On Fat Tuesday, king cake is hailed as the chief of all desserts. It should come as no surprise that its alcoholic counterpart, the king cake shot, has built a reputation as the king of all Mardi Gras spirits.
King cake drinks come in two distinct forms: the flamboyant gelatin shot and a more traditional flavored vodka shot. Every vendor of the cocktail infuses it with his or her own personal flair, but most king cake-flavored beverages are variations on these themes.
Lucky Player Vodka, an upscale French distillery, holds the claim to selling the world’s first king cake-flavored vodka. Lucky Player uses only natural ingredients in its recipes, and while they’re moderately expensive at $40 a bottle, Lucky Player boasts that its brew has the most authentic king cake flavor available on the market.
Taaka, a New Orleans-based company, also produces its own line of the festive alcohol for less than $20. Taaka tastes less like cake and more like vodka and is a staple of many college students’ Mardi Gras diets.
According to Jocelyn Miller, renewable resources senior, Pinnacle Vodka’s king cake concoction is a good selection for those on a tight budget, though its taste differs significantly from both Lucky Player’s and Taaka’s.
“It’s like someone poured cinnamon in alcohol, but it’s good, and you can get it at Wal-Mart,” Miller said.
The gelatin shot is often made with one of these flavored vodkas, but many people opt to use cinnamon-infused liquors or a more traditionally flavored spirit in their mixtures. King cake shots are made upon request at many destinations throughout Louisiana, including Baton Rouge, but no two bars ever make shots the same way. Some vendors use actual Jell-O in their drinks, while others form the base of the shot from condensed milk, agar or jelly.
The most colorful shots in the city are sold at Chimes East, Big Mike’s Bar and Reginelli’s. Chimes East and Big Mike’s Bar infuse their shots with generous portions of alcohol. The shots at Reginelli’s are sweeter than most other recipes and, according to bartender Caitlin Lawless, they are excellent for people with a inclination for sweets.
“I add a bit of food coloring for flair and, instead of an equal vodka to water ratio, I add a bit of lemonade to enhance the flavors,” Lawless said.
Lawless said she sells the shots quickly. She attributed their popularity to the heightened flavors of her recipe and compared the experience of drinking the shot to consuming a king cake in liquid form.
“There’s also the appeal of finding the gummy bear we put in them,” Lawless said.
The discovery of the gummy bear is both an homage to and a subversion of a tradition associated with the shot’s namesake. Prizes are often hidden within king cakes, and whoever finds it must usually provide their company with the next cake. Whoever finds the gummy bear in Lawless’ drinks is instead rewarded with a free shot.
“It’s easy to make, and it’s a lot like an actual king cake, so a lot of people love it,” Lawless said.
“It’s easy to make, and it’s a lot like an actual king cake, so a lot of people love it.”

Gallery • 5 Photos

Lauren Duhon

Reginelli's Pizzeria on West Chimes Street offers a king cake jello shot during Mardi Gras season.