Tim's journal

I'm reposting this as a public post because the original post has comments and I don't want to make them public without permission, but I also think I'm funny and want more people to know it.

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Somebody on twitter (I believe it was dopegirlfresh but I'm not totally sure) speculated on the question of what gummy bears soaked in rum would be like. I was unable to get this out of my head. I bought some gummy bears, and well, you know.

They expanded to maybe 3 times their original size and absorbed a LOT of liquid. As in, after a few days there was no liquid left in the jar.

I decided I had to follow up on the "Future Work" section, so I wrote this tweet.


That's not the best photo. Oh well. Roughly L-R: sour patch kids in sweet vermouth; gummy orange slices in blue Curacao; gummy worms in tequila; gummy watermelon slices in rum; gumdrops in whiskey; gummy peach rings in Southern Comfort. Oh yeah and gummy grapefruit slices in gin were somewhere in there, and I also tried gummy bears in vodka.

I started this experiment about 2 days before leaving on vacation, and I didn't have time to drain out any of the jars before leaving. And... since I returned, I've been kind of lazy. So I now have gummy candies that have been soaking in alcohol for a month.

Here's what the gummy peaches look like after soaking in Southern Comfort for quite a while:


I think the peaches were the biggest success. The gummy grapefruit slices dissolved completely into the gin. I've been still too afraid to try the Sour Patch Kids or the orange slices.

But I was asked for recipes! I have not tried any of these recipes yet -- so far what I've tried is "eat a single gummy peach, feel drunk, stop for the night." I have been trying a lot of cocktails out of a book I got, though, in alphabetical order, so I feel pretty knowledgeable about cocktails, at least the ones whose names begin with "A".

Peachy Nail

1 part Southern Comfort
1 part bourbon
3 dashes orange bitters
As many gummy peach rings as you want, soaked in Southern Comfort for 24 to 48 hours

Stir with ice, strain into an Old Fashioned glass over fresh ice. Garnish with boozy gummy peach rings. Be sure you don't have to go anywhere after this.

Greyhound Vending Machine

5 oz white grapefruit juice
2 oz gin (if you want to be classy about it, use Hendrick's or Bombay Sapphire, but Mr. Boston will do) that has had gummy grapefruit slices soaking in it long enough for them to completely dissolve -- probably a week

Pour into highball glass filled with ice. Stir, serve. If that's not enough sugar for you, you can rim the glass with a squeeze of fresh grapefruit and then coarse sugar.

Old Gummy

As much bourbon as you want, you deserve it
4 dashes rhubarb bitters (deal with it)
Several large gumdrops that have been soaking in blended whiskey for 12 hours (longer than that and they get to be a weird gray color)
Soda water

Place the gumdrops in an Old Fashioned glass. Wet them with the bitters and a short splash of soda water. Swirl the glass a little bit. Add one large ice cube (no ice balls, please). Pour in the bourbon. Stir. If you want to be classy when you're mixing gummy candies and liquor, instead of putting the gumdrops in the glass, put them on a short wooden skewer (or long toothpick) and use it as a garnish.

Let me know how these recipes work out. I'll certainly be curious. Also, I'm considering getting a job marketing alcohol to children.

The best source of gummy candies is the bulk bins at Winco. If you don't have a Winco near you, what are you doing? Move.