Ingredients
- 15 ml vodka
- 15 ml blue curacao
- 15 ml lemonade cloudy lemonade or lemon-lime soda
Instructions
- Add vodka and blue curacao to a shaker with ice.
- Shake briefly to combine and chill.
- Strain into a chilled shot glass.
- Top with a splash of lemonade.
- Optional garnish: a jelly bean on the rim.
- Drink in one go.
Notes
Where it came from
The Jelly Belly was named after the American sweet brand. It came out of the late 1990s flavoured-vodka boom in US chain bars, where bartenders were experimenting with combinations of curacao, schnapps and sodas to mimic candy flavours.
The name is now used loosely for any blue, sweet, candy-flavoured shot. The classic three-ingredient version (vodka, blue curacao, lemonade) is the most common.
Why blue curacao
Blue curacao is just regular orange-flavoured curacao with food colouring. The flavour is mild orange, but the colour makes the drink pop. In a shot glass it is bright sky blue, which photographs well and draws orders. The candy comparison comes from the colour as much as the taste.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The vodka
- Use
- Any clean vodka, chilled
- Try
- Citron vodka or vanilla vodka for a different note
- Skip
- Heavily flavoured vodkas, they fight the curacao
The blue curacao
- Use
- Standard blue curacao (Bols, DeKuyper)
- Try
- Senior Curacao of Curacao for a slightly drier orange note
- Skip
- Generic “blue syrup”, no alcohol, washes the drink out
The lemonade
- Use
- Cloudy lemonade for a softer drink
- Try
- Sprite, 7UP, or sparkling lemonade for a fizzier shot
- Skip
- Diet sodas, they taste artificial in a shot context
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Triple sec or any orange liqueur. The drink will be golden, not blue.
A splash of fresh lemon juice and a teaspoon of sugar.
Add a splash of grenadine for a layered Jelly Belly Sunrise.
Use lemon juice instead of lemonade. Sharper, drier shot.
Different drink: Sambuca and raspberry liqueur. See our Jelly Bean recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Jelly Belly shot?
Vodka, blue curacao and lemonade in equal parts. Standard build is 15ml each, shaken or built in a shot glass.
Why is it called a Jelly Belly?
It is named after the Jelly Belly sweet brand. The blue colour and sweet, fruity flavour are meant to evoke a blue raspberry jelly bean. The drink came out of the late-1990s candy-flavoured shot boom in American chain bars.
What is the difference between a Jelly Belly and a Jelly Bean?
A Jelly Bean is Sambuca and raspberry liqueur, layered or shaken. A Jelly Belly is vodka, blue curacao and lemonade. Different drinks, similar names, both candy-shot category.
Can I make it less sweet?
Use a splash of fresh lemon juice instead of lemonade. The drink becomes sharper and less sugary while keeping the colour.
How strong is a Jelly Belly shot?
Around 18 to 20 percent ABV in the shot. The lemonade dilutes it; the curacao adds some alcohol back in. Lighter than a straight vodka shot.
Why is the drink blue?
From the food colouring in blue curacao. The base liqueur (orange) is dyed blue for visual impact. The flavour is the same as regular curacao.
Can I make a Jelly Belly with rum?
Yes. Swap vodka for white rum and you get a tropical version that is still bright blue. Coconut rum (like Malibu) makes it taste like a beach holiday in shot form.
What food goes with a Jelly Belly?
Sweet and salty bar snacks. Popcorn, salted nuts, dessert plates. The drink is sweet, so balance with savoury food.
