Jungle juice is a favorite alcoholic drink option among party-goers across America, but little do most people know, the first references of the boozy concoction can be traced back to the early twentieth century in a northern Colorado town.
Typically, jungle juice is a combination of liquor and other mixers, served in a punch-style bowl for group consumption. The liquor(s) and other ingredients that are used can vary, therefore, there are countless recipes for the popular party drink.
The term “jungle juice” was first used as early as 1909, in reference to bootlegged alcoholic drinks. In February 1909, the editor of the Weekly Courier in Eaton, Colorado wrote in an article that he found Fort Collins’ “Jungle juice is too fierce for him.”
It’s believed the name came from an area known as “the Jungle”, which was located on the outskirts of Fort Collins. At the time, Fort Collins was a dry town, meaning no booze was supposed to be sold or consumed by its residents. The Jungle was allegedly where bootlegging and other illicit activities were taking place. It was also in this area of town that homemade liquor of questionable quality was produced and sold…