Varsity's Boozy Slushies Are Back: Every Flavour Ranked, Plus What To Pair With Them

Vodka in a 7-Eleven Slurpee? We’ve all been there. But this isn’t that. It’s tastier, classier, and just a little bit more adult. It’s Varsity’s Boozy Slushies, dropping monthly.

November

Frozen Blueberry Lemon Drop

What's in it: Smirnoff Vodka, limoncello, blueberry jam, and lemon juice.

The verdict: Holy shit, this was delicious. Tart and zesty, but still sweet and super crushable. This might be too niche, but it pretty much tastes exactly like the Berry Blast Pushpop. How did the Varsity bar crew manage to create such a flavour using natural, locally sourced ingredients? I can only assume black magic, some amount of voodoo, and a whole lot of god given talent. 9.8/10, would slurp again. 

The verdict: Holy shit, this was delicious. Tart and zesty, but still sweet and super crushable. This might be too niche, but it pretty much tastes exactly like the Berry Blast Pushpop. How did the Varsity bar crew manage to create such a flavour using natural, locally sourced ingredients? I can only assume black magic, some amount of voodoo, and a whole lot of god given talent. 9.8/10, would slurp again. 

Pairing: Hear me out: this would BANG alongside The OC burger. Charcoal grilled chicken, sliced avocado, halloumi, tomato, crispy tobacco onions, shredded lettuce, and aioli with Varsity fries and a side of Varsity Mayo? Say less.

December

Frozen Espresso Martini

What's in it: Smirnoff Vodka, Mr Black Coffee Liqueur, Espresso Syrup

The verdict: I’m not much of a coffee enjoyer, but this was fire. Smooth, rich, and chocolatey - it’s giving boozy Dare Iced Coffee, and I’m very much here for it. The whipped cream and cacao powder on top is the kind of extra flourish I’ve come to expect from Varsity’s bonkers cocktail menu, and it definitely took this frozen espresso martini experience from an 8 to a solid 8.9/10.

Pairing: This one is easy: Double Cheese Deluxe. Two thick beef patties, melty cheese, blitzed pickles, lettuce, red onion, tomato, and Varsity Mayo and a side of Varsity fries. It’s Varsity’s most umami heavy burger (if you disagree, feel free to debate me at marketing@varsity.com.au) and is the only thing that truly compliments the bitter coffee and sweet liqueur of this frosty lil treat without overpowering it.

December

Frozen Spiced Rum Mango Daiquiri

What's in it: Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Cointreau, mango syrup

The verdict: Perfect. No notes. But for the sake of doing my job, I’ll try to jot a couple down. First, this is the optimal level of spiciness for a drink like this. Not too much, not too little. Second, how good are mangos? Third, how many of these are acceptable to drink on a weekday? For my sake, I hope it’s more than one. 10/10. 

Pairing: Say it with me now: Chicken Taco Bowl. I know it seems like the obvious pick, that’s because it is. It just works so damn well. The corn chips, the charred lime, the charcoal chicken. It was meant to be. This is honestly my favourite pairing on the list, and I see a future in which I am spamming this combo at least twice a week.

Final Thoughts

Last year, these boozy slushies blew my mind, and I’m stoked to have them back again this year. The Spiced Rum Mango Daiquiri is a must try, but I’d skip the frozen Espresso Martini if you’re sensitive to caffeine or dairy. The Blueberry Lemon Drop is a crowd favourite, and also looks cute as hell on an Instagram story, which is pretty much half the reason a lot of us buy cocktails these days anyway.

Spiced Rum Mango Daiquiri - 10/10

Blueberry Lemon Drop - 9.8/10

Espresso Martini - 8.9/10

Wanna let us know your rankings? DM us at @varsity_au