Put down the trash can. There's no need for that to mix up these boozy concoctions. Not anymore. Although, for most of these trash can drink recipes, you'll want a large pitcher — and then some. Find your favorite of the trash can drink below, take a screenshot of your liquor store grocery list, and get mixing!
What's in a Trash Can Drink?
A trash can drink is one that's a boozy drink with a little bit of everything. Think of this as an alcoholic sibling to the "everything but the kitchen" sink recipes. But you might know a trash can drink by a different name, such as jungle juice.
The point is, a trash can drink has half a dozen or more boozy ingredients. Some have just as many mixers, while others only have a few. It's everything but the trash can in your glass. Because once upon a time, you would, in fact, mix up and serve these drinks in a (clean) trash can. The following trash can drinks, however, rely on pitchers and punch bowls to get the job done.
Opt for a clear plastic tub for mixing up those big batches, first adding ice and then swirling and stirring your ingredients in. But always, always, always, use a clean container. Leave out plastic cups or a ladle for guests to serve themselves.
Irish Trash Can
While you can mix this drink up in a large batch, the classic is made single-drink style so you can upend a Red Bull in the glass. Why? Why not?
There's nothing Irish about this trash can drink. But its bright green hue makes for thoughts of the Emerald Isle.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce gin
- ½ ounce vodka
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce light rum
- ½ ounce peach schnapps
- ½ ounce blue curaçao
- Ice
- 1 full can Red Bull
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass three-quarters full with ice.
- Add gin, vodka, orange liqueur, rum, peach schnapps, and blue curaçao.
- Stir to mix.
- Open the Red Bull, place the open end in the glass, leaning the can against the inner rim.
- Add a straw and sip away.
Leave the can in the drink, allowing it to dispense additional Red Bull as you sip with a straw.
Jungle Juice Punch
Punch drinks are some of the earliest, and to this day, most popular types of cocktails. In the 17th century, sailors added spices and citrus to alcohol to preserve the fruit and spices, and they drank these aboard their ships.
Today's punch is a little different, and boozy punches in particular are popular for parties or college gatherings because it's an easy way to dump a bunch of alcoholic ingredients and mixers into a communal bowl. This drink got its name because it is tropical in flavor and incites "animal behavior" in some. This recipe serves eight to ten.
Ingredients
- 1 gallon fruit punch or prepared cherry Kool-Aid
- 8 ounces pineapple juice
- 8 ounces vodka
- 8 ounces light rum
- 8 ounces gin
- Ice
- Pineapple for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large punch bowl or similar container, such as a clean cooler, half full with ice.
- Add fruit punch, pineapple juice, vodka, rum, and gin.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with fruit, if desired.
While Everclear is a popular choice for jungle juice, do not use it because it is not intended for consumption in mixed drinks. It's meant to be used to create liqueurs with a lower proof.
Lemonade Punch Trash Can Drink
Some people prefer tangy over sweet. (It's me, hi!) And this recipe is great for parties in the summer. Or whenever the breeze is warm, and the sun is shining. Serves eight to ten.
Ingredients
- 1 gallon lemonade
- 8 ounces Malibu rum
- 8 ounces vodka
- 8 ounces light rum
- 1 liter ginger ale
- Ice
- Two lemons, sliced into wheels for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large punch bowl or similar container with ice.
- Add lemonade, coconut rum, vodka, light rum, and ginger ale.
- Stir briefly to mix.
- Garnish with lemon wheels.
Adult Apple Juice: Orchard in a Trash Can
This is kind of like Apple Jacks cereal, in that it doesn't really taste like apples, but that's why people like it. Maybe skip this as part of a balanced breakfast, though.
Ingredients
- 1 gallon apple juice OR cider
- 8 ounces apple schnapps
- 8 ounces coconut rum
- 8 ounces light rum
- 8 ounces vodka
- 1 gallon pineapple juice
- Ice
- Apple cubes and cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Fill a large punch bowl or similar container approximately halfway with ice.
- Add apple juice, apple schnapps, coconut rum, light rum, vodka, and pineapple.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with apple cubes and cinnamon sticks.
Orange Trash Can Drink
More potent than a screwdriver, but definitely less potent than a hammer. You don't need power tools to make this trash can drink. This recipe serves six.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces vodka
- 16 ounces light rum
- 1 gallon orange juice
- ½ gallon fruit punch
- ½ gallon pink lemonade
- ½ gallon pineapple juice
- Orange wheels and pineapple chunks for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large punch bowl or similar container with ice.
- Add vodka, light rum, orange juice, fruit punch, pink lemonade, and pineapple juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with orange wheels and pineapple chunks.
Trash Can Margarita
Who doesn't love a margarita? And thanks to some prepared limeade and a little bit of trash can magic, these will be an irresistible party staple from now on. This makes approximately ten servings.
Ingredients
- 20 ounces silver tequila
- 10 ounces orange liqueur
- ½ gallon limeade
- ½ gallon margarita mix
- 1 liter club soda
- 8 ounces agave syrup
- Ice
- Lemon wheels for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large punch bowl or similar container with ice.
- Add silver tequila, orange liqueur, limeade, margarita mix, club soda, and agave syrup.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with lemon wheels.
Trash Can Blue Lagoon
Blue as the sky or cold as the snow outside, this blue trash can drink looks just as good poolside as it does fireside. Will you be enjoying this in shorts or when you're deep into sweater weather? This prepares around ten servings.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces vodka
- 16 ounces blue curaçao
- 8 ounces coconut rum
- 1 gallon lemonade
- ½ gallon blue fruit punch
- Ice
- Lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large punch bowl or similar container with ice.
- Add vodka, blue curaçao, coconut rum, lemonade, and blue fruit punch.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with lemon slices.
Trash Can Hurricane
This trash can drink is a doozy, but it's got that breezy air of extra sophistication. And by sophistication, we mean layers and layers of flavors. Serves roughly ten.
Ingredients
- 20 ounces light rum
- 16 ounces dark rum
- ½ gallon orange juice
- ½ gallon passion fruit juice
- 12 ounces limeade
- 8 ounces cherry juice
- Ice
- Pineapple chunks for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large punch bowl or similar container with ice.
- Add light rum, dark rum, orange juice, passion fruit juice, limeade, and cherry juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with pineapple chunks.
Tips for Mixing Trash Can Drinks
Making trash can drinks is a convenient way to serve a large crowd. Consider the following when making a trash can punch.
- Opt for some balance. Strive for a ratio of about 2:1 or 4:1 of juices and soda to booze.
- No need to add sugar, since the juice will have plenty.
- In general, clear spirits have the best taste in punches.
- Adding chopped fruit makes the punch more attractive, and it adds flavor, as well.
Trash Can Drink Variations
All these recipes can serve more people simply by adding a proportional amount of each ingredient. You can use lemon-lime soda or seltzer water instead of alcohol to create mocktail versions, as well. Trash can drinks are all about experimentation. Mix and match until you find the perfect recipe for your group of friends. Or if you want a shareable drink with a set recipe, try a fishbowl cocktail.
Trash Bin to Bar Drinks: The Trash Can Cocktail
Get the party started! And look no further than a trash can drink to kick things off and keep things going. Have plenty of cups, plenty of ice, and keep the music going so it's nothing but good vibes. Party on! But with some water between cups of boozy delight.
