I found these "Instant" cocktail mixes in the basement bar of a recent estate sale. I'm not an alcohol drinker, but I have to imagine these are pretty bad. The fact that the these remained after all these years strongly indicates that.
My first thought was these were pure "instant" mixes, as in, just add water. I couldn't imagine how you could get an alcoholic drink out of them and thought maybe they were non-alcoholic taste-alikes. But as it turns out, you still have to supply the booze.
So what could you be getting out of the mix? Someone that knows about mixed drinks, please fill me in.
"Photo by GOMMI". Who the heck is "GOMMI"? I don't think it's this guy.
I've never heard of a "Pink Squirrel", but I like the sound of it.
You even get a "very special jewelry offer":
I can't find a date on these, but I can't imagine they are any later than the early 70's. The packaging has me leaning toward the 1960's. There were additional packets within the boxes of other mixed drinks like Tom Collins, Grasshoppers and Margaritas.
The powder is still loose inside the packets (thanks Science!) As I said, I'm not a drinker, but I imagine these could still be used. Anyone willing to try some? I'll send you your choice of packet(s) in return for a review.
Holland House continues to do business today, but appear to have gotten out of the powdered drink mix market.
My mom used to drink those. I remember her having a pink squirrel and a grasshopper. Wonder how long the butylated hydroxyanisole keeps things fresh?
ReplyDeleteMaybe you're willing to find out... :)
DeleteShe definitely drank them in the 1970s.
ReplyDeleteas a cocktail drinker, i can GUARANTEE these are terrible. but, as you well expected, in the interest of science i would be willing to try them for you -- the thing is, we don't have the things to make grasshoppers or pink squirrels. (and honestly, i'm not sure i will be able to find Creme de Noyeaux for the Squirrel!)
ReplyDeletei'm willing to bet these are from the late '60s or the early '70s, and probably the latter. that's when those heavy, creamy drinks were popular. and the Tiki drink, the Mai Tai, of course.
Name your poison (hopefully not literally). I'll send you whatever you think you can make (and drink)!
DeleteAlso, I didn't see any requirement for Creme de Noyeaux in the Pink Squirrel directions.
Deleteyou can send me as many as you want to spare -- the daiquiri, margarita, mai tai, and the collins are all boozes we have on hand as a matter of principle, and apparently the grasshopper and squirrel don't take anything unusual either -- but i mentioned the noyeaux because in the interest of science i'd be inclined to make actual ones from scratch for comparison. i know i can find creme de menthe (for the grasshopper), i just don't know if i can find creme de noyeaux. as an interesting aside, i DID (over the pandemic) make noyeaux myself from a bounty of apricot pits, but i have been nervous to try it, because i read too much about noyeaux and cyanide poisoning (like here: https://nourishedkitchen.com/noyaux-almond-extract/) but i do have a bottle of it in our kitchen right now. maybe i should try it?? I CAN BE BRAVE... also, i'm not entirely clear how regular "noyeaux" differs from CREME de noyeaux, so more research is needed there.
Delete>you can send me as many as you want to spare
DeleteI'll send you one of each since I don't think you're likely to go for seconds.
>i mentioned the noyeaux because in the interest of science i'd be >inclined to make actual ones from scratch for comparison
Ooh... I like the way you think.
>maybe i should try it?? I CAN BE BRAVE...
Brave, but not crazy. I don't want anyone dying over this.
I'll get your drink mixes out to you soon. I'm actually excited to hear the results. Maybe a Youtube video is in order... :)
> I'll send you one of each since I don't think you're likely to go for seconds.
Deletethis is a prudent course.
> Ooh... I like the way you think.
we definitely understand each other, haha
> Brave, but not crazy. I don't want anyone dying over this.
no worries. like that one article says, "it's the dosage, not the dose." -- i don't think whatever is in the original recipe would be a lethal amount.
> I'll get your drink mixes out to you soon. I'm actually excited to hear the results. Maybe a Youtube video is in order... :)
hey hey -- i'll sample 52 year old packaged food products found in a random estate sale, but let's not go CRAZY now!