The Energy Drink Cocktail That Actually Glows In The Dark

Cocktails can be a fun way to enjoy a drink, whether you're making mixed drinks for a group of friends, ordering a fun drink at the bar, or just allowing yourself an elevated drink to sip on while relaxing at home. According to Dusty Old Thing, cocktail parties can even be a fun way to dress up and socialize during an evening centered around fancy drinks. These parties became especially popular in the mid-20th century, as more people began entertaining at home.

From edible glitter, to cotton candy, to smoky dry ice, there are a multitude of fun cocktail ingredients that can add an exciting appearance to your drinks. Inventive additives ensure that a drink's appearance is just as much part of the drinking experience as the flavor itself. For one fun drink, you don't even need any fancy ingredients; one ingredient glows under UV light, and you might already have it in your kitchen.

Hpnotiq is a blend of French vodka and exotic fruit juices, with a smidge of Cognac, according to its website. The company's website features a variety of cocktail recipes using the liquor. One cocktail created by Hpnotiq is the Green Lantern. The liquor company recommends combining 2 ounces of Hpnotiq and 1 ounce of vodka into a shaker with ice. Once thoroughly mixed, pour the liquid into a chilled martini glass, and top it off with 1 ounce of Red Bull.

Thanks to the Red Bull, this drink actually glows under a UV light, says PlantServices. The high Vitamin B content in Red Bull causes the drink to glow a bright green under UV lights, even when mixed with other liquids. According to the Red Bull website, there are plenty of B vitamins in the drink. Red Bull reportedly contains vitamins B6, B12, niacin (B3), and pantothenic acid (B5). 

Cocktails were born right before Prohibition went into effect, reports NPR. Once it ended and people were allowed to consume alcohol freely again, America's bartending scene took off as people began to experiment with various mixes. Some of the earliest known cocktails include martinis, daiquiris, and the Manhattan. Over the years, people have experimented with various mixers to create new cocktails.

Take, for example, the Vodka Red Bull. The exact history behind the creation of this drink is unclear, but it became a defining menu item at Butter, a trailer park-styled California bar, and its popularity has spread around the country since then. The mixture is simple: one shot of vodka, poured into a glass over ice, and then fill the rest with Red Bull. Thrillist reports that the drink even became something of a craze in the early 2000s, and though its popularity may have waned two decades later, it is still a popular mixed drink at bars today. So the next time you host a party, grab a UV light and wow your guests with this fun, tasty light-up drink!