The Swedish fish shot is an alcoholic beverage made with gummy candies, also called the Swedish fish drink.
These candies were made for the American market in the ’50s by a company called Malaco. The fish candies were loved all around the world, where they were distributed to Sweden, and North America. In appearance, the Swedish fish is a jelly-like gummy candy that’s shaped like a fish.
The Swedish fish drink is an attempt to make this candy’s unique flavor accessible in a party cup or shot glass at the bar. Some believe the drink was made because it’s considered inappropriate to be seen eating candy in a bar. But whatever the reason was, the Sweden fish drink is an absolute favorite for many due to its great taste.
Like every other shooter, it involves a bit of mixing and shaking to get that perfect taste. The Swedish fish tint is just perfect.
What is A Swedish Fish Drink?
It is a cocktail—or red drink, as some like to call it—of different ingredients to make a super-cocktail, capturing that sweet taste that the Swedish fish candy is known for. You won’t believe how good it is until you have it in your mouth.
There is nothing as good as a well-made Swedish fish shot to get a party going. It serves so well because it treats your taste buds to the taste you get on your tongue from eating the candy, all while getting your groove on at a party.
The Swedish Fish shot is made the same way most shots are made, just with different recipes. This shot is achieved when you mix a bit of blackberry schnapps and some vodka in a cocktail shaker, then add cranberry juice to get the taste just right. If you would like to make the liquor more prominent, you should reduce the amount of cranberry juice you use.
The blackberry schnapps and vodka should be in equal measure to create good synch. Important advice is that the Swedish fish shot should be consumed in a measured quantity, since the flavored tint of it makes it easy to take down.
Swedish Fish Drink Recipe
To make this shot, you don’t need much. A cocktail shaker will be for shaking up and mixing the liquids into a perfect blend. Also, be sure you have ice in there while shaking. When it is all good and mixed, the usual-sized shot glass is just right for serving and you’ll be good to go.
Ingredients:
Cranberry Juice- Vodka (Sweet and Sour mix works too)
- Blackberry schnapps
Directions:
You can make a Swedish fish shot in a minute or two when you have all the ingredients in place. It’s that easy. You just have to know how you want it, and by that, I mean whether you want it with less liquor and more of a sweet taste, or heavier on the liquor for a heady feel.
Basically, you pour one part Blackberry Schnapps and one part Vodka or Sweet-and-sour mix, then combine those with Cranberry juice and shake everything together with ice in the cocktail shaker. Shake really hard to get a perfect mixture, then pour in a shot glass and have fun.
Swedish Fish Cocktails
Most drinks get so many variations that you start to wonder if they are not the same thing with just different names and glasses. The Swedish fish drink family is no different, seeing as there are the Swedish fish cocktails, which are absolutely delightful things to try when you are in the mood.
Although the different cocktails or Swedish fish Vodka drinks are made with different ingredients, they all carry along that signature Swedish fish taste that is nostalgic for those who remember the early days of the Swedish fish candy.
Where the Swedish fish shot is made with just vodka, blackberry schnapps, and cranberry juice, the other variations add one or two things to the mix that bring a whole new explosion to your taste buds.
Each Swedish Fish mixed drink carries its own extra ingredient to the table and that sort of makes it unique and not just a remix. The Swedish fish Margarita, for instance, makes use of Tequila, because what is a margarita without tequila somewhere in there, right?
The Swedish Fish Mojito has the splash of blue curacao to give it a sea-blue look, as well as mint leaves. So, each drink is different in a way that only your mouth and hangover can differentiate after you’ve tried them all.
Swedish Fish Martini
Is it a red drink in a glass? Yes, and more. It takes approximately five minutes to prepare and tastes absurdly good because of the hint of lime and Swedish fish candy that gets dropped in to dissolve in the mixture.
And while the Swedish fish Martini is always delicious, it is good to know to use the right ingredients when making it. The ice should be crushed, and how long you shake decides how diluted the vodka is going to be.
Things you will need to make the Swedish Fish Martini are: a Cocktail shaker for mixing, and a Martini glass. These ingredients are not much, either, so it is usually not expensive to make, but I guess it depends on where you are.
Ingredients:
60ml Vodka- 30ml Triple Sec
- 20ml Lime Juice
- 30ml Cranberry Juice
Directions:
1 Swedish Fish Candy and Ice (because it’s always better when served chilled)
PS: If you feel like deviating from the normal method, you can put the lime juice in the martini glass after mixing together the other stuff. Just before you plunk the Swedish fish candy in, add the lime juice and see how different it tastes. Also, for it to taste top-notch, make sure your vodka is high-end and not the cheap stuff.
Swedish Fish Margarita
This could take up to ten minutes to prepare. For the Swedish fish margarita, it is better you use a blender, but then again cocktail shakers can do the job if they must. The Swedish fish margarita is a potpourri of tequila, gummy vodka, lime, and other stuff that makes it a full-fledged margarita drink.
Ingredients:
- 10ml Lime
- 60ml Vodka
- 30ml Triple sec
30ml Cranberry juice (preferably Cherry cranberry juice)- 1 Swedish Fish candy
What you’ll need to make the Swedish fish margarita?
You will need a knife to cut the lime in half and a blender or a cocktail shaker. A blender will help you get a nice blended-mix of ice and margarita that you can sip and the smooth texture of. Finally, don’t forget your margarita glass.
How to make the Swedish fish Margarita?
With the ice in the blender, pour in a measured quantity of vodka before squeezing half or both halves of a lime in as well. The triple sec follows, then the tequila, and finally, the cranberry juice. Cover the blender and blend until it is as liquid as you want it, then serve. If you’re using the shaker, the mixture is shaken hard until the consistency is how you want it.
The Swedish Fish Mojito
This is a mixture of vibrant ingredients that make up the beautiful, delicious drink that it is. It comes out like a glass of blue sweetness when it is ready. Instead of just lime, there are also mint leaves, which add to the flavor.
Ingredients:
- 45 ml white Rum
- Splash of Blue Curacao
- Splash of simple syrup
Lime wedges- Club soda
- Mint leaves
- Nerds
- Swedish fish Candy
- Mint Sprig
Directions:
Put some mint leaves and lime wedges in the glass and add a bit of simple syrup, crushing the mint and lime at the bottom. Then add the white rum, ice, and the blue curacao, and watch the drink turn an electric blue. Pour everything in a cocktail shaker and shake properly.
Then, put the Nerds and Swedish fish candy into the shaker and shake again before pouring it all back in the glass. You can put in some mint sprig if you want.
Final thoughts
The best thing to do right after reading about a Swedish fish drink is getting a taste to confirm what you know in theory. The Swedish fish drink is one drink that won’t dash your expectations.
Whether you are getting it from a bar or being served at a party, or just following a recipe book and doing it yourself (trying not to mess something up), the Swedish fish drink always seems to come out so nice and sweet. So now that you know about the Swedish fish shot and Swedish fish cocktails, what are you waiting for that’s stopping you from taking a sip?
