When we were kids, summer meant cool grass under bare feet, the occasional splinter from a wooden swing set, and hands that existed in a constant state of stickiness from fistfulls of dry cereal from the box, peaches that dribbled juice down our arms, and of course…frozen treats.

Remember?

Popsicles. (The plastic kind with the juice you’d slurp out of the bottom).

Orange Creamsicle Push-Ups. Like orange and vanilla lived happily ever after with 2.5 kids.

Rocket Pops. Red, white, blue, and delicious all over.

Then there were the treats that graced the picnic tables at every BBQ and family reunion…

Lemonade. The good kind, and heck no we don’t mean freshly squeezed. This was the 80’s and 90’s, Country Time lemonade mix reigned supreme. Jell-O salads with pretzels on top. 

Sigh. The days when a few quarters bought you a fudgesicle from a tinkling truck…100% worth the line and the sprint through the sprinkler to find the elusive truck around the corner. Well, adulthood gives us plenty of great perks too. Like a cold beer on a hot day, spritzers by the pool, and — thanks to our lineup here — your favorite childhood treats transformed into adult beverages! How much fun did we have building this list? Safe to say we felt like kids again!

SUNiCE Spiked Pouches are like a rom-com between Capri Suns and a cocktail. But these aren’t the silver-foil pouches you drank after soccer games. The pouch has grown up, people! Asking yourself, “What do I bring on a booze cruise?” (Cringey name, but we all use it). With real-fruit filled flavors like Passion Tiki, Mango Lychee, Triple Tropic Twist, and Watermelon Margarita Smash, SUNiCE has crafted 5% alcohol, 110-calorie refreshments that are almost absurdly convenient. Freeze them, and they save room in your cooler, acting like stackable ice packs. 

How do you make a good jello shot? You swipe your card and let someone else do the magic for you. Thank Slrrrp Shots for creating plant-based gelatin cups that house jiggly, brightly colored, vodka-infused slurps of wonder. You’re not in high school, so focus on mastering your smoked brisket or your guacamole and buy the darn jello shots. Because let’s be honest — they’re cute, tasty, and a hilarious nostalgic throwback. Everyone at your BBQ will laugh, and from what we’ve seen, almost everyone wants to join in on the fun. We recommend you freeze your gelatin cups for a frosty, refreshing treat… Our favorite summer option is the Variety Pack with Strawberry, Blue Raspberry, and White Cherry. (They also make agave-spirit infused and whiskey-infused options, because why not?). Buy, chill, slurp.

It was a good day in middle school when you opened your lunch bag and found (drumroll…) a vanilla AND chocolate pudding cup. The thrill of two flavors in one container was second only to Pizza Fridays. Now that we’re all grown up, we still feel that thrum of excitement when someone hands us a Twisted Shotz. The idea is simple, yet satisfying: two cocktail-inspired flavors in each shot, with combinations like Strawberry Sundae (strawberry vodka and vanilla cream), Miami Vice (strawberry daiquiri and pina colada), and Jolli Jolli (watermelon and green apple…and yes it does taste like a jolly rancher!). At 20% alc./vol, these potent little delights deliver quite the punch, so please drink responsibly.

Keep your quarters. This orange creamsicle cocktail recipe is one of our favorites, and whisks us right back to those summer days with frosty paper-wrapped treats. 

Orange Creamsicle Cocktail Recipe:

• 2 oz vodka

• ½ oz orange liqueur triple sec

• 4 oz orange juice

• ¾ cup vanilla ice cream

• ¼ cup orange sherbet

• 2 ice cubes

• 4 oz chilled orange soda like Fanta or Sunkist

(Makes one large drink or two small drinks)

1. Freeze the glasses you’re planning to use for 15 minutes.

2. Combine all your liquid ingredients plus ice cubes in a blender and blend until smooth.

3. Fill your glass(es) ¾ full and top with orange soda.

4. Add a wooden popsicle stick as a garnish if you feel nostalgic. :)

We feel these need no introduction. They are exactly what the name implies: Boozy. Fudge. Frozen. Perfection. And they only take 10 minutes to make. (Just be sure to freeze for 5+ hours).

Bourbon (we are based in Kentucky, after all), rum, Kahlua…all solid options. For this recipe we like to use Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream. 

Boozy Fudgsicles (Makes 6 popsicles):

• ½ cup sugar

• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa

• 1 Tbsp cornstarch

• 16 oz (2 cups) milk

• 1.5 oz alcohol (your choice! See our recommended list above)

• ½ cup plain yogurt

1. Add the dry ingredients to a pot. Slowly whisk in milk as it all simmers for two minutes. When mixture is thick, remove from heat.

2. Stir in alcohol.

3. Whisk in the alcohol.

4. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze for 5-7 hours or overnight.

Now, if you ever need a trip down memory lane with a grown-up twist, we at Cox’s & Evergreen are always here to reminisce and clink glasses. Cheers!