Popsicles are a slick way to cool down in summer’s heat. At my house, ice pops with colorful stripes, twists and shapes, weird, crunchy candy or my child’s favorite, popsicles themed with favorite cartoon characters, fill the freezer.

As we get slammed by summer’s heat, icy treats appeal to everyone and that’s nothing new. Historians believe that some form of water-ice was discovered accidentally during Ancient Rome to satisfy Caesar’s taste for iced fruit juices and wines made with mountain snow. An ancient snowball perhaps?

But there’s a new treat on the scene and it’s strictly adults only. Bartenders nation-wide are rolling out their latest summer slammer - booze on a stick. The challenge was to find a way to solidify alchohol, which has a low freezing point and those that have figured it out are not talking.

Freaky Ice, a secret Dutch recipe for ice pops with alcohol are a Swedish nightclub sensation that have made their way to the U.S. They look like freeze-pops, those kid treats you squeeze from the bottom - only spiked with up to 4.8 percent alcohol. Freaky Ice comes in four flavors, Red Vodka, Cocktail, Tequila & Lime and one the non-alchoholic Energy, that glows under blacklight.

At the the Washington Plaza Hotel, bartenders there celebrate summer with their WP Pool Pops - four icy pops to be enjoyed by the swimming pool. Priced at $3 each, the popsicles come in three alcohol-infused flavors: strawberry, banana and pina colada, plus a virgin orange-peach. They’re available through the end of September from noon to 6 p.m.

Last but not least, if you find yourself in Paris this summer, check out the Bar du Plaza Athenee where they serve Fashion’Ice in Apple Martini, Bellini Martini, Cosmopolitan and Pina Colada.

For those that have snoball/snow cone stands or in-home machines, try splashing some Appple or Raspberry Pucker over plain shaved ice. It makes for a fun treat to beat the heat - adult-style.

Filed Under: Wine & Libations