I’ve been tinkering with cocktails at home ever since the lockdown days – part out of boredom, part out of curiosity, and maybe a little because I love making my friends guess what they’re drinking. Somewhere along the way, I invented a drink I now refer to (with absolutely no subtlety) as the “Battery Acid.” No, it doesn’t have a storied bartending pedigree – in all honesty, I just thought the bright, almost radioactive blue looked hilarious in a glass. Turns out, it also tastes way better than it sounds.
The first time I tried to make this, it was a disaster. I was hoping for something tart and punchy, but my roommate gave me such a dramatic spit-take that I almost reconsidered mixing drinks altogether. But after some tweaks – a bit less citrus here, a splash more soda there – I finally landed on something that not only looked wild but actually tasted crisp and refreshing. If you’re someone who likes their drink to come with a side of conversation, this one’s a showstopper.
Strength & Profile
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Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces vodka (don’t waste the good stuff)
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice (seriously, squeeze an actual lime, it makes a difference)
- 3 ounces lemon-lime soda (I usually grab Sprite, but honestly, anything bubbly and citrusy will do)
- 0.5 ounce blue curaçao (for that signature color and a hint of orange)
- Ice cubes
- Lime wedge, for garnish
If you want bonus points, chill your glass for 15ish minutes in the freezer so everything stays extra cold.
How to Make It
- Start by filling a tall glass (a highball works perfectly) with plenty of ice. I like using the biggest cubes I can, just to keep things from watering down too quickly.
- Pour in your vodka and the fresh lime juice.
- Add the lemon-lime soda. Give the mixture a gentle stir – nothing too wild, or you’ll lose all the bubbles.
- Now for the fun bit: slowly pour the blue curaçao over the back of a spoon so it gently spreads across the top. It makes a cool layered effect before swirling into a shockingly bright blue.
- Pop a lime wedge on the rim, hand it over, and try not to grin as they ask what on earth they’re about to drink.
I served this at a barbecue recently and even my brother-in-law – famous in our family for turning down anything that isn’t whiskey neat – drank two of them and demanded the recipe. The combination of sharp lime and sweet, citrusy soda makes it taste way lighter than you’d expect, especially given how it lights up the glass like neon.
If you want a non-alcoholic version, ditch the vodka and blue curaçao, use a splash of blue food coloring, some extra soda, and a drop of orange extract. Is it cheating? Maybe, but it looks just as wild and honestly, nobody at my table seemed to mind.
Bonus: this drink goes really well with spicy food. Last weekend I paired it with a pile of sriracha chicken wings, and the cool, citrusy hit was the perfect palate-cleanser between bites.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can swap in gin for the vodka (more botanical, less neutral), or use tonic instead of soda if you want to cut the sweetness. I’ve even thrown in a few mint leaves on really hot days, which adds a little extra refreshment without getting in the way of the electric color.
Honestly, the “Battery Acid” is pretty forgiving. Unlike, say, a martini (which I still can’t seem to get quite right), this is basically fail-proof, quick to make, and almost guaranteed to get a reaction. My only advice? Maybe don’t reveal the name until after everyone’s had that first, surprisingly tasty sip.
