The Water Hazard Is Golf’s Latest Viral Cocktail
A “water hazard” certainly sounds like something to be avoided. Usually, it is. But this summer, an electric blue cocktail with that moniker took off on golf courses around the country. Made with blue Gatorade, vodka, lemonade, and Sprite, the sweet-tart cocktail is most commonly served in a plastic takeaway cup. You’d never find it in a serious cocktail bar, but it’s the type of refreshing, easy-to-drink beverage that’s perfect for outdoor sipping.
“I think golfers like it before and during rounds because it allows them to enjoy a cocktail while still staying hydrated,” says Sam Allison, general manager at Players’ Pub at the Cougar Point golf course at Kiawah Resort. “I’ve actually heard golfers say, ‘We’re staying hydrated while dehydrating.’”
The classic “cool blue” Gatorade, which has that candy-sweet but pretty undefinable blue raspberry flavoring, is the primary note that you’ll taste. That’s the theoretical hydrating component. The citrus-forward lemonade and Sprite give the drink a bit more zesty umph and help cover up any taste of vodka, so if you don’t watch out, the Water Hazard can sneak up on you. Hence the “hazard.”
Never heard of this concoction that feels a bit like something you’d mix up in high school?
Neither had most people until earlier this year, when Jennifer Friday, a TikTok influencer and golf course beverage cart attendant, posted a video making the drink.
Nearly eleven million views later, it’s safe to say that the Water Hazard has made a splash on golfers and other social media mixologists, with courses, beverage cart attendants, and bartenders posting about the trending sensation.
Social Media’s Impact on Golf Drinks
This isn’t the first time that a golf cocktail has gone viral.
“I think the Water Hazard is following the same trajectory of discovery as the Transfusion,” says Josh Miller, co-founder of Owen’s Mixers. His company makes a variety of non-alcoholic cocktail mixers, the most popular of which is their Transfusion version. (A classic Transfusion is made with vodka, ginger ale, and Concord grape juice.)
Since launching their Transfusion mix in 2020, Owen’s has made its way into 1,500 golf courses and over 23,000 retail stores. It’s the only official mixer of the PGA.
“Social media is what blew [it] up,” he says. “People posting photos of it, people taking pictures of them drinking Transfusions. The purple color really grabs people’s attention.”
// Create the element
var script_68e97270814c1 = document.createElement(“script”);
script_68e97270814c1.innerHTML = `
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};
googletag.cmd.push(function() {
var adType = “leaderboard”;
var mapping;
var lbmapping = googletag.sizeMapping()
.addSize([1024, 0], [[970, 250], [970, 90], [1, 1], [728, 90]])
.addSize([728, 0], [[728, 90], [1, 1]])
.addSize([320, 0], [[1, 1], [300, 50], [300, 100], [320, 50], [320, 100]])
.addSize([0, 0], [[1, 1], [320, 50]])
.build();; // Size mapping for leaderboard ads
var medrecmapping = googletag.sizeMapping()
.addSize([1024, 0], [[300, 600],[300, 250]])
.addSize([728, 0], [300, 250])
.addSize([320, 0], [[1, 1],[300, 250]])
.addSize([0, 0], [[1, 1], [300, 250]])
.build(); // Size mapping for med rectengle ads
if(‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_1’ == ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_1’
|| ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_1’ == ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_2’
|| ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_1’ == ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_3’) {
mapping = googletag.sizeMapping()
.addSize([1920, 0], [[728, 90]]) // >= 1920px
.addSize([1440, 0], [[728, 90]]) // 1440px-1919px
.addSize([730, 0], [[300, 250]]) // 730px-1439px
.addSize([0, 0], [[320, 100], [320, 50], [300, 100], [300, 50], [300, 250]]) // Up to 729px
.build();
} else {
mapping = adType == ‘leaderboard’ ? lbmapping : medrecmapping;
}
googletag.defineSlot(‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_1’, [],
‘div-gpt-ad-68e97270814c1’).addService(googletag.pubads()).defineSizeMapping(mapping);
googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest();
googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs();
googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-68e97270814c1’);
});
`;
// Append the script to the body
document.body.appendChild(script_68e97270814c1);
Transfusions are now one of the most requested drinks served on golf courses. The Water Hazard offers a similar appeal: it’s crushable, light, and Instagram-ready.
