Selecting the best vodka for jello shots is a key element in crafting a perfect party treat. The right vodka blends seamlessly with your chosen flavors, enhancing the enjoyment without overwhelming the taste.
From smooth classics like Tito’s Handmade Vodka to fruity infusions, your choice sets the stage for delicious, memorable jello shots.
We’ll also show you a simple jello shot recipe to get you started.
6 Best Vodkas for Jello Shots
Here are our top products:
1. Chopin Potato Vodka
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV.
Taste: Chopin Potato Vodka has a smooth, creamy taste with a hint of sweetness and spice. It is known for its lack of harshness and its clean finish.
Price: $30 and $40 for a 750ml bottle.
Chopin Potato Vodka, renowned for its smooth and creamy character, surprisingly excels in crafting delightful jello shots.
Unlike harsh spirits, it gently complements other flavors, thanks to its subtle sweetness and spice, without overwhelming your creation.
Although boasting these nuances, it remains relatively neutral, allowing fruit juices and gelatin to shine. Furthermore, the premium quality elevates the taste compared to budget vodkas, ensuring a satisfying experience.
2. Skyy Infusions Vodka
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV.
Taste: Known for its crisp fruit flavors like mango, passionfruit, and cherry, Skyy Infusions Vodka offers a bold, sweet taste to balance the bite of the alcohol.
Price: $15-$25 for a 750ml bottle.
Skyy Infusions Vodka is good for creating jello shots because its tropical fruit and berry flavors pair especially well with gelatin desserts in shots.
The soft mouthfeel and subtly sweet flavors mask the strong alcohol kick, while the vodka efficiently infuses the jello for maximized flavor in every bite.
Smooth enough to drink straight but carrying a serious punch, Skyy Infusions takes typically college-style jello shots to a more sophisticated, craft level. Vibrant, real fruit flavors shine through with every sweet, potent gelatin shot.
3. Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV.
Taste: A smooth, clean taste with a hint of sweetness and pepper. It is known for its lack of harshness and its clean finish.
Price: $20 and $30 for a 750ml bottle.
A premium but affordable corn-based vodka, Tito’s Handmade shines when infusing bold new flavors into jello shots.
At a standard 40% ABV, it packs a reliable alcoholic punch while maintaining its signature smoothness. Clear and tasteless, aside from faint peppery hints, Tito’s vodka allows the bright colors and fruit flavors of jello to take center stage.
It mixes in cleanly without adding sweetness or extra calories, too. Settling into a pleasant warmth in the chest, Tito’s offers a smooth yet potent spirit for elevating jello shots into legitimate party cocktails.
A versatile and quintessential vodka for showcasing and intensifying the sweet flavors of gelatin, Tito’s makes an ideal base for homemade jello shots.
4. New Amsterdam Vodka
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV.
Taste: Crisp and smooth with a subtle grainy backend, New Amsterdam Vodka delivers an easy-drinking neutral spirit.
Price: $10-$20 for a 750ml bottle.
As an inexpensive vodka that still tastes clean in cocktails, New Amsterdam is a smart choice for stretching your dollar on party supplies like jello shots. At 40% ABV, it brings respectable proof to spike vividly colored gelatin without skimping on alcohol content.
With a mildly grainy flavor profile that avoids harsh burn, New Amsterdam mixes smoothly into fruity jello flavors like berry, citrus, and tropical blends. Its subtle taste won’t overpower or clash with even delicate flavors like cucumber-melon.
An ideal no-fuss vodka for beginner mixologists and casual gatherings alike, New Amsterdam disappears into sweet-tart gelatin creations. With its extremely wallet-friendly price point, New Amsterdam leaves plenty of room in the budget to load up on ingredients and party favors.
5. Grey Goose Essences
Alcohol Content: 30% ABV
Taste: An aromatic, flavored extension of the ultrasmooth Grey Goose vodka brand, Grey Goose Essences imparts subtle fruit flavors like pear, cherry, citrus, and blackberry.
