Ingredients
- 3 oz Viniq Glow
- 3 oz Club Soda
Instructions
- Pour Over Ice: Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Mix Ingredients: Pour 3 oz of Viniq Glow and 3 oz of club soda over the ice.
- Serve: Stir gently and enjoy your sparkling cocktail.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
The Sun Shiny Glow Cocktail is a modern creation, born from the availability of Viniq Glow, a liqueur specifically designed to be visually distinctive with its iridescent shimmer. It doesn’t have a long, storied past like many classic cocktails. Instead, it’s a straightforward showcase for a novelty ingredient, likely popularized through social media and easy home mixing rather than a specific bar or bartender.
This drink fits squarely into the highball family, a simple mix of a base spirit or liqueur with a carbonated mixer. Think of it as a distant cousin to a Vodka Soda or a Gin Fizz in its construction, though its vibrant color and shimmer set it apart. It shares the same ‘long drink’ philosophy, designed for easy sipping rather than complex flavor exploration.
You’d typically find or serve a Sun Shiny Glow Cocktail at a casual gathering, a poolside party, or a summer barbecue where the focus is on fun and ease. It’s not a drink you’d expect to see on a curated cocktail menu at a craft bar, but it hits the mark for a festive, no-fuss pour.
What it tastes like
Expect a sweet, fruity profile upfront, with Viniq Glow providing most of the flavor. Depending on the specific Viniq variant, notes could lean towards berry, tropical fruit, or a general candied sweetness. The club soda acts as a diluent and adds a crisp, effervescent finish that cuts through some of the liqueur’s richness, keeping it refreshing.
With 3 ounces of 20% ABV Viniq Glow in a 6 ounce drink, the Sun Shiny Glow Cocktail clocks in at about 10% ABV. This puts it at roughly twice the strength of a typical light beer, but still on the lighter side compared to many spirit-forward cocktails. It’s designed for easy, casual sipping without hitting too hard.
The technique
Building a Sun Shiny Glow Cocktail is as simple as it gets. Start with a glass full of fresh ice. Pour in the Viniq Glow, then top with the club soda. Give it a single, gentle stir with a bar spoon, just enough to combine the ingredients without knocking out all the fizz. Serve immediately to enjoy the sparkle and effervescence.
The key technique here is to stir gently, or not at all if you prefer a layered look before the first sip. Aggressive stirring will quickly flatten the club soda, leaving you with a less vibrant drink. The carbonation is crucial for balancing the sweetness and providing that refreshing lift, so preserve it.
Drink Buddy Exclusive
Tell us what's in your cabinet.
Our Cocktail Builder takes whatever bottles you've got and hands you every drink you can actually make tonight.
Open the Builder →Get the Drink Buddy newsletter
One drink, one tip, one Tuesday a month.
Plus the recipes we drop before they hit the site. Zero spam.
Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Viniq Glow
- Use
- Viniq Glow itself is the key. It’s a shimmery, fruit-flavored liqueur, typically around 20% ABV. Its unique visual appeal is what makes this drink.
- Skip
- Don’t substitute with a regular fruit liqueur that lacks the shimmer, or a different spirit entirely. The ‘glow’ is literally the point of the drink.
- Why
- This ingredient is the namesake and provides both the primary flavor profile and the distinctive iridescent visual effect of the cocktail.
Club Soda
- Use
- Fresh, cold club soda with plenty of fizz. Brands like Fever-Tree, Q Mixers, or even a standard seltzer from a new bottle will work.
- Skip
- Flat soda will ruin the drink. Tonic water will add bitterness and quinine flavor that isn’t intended here. Don’t use sugary sodas unless you want a much sweeter drink.
- Why
- Club soda provides essential effervescence, lightens the sweetness of the Viniq Glow, and stretches the drink into a refreshing highball.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
Citrus Sparkle
- Add a bright garnish
- A twist of lemon or lime peel, or a fresh citrus wedge, can add an aromatic counterpoint and visual flair to the drink.
Fruity Fizz
- Boost the fruit notes
- A splash of pineapple juice or cranberry juice, about half an ounce, can deepen the fruit flavor without overpowering the Viniq Glow.
Berry Glow
- Introduce berry sweetness
- Muddle a few fresh raspberries or blackberries at the bottom of the glass before adding ice for a subtle berry infusion and color.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
You can try another shimmery liqueur if available, or mix a fruit liqueur (like peach or berry schnapps) with a tiny pinch of edible glitter for a similar visual effect.
Seltzer or any unflavored sparkling water will work just as well to provide the necessary effervescence and dilution.
Any tall glass, like a Collins glass, highball glass, or even a pint glass, will serve perfectly for this simple, built-in-glass drink.
Ensure both the Viniq Glow and club soda are thoroughly chilled. The drink will be less refreshing but still enjoyable without ice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Sun Shiny Glow Cocktail?
A Sun Shiny Glow Cocktail contains 3 oz Viniq Glow and 3 oz Club Soda, served over ice.
Is the Sun Shiny Glow Cocktail sweet?
Yes, it’s a sweet drink. Viniq Glow is a sweet liqueur, and the club soda primarily adds fizz and dilution rather than cutting the sweetness aggressively.
What does Viniq Glow taste like?
Viniq Glow typically tastes like a sweet, fruit-flavored liqueur. Specific flavor profiles vary by Viniq variant, but generally expect notes of berries, tropical fruits, or a general candy-like sweetness.
How do you make the Sun Shiny Glow Cocktail shimmery?
The shimmer comes directly from the Viniq Glow liqueur itself. It’s designed with an edible pearlized effect that creates the visual ‘glow’ when mixed.
Can I make a non-alcoholic version?
You can’t replicate the Viniq Glow without alcohol, but you could use a shimmery non-alcoholic cordial or syrup mixed with sparkling water for a similar visual and fizzy effect.
What kind of glass should I use?
A highball glass or a Collins glass is ideal for the Sun Shiny Glow Cocktail, as it’s a long, refreshing drink. Any tall drinking glass will do the trick.
Is this a strong drink?
No, at about 10% ABV, it’s on the lighter side for a cocktail, roughly equivalent to a strong beer. It’s designed for easy, casual sipping.
What food pairs well with it?
Its sweet and fruity profile makes it a good match for light appetizers, fruit platters, or even brunch items. It’s also refreshing alongside spicy snacks.
More Like This
More drinks in the same family when the night calls for them.
