Island Screwdriver
We made these Island Screwdrivers on the Big Island and they followed us home to our own bar cart. Honestly, they’re the easiest souvenir we’ve ever brought back. No suitcase space required, no worrying about it breaking on the flight, just good memories any time we want them.
The Island Screwdriver is about as simple as cocktails get. It’s just Vodka and POG juice (that’s passion fruit, orange, and guava, if you haven’t run into it before) with a few drops of phosphates dropped in to wake the whole thing up. Shake it up with some ice and you’ve got our absolute favorite Friday night cocktail.
Around our house we just call it a Pog-n-Vod, because that’s exactly what it is and there was no reason to make it fancier than that. Garnish it with a strawberry if you’re feeling festive, or skip it entirely if you just want the drink in your hand faster.
Why We Use Acid Phosphate Drops in Sweet Drinks
This is an Affiliate Link to Acid Phosphate Drops so you can see what they look like. They’re an old soda fountain trick, the kind of thing old fashioned drugstore soda fountain counters probably had on hand. A few drops add a little tartness and a little fizz-like snap to sweet drinks, the same way a squeeze of lemon can wake up a dessert.
POG juice is already sweet on its own, so the phosphates keep it from tasting flat or one-note, they give it a little backbone. If you’ve never used them before, don’t worry, a small bottle lasts a long time and a few drops go a long way. We’ve had the bottle I bought for over six months and it’s still going strong. We now add a couple of drops to any sweet drinks we make.
What You’ll Need to Make An Island Screwdriver
This is a short list, so don’t overthink it. The POG juice is doing most of the heavy lifting here, so use a brand you actually like the taste of on its own, since that flavor carries straight through into the glass. The phosphate drops are a small addition but they matter, so don’t skip them if you have them on hand.
- ice
- vodka
- POG juice
- acid phosphate drops
- strawberries, for garnish
- cocktail shaker
- shot glass
Where to find POG Juice in the Grocery Store
It can be tricky to know where to find the POG juice I’m talking about. Skip the frozen juice mix, it’s not what you want for this drink. Head to the milk coolers in your store. I typically find cartons of POG in the juice and iced coffee coolers adjacent to the dairy coolers. Once you find it in the wild you’ll be able to track it down wherever you are. I’ve found it in Albertson’s/ Safeway and Kroger in several states. I haven’t found it in a Walmart yet.
How to Change It Up
The first time you make one take a sip, do you like it? Is it too strong? Add more POG. Not strong enough? Add more vodka. It’s easy to customize and believe me you’ll have fun finding your perfect blend!
Swap the vodka for light rum if you want to lean further into the tropical feel. No phosphates on hand? A splash of club soda or a squeeze of fresh lime will do a similar job of brightening things up.
For a pitcher version to serve a crowd, multiply everything by your headcount and mix it up in a big pitcher over ice instead of building individual glasses. Stir again before serving to ensure it’s mixed properly.
Want to make it a mocktail, like our moscow mules? Leave the vodka out entirely, the POG and phosphates are plenty tasty on their own.
Storing Leftovers
This one really is meant to be made and enjoyed right away, the ice will water it down if it sits too long. If you have extra POG juice left over, keep the carton sealed in the fridge and it should be good for a week or so.
Island Screwdriver
Ingredients
- Ice to fill glasses
- 2 shots vodka
- 1 1/2 cups POG juice
- 10 drops acid phosphate
- 2 strawberries for garnish
Instructions
- Fill two 14-oz glasses with ice
- Add more ice to a cocktail shaker
- Add the vodka, POG juice, and acid phosphate to the cocktail shaker
- Shake to combine
- Pour over the ice in the prepared glasses
- Garnish each drink with a strawberry, if desired
