How to Make Super-Cool Frozen Party Cocktails with Liquid Nitrogen

Use liquid nitrogen to make awesome frozen party drinks. Liquid nitrogen is cold enough to freeze alcohol, allowing really fun frozen-slushy-like cocktails.

Step 1 Liquid Nitrogen can freeze alcohol

Ethanol, the alcohol in cocktails, freezes at -114 C. High-quality freezers are typically set at -18 C, so putting a drink in the freezer or adding water-ice will not freeze the alcohol. Even dry ice, at -79 C will still leave the alcohol a liquid. So, if you really want to freeze the alcohol solid, liquid nitrogen is the best choice. Liquid nitrogen (LN2) boils at -196 C (77 K), and when thoroughly mixed into a drink, will freeze the drink, and boil away leaving nothing behind but frozen yumminess.

Geek note: Most drinks are not 200 proof - so the water-alcohol mixtures freeze at a higher temperature than pure alcohol. Still, it's pretty darn cold.

Comments

[snarke]

 Good grief, people. 

"I've always gotten my LN2 from a university, or by masquerading as a "remote outpost" of a university to that university's supplier. "

Liquid nitrogen is not (oddly enough) some kind of illegal pharmaceutical. For all you people asking where you get the stuff, look in your local phone directory for companies that supply industrial gases. I called a company in my area last summer to ask about buying liquid nitrogen for making ice cream. I didn't have to pretend I was a university or a research lab, and I didn't need a special license. I would need a dewar; they told me I needed to supply my own container for the LN2, and no, they wouldn't sell it to me if I just showed up with a drinking thermos. 

That's it. Not hard to find or buy.

[loqk]

last time i checked, the only requirement was that you have the proper equipment. i believe that was a face shield, cryogenic rated gloves and a Dewar jar.

this was sold as a kit by the gas company for $1000. once you had that, they would sell you as much ln2 as you could drink.

(ps. no, don't drink it.... I'm appalled i even have to say it for those few who might)

[dla888]

So I could make a cocktail, pour liquid nitrogen into it and then (after stirring it) drink it?

[robot797]

wer can i buy the liquid coolingstuff in holland. i wanna try it...

[NobodyInParticular]

How much -173F ethanol can you put in your mouth at one time without getting frostbite or cracked teeth?

Is it safer when frozen than almost frozen?

[EviLNinJa]

(removed by author or community request)

[DELETED_outdoorsman2014]

(removed by author or community request)

[EviLNinJa]

Good to know. lol To bad I live in Boston.

[DELETED_outdoorsman2014]

(removed by author or community request)

[Derin]

If they work with cows,those vets should have it

[clamoring]

That's a crappy thing to say. If you have to preface something with "no offense" maybe you should keep it to yourself.

[DELETED_outdoorsman2014]

(removed by author or community request)

[DGerman]

And then you ... ??

[DELETED_outdoorsman2014]

(removed by author or community request)

[DGerman]

Some people have the oddest ideas of what's fun?

[Matt D655]

thaTS JUst sick-in the gross way not the cool way.

[codongolev]

hey- if it gets beef to my table faster.

[Derin]

hey-if it gives us more milk.

[incorrigible packrat]

We used to hire a service called "Eastern Breeders" to perform that particular chore. I always got a laugh when the A.I. technician would warm the little straw full of frozen bull spunk under his armpit. This was only mildly disturbing compared to what he did next with a big plastic bag covering his whole arm.

[harley_rly]

oh the childhood memories........."mommie...why is he stickin his arm up its butt?"   "you'll understand when your older"

[Derin]

lol i watched that a million times

[cowscankill]

not disturbing anymore ;)

[Derin]

good

[ekulmeekul]

pour liquid nitrogen all over you arm it looks and feel really cool (it doesnt harm you in any way because it evaporates before it hits your skin due to your body heat!)

[RebelWithoutASauce]

Let me just say, that is actually quite dangerous! A small amount will evaporate but a larger one will cool you off instead of being heated up.

[ekulmeekul]

yeh within reason people! don't go pouring a few liters over your arm, if you are stupid enough to pour that much on yourself you deserve the cold burns. (a 1/2 a coffee mug is a safe amount)

[codongolev]

SQUIRT GUN! seriously, just squirt it at people. they cringe, but as it approaches, the beam turns to smoke! but you'd need gloves...

[ekulmeekul]

haha and you have a water pistol that wont crack open at those temps? AWESOME!

[Matt D655]

FACT-You dont want to ingest liquid nitro because it's toxic id personally have a beer rather than hard liquor.

[Mutant raider]

Great instructable. +1

[mmalecky]

This is why nerds throw the best parties.
It's a fact.

[susie]

Shoot. I was on a flight the other day where liquid nitrogen or dry ice was evaporating from their vents onto my legs, freezing my laptop bag. If I'd read this instructable I'd have gotten some booze from the flight attendant to make some frozen drinks on the airplane floor!

[Jake-off]

you know,
the whole prospect of this idea is good, but with my experiences with drunken adults, super cold substances + impaired judgment= disaster for most .

but I like the whole smoothie for kids thing, do you know were i can get liquid nitrogen?

[Brennn10]

I would love to make one of those! With soda of course.

[trebuchet03]

Super-Cool Ha!

I don't care what they say - puns are funny :)

[T3h_Muffinator]

Looks like you guys were having quite the party! While I was @ that research program right before I came out to Instructables, we would have N2(l) parties all the time, throwing the stuff down the hallway, throwing it off the roof, and making iced creams. No alcohol, though... we're good kids ;)

[GorillazMiko]

Awesome, looks fun, step 5 was funny. :-)

[Shifrin]

Cool, it looks hard to make though...