Did you ever try jungle juice in college? For many students, jungle juice is their first experience with alcohol. The drink is cheap to make, tastes great, and gets you drunk quickly. This made it an ideal drink for struggling college kids that want to party.

But jungle juice isn’t only for college kids. Today, we’ll learn how to make jungle juice that will wow your friends at your next party.

What Is Jungle Juice?

Jungle juice is an alcoholic cocktail made in large quantities. It often contains rum and vodka paired with fruit juices, lemonade, and soda.

The beauty of jungle juice is its versatility. You can use almost any combination of alcohol, fruit, and juices to create your version of the drink.

Jungle juice has been around since the early 1900s but gained popularity with soldiers during World War II.

Thanks to its low cost and large serving size, jungle juice is known as a popular drink recipe for college parties or any other large gathering.

Alternative names for jungle juice include hunch punch, trash can punch, jingle juice, and purple Jesus.

Why Is It Called Jungle Juice?

They might say they invented jungle juice, but jungle juice was around way before frat boys started making the drink.

During World War II, the U.S. military banned active duty soldiers from drinking alcohol in the South Pacific. This didn’t stop the soldiers from getting drunk. They found a way to distill grain alcohol from jungle fruits.

To lessen the alcohol flavor, the GIs mixed the grain alcohol with powered lemonade and juice drinks. Jungle juice was born, and now it’s a world-famous drink.

The Main Ingredients in Jungle Juice

While you can use almost any fruit, juices, drinks, and alcohol in jungle juice, these are the most common ingredients you’ll find in jungle juice.

• Slices of fresh fruit add flavor and reduce the alcoholic taste of the drink.
• Rum and fruit pair well together and give the drink a tropical taste.
• Vodka increases the alcohol content and adds a little flavor.
• Triple Sec adds more orange flavor and alcohol to the drink.
• Pineapple, orange, or strawberry juice drinks add flavor and sweetness.
• Lemonade or fruit punch to add sweetness or tartness.
• Cranberry juice gives the drink a refreshing flavor while darkening the mixture.
• Add lime soda, Sprite, or soda water to add carbonation and fizz to the drink.

Alternative Ingredients in Jungle Juice

The best thing about jungle juice is that you can make the recipe your own by adding new ingredients or omitting others. Feel free to experiment with alternative ingredients, and you’ll find the perfect combination of flavors that matches your taste.

• Other liquor, including tequila and gin, works great but avoid smoky liquors like scotch or whisky.
• Go tropical and add papaya, mango, or kiwi to the ingredients. The orange color of papaya and mango can also turn the drink into Halloween jungle juice.
• Ginger Ale and fruit-flavored sodas can increase the fizziness and sweetness of the drink.
• Don’t hesitate to improvise and go ahead and use the ingredients you have.
• Create a jingle juice recipe for Christmas using Moscato and Prosecco instead of rum and vodka.
• Hawaiian punch is the main ingredient in a hunch punch recipe.

Can You Taste the Alcohol in Jungle Juice?

The flavor of jungle juice depends on what you use in the mix. But, most jungle juice recipes add enough fruit, soda, and juice to negate the alcohol flavor. Be warned, behind all the fruity flavors is a potent drink. You don’t want to drink a few of these cocktails and drive home.

Using cheaper rum and vodka tends to increase the alcohol flavor. If the alcohol you purchased is overpowering the mix, you can add more juice or soda to sweeten the cocktail.

Of course, if you add a lot of alcohol or stronger alcohol like Everclear, the drink will taste more like alcohol than fruit.

Easy Jungle Juice Recipe

Are you ready to make the best jungle juice? Then, all you need to do is follow our easy jungle juice recipe below.

Easy Jungle Juice Recipe

Our easy jungle juice recipe is the perfect cocktail for your next event. From Super Bowl parties to frat parties, this recipe works great. In less than 15 minutes, you’ll have 25 servings of jungle juice ready.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 29 mins

Course Beverage, Drinks, Juice

Cuisine American

Servings 25 cups

Calories 199 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 2 sliced oranges
• 2 sliced lemons
• 2 sliced limes
• 2 cups sliced strawberries
• 2 cups chopped pineapple
• 2 cups pineapple juice
• 4 cups lemonade (or other fruit juice)
• 2 cups orange juice (no pulp)
• 1-2 cans of lime soda or seltzer
• 4 cups fruit punch
• 2 cups cranberry juice
• ½ cup lime juice
• 2 cups rum
• 2 cups vodka

Instructions

 

• Clean, peel and slice your fruit. Large chunks and slices work best.
• Add the fruit to a pitcher, punch bowl, or large container.
• Add the alcohol, soda, and fruit juices to the mixture.
• Stir the drink and add more alcohol, juice, and soda to adjust the taste.
• Refrigerate to chill the cocktail.
• Serve chilled and over ice.

Notes

Nutrition Info:

• Serving: 1 serving
• Calories: 199
• Carbohydrates: 26 g
• Sodium: 57 mg
• Sugar: 22 g

Tips and Tricks for Jungle Juice

As you can see, it’s easy to make the perfect jungle juice. But, we have more tips and tricks to improve your jungle juice cocktails.

• Freezing the fruit beforehand will keep the drink cold much longer.
• Reduce or remove the alcohol for a safe and sober party.
• Flavored rum like Malibu or Bacardi Limon adds new flavors to the mix.
• You can cut in half or double the recipe to match your party size.
• You can use a sterilized portable ice cooler, garbage can, or large plastic bin for large jungle juice parties.
• Garnish each serving with strawberry, lemon, or lime slices.

Time to Party With Our Easy Jungle Juice Recipe

Are you ready to make 20 gallons of jungle juice and party? The above recipe can have you and your friends tipsy in no time. Remember to be responsible when consuming any alcoholic drink, and don’t drink and drive.

Do you have a favorite version of jungle juice? We’d love to hear more about the different styles and flavors of jungle juice.