Woo Woo
What is Woo Woo?
The Woo Woo is a vodka-based cocktail. Red in color, the drink consists of vodka, peach Schnapps, and cranberry juice. This cocktail is of American origin and was originally called Teeny Weeny Woo Woo.
- Not a very popular cocktail nowadays, it had its moment of fame in the 1980s when peach Schnapps became all the rage.
- It has a fruity taste and doesn’t have a strong taste of alcohol.
Some other cocktails that contain cranberry juice are:
- Sea Breeze
- Long Beach Iced Tea
- Red Lotus
- Cranberry Margarita
- Spiced Cranberry Margarita
- Purple Haze
- Watermelon Cosmo
- Pink Honey Martini
- Washington Apple
Origin
Though it is not a confirmed fact, this cocktail is believed to be of American origin. Also, it is thought to have been invented in New York at the First Edition bar. The bartender who concocted this cocktail was a baseball fan. Legend has it he would shout “woo woo” every time the New York Mets scored, and handed around cocktails to the customers. Thus, the association of the phrase with the drink!
Nutrition
Nutritional profile for this beverage (1 serving):
The cranberry juice in this cocktail offers a number of health benefits. It has the ability to lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, and diabetes, reduce oxidative stress, improve platelet function, and prevent endothelial dysfunction. However, overconsumption of alcohol can result in a change in the brain’s functioning patterns, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, heart problems, strokes, different types of cancers, as well as affect overall immunity.
Commercial production
To prepare a this cocktail, the ingredients required are vodka, peach Schnapps, and cranberry juice. First, the three ingredients are mixed together in a cocktail shaker along with ice and shaken well until the liquid is cold. Then, it is poured into a glass in which ice has been put. The garnish may be a slice of lime or a cranberry on a toothpick. The cocktail is usually served in an old fashioned glass.
Woo woo recipes
This beverage is a cocktail that can have varied interpretations. There are several variations of this drink. Here are a few recipes to try:
FDA regulations
All alcohol related products are regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) in the US. Vodka is defined as a neutral spirit distilled with charcoal and without any distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color. The TTB strictly regulates the production and import of alcohol, which must have 95 percent ABV and be bottled at no less than 40 percent ABV.
There is no specific classification for peach Schnapps probably due to its uncommon nature. However, Schnapps is classified as a liqueur or cordial. According to the FDA, cranberry juice must have at least 7.5 percent concentration. The USDA requires that all cranberry juice cocktails must be tested on single-strength cranberry juice cocktails.
References
Sarah Holden, Schnapps: All You Need To Know About Austria’s National Drink, Tourist Secrets, https://www.touristsecrets.com/travel-guide/food-travel/schnapps-everything-about-austrias-national-drink/
Blumberg, Jeffrey B et al. “Cranberries and their bioactive constituents in human health.” Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) vol. 4,6 618-32. 6 Nov. 2013, doi:10.3945/an.113.004473, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3823508/
Is it time to rethink how much you drink?, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/is-it-time-to-rethink-how-much-you-drink