How to Make Drinks That Glow in the Dark

Create glow-in-the-dark cocktails with the addition of tonic water.

Make drinks that glow in the dark the highlight of your next party. Your drinks won't glow in a pitch-black room, but decorating with UV lights --- also called black lights --- will bring out the shine. Tonic water is key to creating glow-in-the-dark drinks because it contains quinine, a fluorescent substance that comes from the bark of a South American tree. Because quinine has a bitter flavor, you will want to mix it with other drinks.

Things You'll Need

• Tonic water
• Clear soda
• Liquor (optional)
• Black lights

Instructions

1. Mix equal parts of tonic water and soda. Taste the mixture and add more soda if you find it too bitter.

2. Make cocktails that include tonic water, such as gin and tonics. You can also substitute tonic water for club soda or sparkling water in any cocktail recipe.

3. Turn off all the other lights in the room and turn on the black lights to see the drinks glow.

Tips & Warnings

• Mix equal parts tonic water and tap water and freeze the mixture in ice cube trays for glow-in-the-dark ice cubes.

• Stir a pinch of salt into a glowing beverage to turn off the glow. Salt also neutralizes the bitter quinine flavor.

References

• WaterAid: Glow in the Dark Gin 'n Roses Jelly
• MadeMan: How to Make Drinks Glow in the Dark
• Drink of the Week: Glowing Drinks Part 2