Miller is not surprised that the Water Hazard’s popularity is surging in a similar way as the Transfusion.
“Golf courses have always been dominated by just, like, let me get a shot of Fireball and a beer,” Miller says. “Now the beverage cart has become this craft cocktail destination because people are finding out about these cool drinks on social media.”
Indeed, in a follow up TikTok video where Friday makes a double Water Hazard, her customer confirms he found out about the drink from her video.
“I love when people order a Water Hazard,” she says, “because I’m not saying I made the drink popular, but, like, I’m pretty sure I did.”
Trendy or Timeless? Hard to Say
While the Transfusion has moved from trendy to legendary, it’s unclear whether the Water Hazard will dry up or stick around.
“We serve many more Transfusions than we do Water Hazards,” Allison says, comparing the two cocktails. “It’s too early to say at this point whether the Water Hazard is a passing trend or if it will have staying power.”
// Create the element
var script_68e97270819de = document.createElement(“script”);
script_68e97270819de.innerHTML = `
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};
googletag.cmd.push(function() {
var adType = “leaderboard”;
var mapping;
var lbmapping = googletag.sizeMapping()
.addSize([1024, 0], [[970, 250], [970, 90], [1, 1], [728, 90]])
.addSize([728, 0], [[728, 90], [1, 1]])
.addSize([320, 0], [[1, 1], [300, 50], [300, 100], [320, 50], [320, 100]])
.addSize([0, 0], [[1, 1], [320, 50]])
.build();; // Size mapping for leaderboard ads
var medrecmapping = googletag.sizeMapping()
.addSize([1024, 0], [[300, 600],[300, 250]])
.addSize([728, 0], [300, 250])
.addSize([320, 0], [[1, 1],[300, 250]])
.addSize([0, 0], [[1, 1], [300, 250]])
.build(); // Size mapping for med rectengle ads
if(‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_2’ == ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_1’
|| ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_2’ == ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_2’
|| ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_2’ == ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_3’) {
mapping = googletag.sizeMapping()
.addSize([1920, 0], [[728, 90]]) // >= 1920px
.addSize([1440, 0], [[728, 90]]) // 1440px-1919px
.addSize([730, 0], [[300, 250]]) // 730px-1439px
.addSize([0, 0], [[320, 100], [320, 50], [300, 100], [300, 50], [300, 250]]) // Up to 729px
.build();
} else {
mapping = adType == ‘leaderboard’ ? lbmapping : medrecmapping;
}
googletag.defineSlot(‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_2’, [],
‘div-gpt-ad-68e97270819de’).addService(googletag.pubads()).defineSizeMapping(mapping);
googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest();
googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs();
googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-68e97270819de’);
});
`;
// Append the script to the body
document.body.appendChild(script_68e97270819de);
The good news is that if you don’t like blue Gatorade, you can swap it out for any sports drink. It won’t quite own up to the Water Hazard name without the signature blue color, but you’ll still get the hydrating-but-dehydrating effect that golfers are loving.
The Water Hazard
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces vodka
- 5 ounces blue Gatorade
- 1-1.5 ounces lemonade
- Sprite to taste
Directions
Step 1
Add vodka, Gatorade, and lemonade in a glass filled with ice.
Step 2
Stir.
Step 3
Top with Sprite.
More Cocktail Coverage
- The classic gin gimlet is endlessly adaptable. Here are 9 of our favorite gimlet variations.
- In case you didn’t know, everything tastes better in Shakerato form.
- Celebrate summer with these sweet, colorful strawberry cocktail recipes.
- The viral cocktail of the summer may just be the crisp martini.
- Anyone can be a mixologist with these two-ingredient cocktail recipes.
New Arrival
Vanity Unbreakable Signature Cocktail Glass – Set of 2
In Stock | $41.00
The post The Water Hazard Is Golf’s Latest Viral Cocktail appeared first on Wine Enthusiast.