Price: $20-$30 for a 750 ml bottle.
Sleek and sophisticated, Grey Goose Essences adds an upscale factor to typically college-style jello shots. Infused with real fruit juice and essential oils, each subtly flavored variety like Pear, Citrus, or Cherry lends its elegant aroma and refined fruit taste to elevate basic gelatin desserts.
The smooth vodka base ensures efficient infusion while skipping harsh burn, allowing each colorful jello creation to take on delicate yet lively fruit and floral notes.
6. Absolut Citron Vodka
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV.
Taste: Absolut Citron Vodka offers a bright, citrusy flavor with prominent lemon notes and a subtle sweetness. It’s known for its clean finish and smooth character.
Price: $20-$30 for a 750ml bottle.
A refreshing lemon vodka with a versatile citrus flavor, Absolut Citron infuses bright, sunny tastes into party-ready jello shots.
Tart and tangy lemon cuts through rich sweet flavors like orange, raspberry, or lime for a candy-like treat with a citrusy twist. Shake up typically one-note jello shots with the universally crowd-pleasing flavor of zesty citrus.
Vibrant yellow lemon gelatin cubes also make for festive, summery additions to any party spread. Budget-friendly and widely available, Absolut Citron upgrades basic jello shots into a more sophisticated and intriguing cocktail-inspired creation with its beloved mixable flavor.
How to Make Vodka Jello Shots?
Here are the steps to follow to create a jello shot at home:
Selecting the Best Flavored Vodka for Jello Shots
When creating jello shots, the choice of vodka can significantly impact the flavor and quality of your shots.
Opt for a clean vodka that doesn’t overpower the jello flavors. Tito’s Handmade Vodka is a popular choice due to its smoothness, making it ideal for jello shots.
Lemon vodka or blueberry vodka can complement specific jello flavors, such as lemon gelatin or strawberry jello, respectively.
Preparing the Gelatin Mix
Begin by selecting your favorite jello powder, such as lime jello, lemon jello, or a few different flavors for variety. Empty the jello gelatin mix into a mixing bowl.
Boil one cup of water and pour it over the gelatin mix, stirring until the powder is completely dissolved. This ensures that your jello shots will have a smooth texture without any gritty bits.
Adding the Vodka and Cold Water
Once the hot jello mixture has cooled slightly, it’s time to add the alcohol. For the best jello shots recipe, use a half cup of cold water and a half cup of the chosen vodka for jello shots. Mix well to ensure the vodka is thoroughly incorporated into the jello mixture.
Balancing the vodka and water content is crucial; too much vodka may prevent the shots from setting properly, while not enough may yield a weaker shot in terms of flavor and alcohol content.
Pouring the Mixture into Shot Cups
Get your shot glasses, plastic cups, or even silicone molds ready. Using a glass measuring cup or a turkey baster can make the pouring process cleaner and more precise.
Fill the shot cups to your desired level, but remember that jello shots are usually served in smaller quantities than regular shot glasses. If you’re using plastic cups, you may want to lightly coat them with some non-stick spray to make the shots easier to remove.
Refrigerating Until Set
Place the shot cups on a baking sheet for stability and refrigerate for at least two to three hours or until the jello shots are firm.
The baking sheet makes it easy to move the shots in and out of the fridge without spills.
Serving and Enjoyment
Once set, if you’ve used plastic cups, you can top the jello shots with a dollop of whipped cream for an extra touch of indulgence.
For a fancy presentation, small glass shot glasses can be used, and a butter knife or small spoon can help loosen the jello shots for consumption. Enjoy your delicious shots responsibly, and be mindful of how many shots you serve, as they can be quite potent!
Final Words
The success of your jello shots hinges on the vodka used. Superior vodka not only ensures a delectable harmony of flavors but also promises a smooth finish.
Embrace the best vodka for jello shots to guarantee your party’s highlight, leaving guests with a taste of festivity they’ll savor and remember.
