Sweaty summer days call for ice-cold refreshments, preferably in the form of a slushie. Bonus points if said slushie is of the, ahem, grown-up variety.
Boozy slushies are delightfully diverse: You can make them with just about anything, from beer to wine, cider, liquor, cocktails or even coffee. We rounded up a few favorites currently available in Bellingham, from standard frosès to one-of-a-kind concoctions.Â
Beer, cider and seltzer slushies
Structures Brewing’s offbeat claims to fame — doom metal and smoothie beers, to name a couple — might not be to everyone’s tastes. That said, folks who enjoy these things (myself included) are in for a treat. Recent smoothie beers include the Desert Bloom, with notes of watermelon, prickly pear and marshmallow fluff.
Lost Giants offers rotating cider slushies; I tried the raspberry version and am pleased to report it’s every bit as delicious as it sounds. As a bonus incentive, the Tam Tam Pizza food truck is on site Thursday–Sunday if you want to pair your slushie with something savory.
Stemma Brewing Co. makes slushies out of its delicious orange prickly pear seltzer. A warning, though: While most seltzers are lower-ABV, this one comes in at 7.5%, so sip with caution.
Margaritas — classic and otherwise
Some frozen margaritas are cloyingly sweet, perhaps to mask cheap tequila — but for a refreshment that tastes like an actual high-quality margarita, not a sugar bomb, try Black Sheep. Their frozen Milagro margarita is made with the bare necessities: silver tequila, triple sec, agave and lime.
L&L Libations has rotating boozy slushies during the summer months, and many are creative takes on the classic margarita. Recent examples include a coconut-kiwi margarita, tropical margarita (with lime, mango, papaya, dragonfruit and banana) and the Le Tigre (tequila, lime, triple sec, hibiscus and rhubarb).
Honey Moon’s rhubarb margarita slushie is an extra-summery take on their Meadarita. Made with Honey Moon’s own mead, sour notes from rhubarb and lime complement the mead’s sweetness without overpowering it.
Frosè and wine slushies
Jack’s Bar is known for craft cocktails, but don’t sleep on their slushies. This summer they’re offering not just frosè but an Aperol spritz slushie (which I didn’t know the world needed, but now can’t wait to try).
Hot take: I like Aperol as much as the next person, but I prefer Campari in my spritzes whenever possible. Luckily Bistro Estelle in Fairhaven has strawberry frosè slushies, made with not just rosè but Campari and Campari-soaked strawberries.
Bin 13 Wine Bar, located in the Portal Container Village, puts a unique spin on frosè by offering a pineapple slushie base, then topping it with a glass of wine. Customers can pair theirs with cava, sauvignon blanc or a red blend.
Best bang for your buck
I’m convinced the happy hour deal at Rain or Shine Riviera Club is one of the best in town. The Combo No. 2, available from 2–5 p.m. daily, pairs their Riviera Burger with a slushie of your choice for $10. With unique flavors like the Sumo (a sake-based pina colada) on offer, I’d argue these slushies are worth sampling outside of happy hour, too.
Alternatively, if you’re feeling tropical but don’t want to shell out $15 for a tiki drink, Red Rum has you covered. Their rum slushies cost just $5 and are guaranteed to quench your thirst on a muggy summer evening.
Most scenic locations
If you want to pair your slushie with views of Bellingham Bay, Bellingham Cider Co. boasts arguably the best patio in the downtown corridor. Its rotating cider slushies are (understandably) very popular, and patrons can add spirits like tequila, gin or even Mezcal for an extra kick.
Located right on Lake Whatcom, coffee/cocktail joint Lakeline makes nonalcoholic coffee slushies that are perfect for a mid-morning pick-me-up. If you’re there for brunch, however, you can add a splash of Licor 43 for a summery alternative to an espresso martini.
On the beach in Birch Bay, Beach Cat Brewing is well worth the trek up north. In addition to boozy slushies, they have cat-themed beers, sun-soaked outdoor seating and unparalled views of the bay.
Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.
