Bourbon Slushie - Whiskey You Can Eat with a Spoon

Temperatures hovered over 100 degrees in the middle of the summer where I grew up in California. On sweltering days, if we braved the sun to ride our bikes to the local grocery store, we would be rewarded with a stand that sold what seemed like hundreds of flavors of snow cones. After the agonizing moment of decision, the man with the scoop would dish out a heaping pile of ice and cover it with the syrupy color of your choice that would soon stain your lips, tongue, and hopefully not too much of your shirt.

On summer days when the heat radiates off the New York pavement and up through my shoes, I sometimes wish I could ride my bike to the grocery store and pick out a flavor. The closest came during a recent weekend when someone made a vat of bourbon slushies – the greatest thing to happen to shaved ice since Snoopy. 

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It’s a dessert. It’s a cocktail. You can make it ahead of time and just pull it from the freezer when needed.

And it’s a savior when you think you are out of whiskey. Someone says the golden words, “Check the freezer.” Then you grab a spoon, shave off some bourbon ice, and the balance of the universe is restored.

In large container, mix the following:

·      12 oz orange juice concentrate
·      12 oz lemonade concentrate
·      40-50 oz lemonade already mixed
·      2 cups strong brewed tea, unsweetened
·      2 cups bourbon

Put in freezer. When thirsty or hot, carve off some spoonfuls.  Add more whiskey on top if desired. Eat with spoon.