the new version when it comes out in a month or so. I hope to get something to tide me over soon, but until then you’ll just have to imagine what a Woo Woo looks like. Or make one yourself, if you’re so inclined.
Posted in Cranberry, Mixology Monday, Recipes, Vodka
If you liked this, the barman recommends...
October 13th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
You brave, brave man.
October 13th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
As I said in my post, there will be a lot of drinks this month using Vodka, and claiming that is part of the reason for the Guilty.
I think I’ll do a little study and post the percentage….
October 13th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
aww, no photo. [sniff]
October 13th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
“The Woo Woo has a nose of artificial peach and alcohol, and on the tongue an initial cloying sweetness gives way to more cloying sweetness and an strong artificial peach. The finish is short, and, er, sweet. The cocktail is given an extra dimension with the crunchy texture that comes from your teeth falling out after the second or third sip”
The name alone got me to laugh to tears!
This one is hands down outstanding!
October 15th, 2008 at 12:12 am
[...] not afraid to be mistaken for a gentleman who likes curtains by celebrating his love for the Woo Woo. A favorite among bar-goers not afraid to stick a straw in a pitcher, this combination of [...]
October 15th, 2008 at 2:51 am
Jay, We always love reading your posts. You are an incredible writer. Someone give this man his own column in an internationally circulated magazine.
Cheers!
Paul & Steve
October 15th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Uh-oh – I think Paul and Steve have been on the Woo Woo…
Seriously, thanks guys!
Doug – look forward to the results of your study!
Anita – I am now with camera again, so if I can bring myself to make some Woo Woo at home I will post a picture shortly.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I will absolutely try this…provided I’m guaranteed the gin & vermouth chaser you mention.
October 15th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
[...] …all the requirements of an embarrassing drink. It’s pink, it contains vodka…. —Jay at Oh Gosh! I badmouth the spirit in private and trash it in public…. For all of the shit I’ve talked [...]
October 15th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Ye Gods, Jay. Best part is, you break down the Woo Woo by nose, texture and whatnot. Yeeks!
October 17th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Jay – Excellent writing as always. Are you sure you have not screemed out it’s name and had a few to many Woo Woo’s to remember. Haha.
October 20th, 2008 at 9:39 am
I’ve no idea what you’re talking about Bruce. No comment…