By Jessica L. Flammang
In just a few years, sloshies have become ubiquitous Jackson Hole refreshments. Akin to an alcoholic smoothie, these succulent frozen drinks are not only served in bars and restaurants, but also in gas stations and markets. Classic varieties of the sugary, adult frozen beverage like the Greyhound, Huckleberry Vodka, and the Moscow Mule started out in a few locations in town like Creekside and Jackson Hole Marketplace.
Today, a host of rotating flavors can be found at locales including, but not limited to the Hoback Market, Basecamp in Wilson, The Liquor Store, Creekside Market, Pearl Street Market and Bodega.
Truly, almost every venue sports a few mélanges these days, so sloshie lovers are never left high and dry. No longer confined to just convenience stores and boutique grocers, sloshies have made their debut at summer weddings, served by Bistro Catering and blended at the Trap Bar & Grill at Grand Targhee Resort.
Flavors like the Gros Ventre Slide, made from Kahlua, Baileys and vodka; the Paloma, fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, tequila and lime juice; and the “Trendy Bitch,” a mix of whiskey and orange Fanta, have added next-level flair to the classic collection of frozen mojitos and whiskey ginger lemonades, and added welcome variety for sloshie enthusiasts hooked on tantalizing their taste buds with new flavor fusions.
Sloshies are made from scratch with just a handful of ingredients including mixers, ice, fresh-squeezed juice, corn syrup and a generous helping of alcohol. Blended in large containers on display reminiscent of Icee drinks branded in the eighties, they lure thirsty adventure seekers on their way to raft the Snake River, swim at String Lake, huck themselves off the rock at Phelps Lake on a sizzling summer day, charge the ski resorts in the winter months, and even before their daily treks to valley hiking and biking trails to sweat it out. Locals and visitors alike can now be seen sipping the frosty suds on Josie’s Ridge and Snow King trails in summer and fall, and even riding up the gondola at Teton Village and Dreamcatcher Lift at Targhee.
Although open containers in moving vehicles have been illegal in Wyoming since 2001, and getting sloshed while driving is never advisable, sealable tops and tape are some tamper-resistant methods to make these sales legitimate. But it’s up to the consumer not to puncture their container with a straw if on the road. Despite these convoluted attempts to circumvent open container legislation, sloshie sales are not slowing down. Bodega brags that it sells up to 800 on a busy summer day.
Sloshies have become a staple of mountain life—concoctions enjoyed year-round. Of course, it’s critical to enjoy responsibly, as the high-octane slurpees can leave sippers pretty buzzed. So sip away, but make sure you aren’t driving, don’t have to work, and have a few hours to sober up before any appointments or responsibilities your day might hold. Cheers, mountain people!