Gin bucket
Encyclopedia
A gin bucket is an American
mixed drink consisting of gin
and typically Fresca
placed in a suitably sized bucket
, with ice and chopped fruit added. Classically, the gin is drunk by means of a turkey baster, eliminating the need for glasses.
is added to create a "superbucket." Also, several holiday themed containers have replaced the typical bucket, such as replacing the bucket with a plastic Jack-o'-lantern
, thus creating a "Jack-o'Gin."
The gin bucket is an Indiana University
tailgating tradition. A specially themed gin bucket is used during the annual Indiana v. Purdue football game, Old Oaken Bucket
, using a wooden bucket, appropriately called the "Old Oaken Bucket O'Gin." Indiana has served as a spawning spot for the Gin Bucket which has since been brought to other Midwestern universities such as University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
, University of Missouri
, University of Wisconsin–Madison
, Northwestern University
, University of Notre Dame
, University of Minnesota
,and notably, Indiana Wesleyan University
and Rochester Institute of Technology
, notoriously "dry" campuses at which the bucket has a substantial underground following.
One of the key aspects of the gin bucket is that of how it is consumed. As noted in the definition, a proper gin bucket must be consumed using a turkey baster. In some regions, a gin bucket is properly drunk by first gathering 6-10 friends and 2 turkey basters. These friends then line up around the bucket with the turkey basters on opposite sides. The basters are then filled and tapped over the top of the bucket to signal that the bucket has begun. The starting people then drink the baster, fills it up and then passes it to the person to their left. This second person drinks it, fills it up and passes it to their left, so on and so forth. If the two basters ever catch up to each other, the person with the two basters must drink both and then the basters are split to opposite sides and the race starts over again. Repeat until the bucket is consumed. Another, less competitive approach is the unspoken agreement that the last person to baste must fill and then give to another to drink, thus keeping the baster in motion.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mixed drink consisting of gin
Gin
Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries . Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories...
and typically Fresca
Fresca
Fresca is a citrus diet soft drink made by The Coca-Cola Company. First introduced in the United States in 1966, the drink is now sold throughout the American continent...
placed in a suitably sized bucket
Bucket
A bucket, also called a pail, is typically a watertight, vertical cylinder or truncated cone, with an open top and a flat bottom, usually attached to a semicircular carrying handle called the bail. A pail can have an open top or can have a lid....
, with ice and chopped fruit added. Classically, the gin is drunk by means of a turkey baster, eliminating the need for glasses.
Variations
Many variations exist among different regions, typically varying the soda with fresh citrus juices, although in some instances TequilaTequila
Tequila is a spirit made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands of the western Mexican state of Jalisco....
is added to create a "superbucket." Also, several holiday themed containers have replaced the typical bucket, such as replacing the bucket with a plastic Jack-o'-lantern
Jack-o'-lantern
A jack-o'-lantern is typically a carved pumpkin. It is associated chiefly with the holiday of Halloween and was named after the phenomenon of strange light flickering over peat bogs, called ignis fatuus or jack-o'-lantern...
, thus creating a "Jack-o'Gin."
The gin bucket is an Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
tailgating tradition. A specially themed gin bucket is used during the annual Indiana v. Purdue football game, Old Oaken Bucket
Old Oaken Bucket
The Old Oaken Bucket is the name of the trophy that is annually awarded to the winner of the Big Ten Conference college football game between Indiana University and Purdue University. It is one of the oldest football trophies in the nation...
, using a wooden bucket, appropriately called the "Old Oaken Bucket O'Gin." Indiana has served as a spawning spot for the Gin Bucket which has since been brought to other Midwestern universities such as University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
,and notably, Indiana Wesleyan University
Indiana Wesleyan University
Indiana Wesleyan University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located in Marion, Indiana that is affiliated with the Wesleyan Church denomination...
and Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university, located within the town of Henrietta in metropolitan Rochester, New York, United States...
, notoriously "dry" campuses at which the bucket has a substantial underground following.
One of the key aspects of the gin bucket is that of how it is consumed. As noted in the definition, a proper gin bucket must be consumed using a turkey baster. In some regions, a gin bucket is properly drunk by first gathering 6-10 friends and 2 turkey basters. These friends then line up around the bucket with the turkey basters on opposite sides. The basters are then filled and tapped over the top of the bucket to signal that the bucket has begun. The starting people then drink the baster, fills it up and then passes it to the person to their left. This second person drinks it, fills it up and passes it to their left, so on and so forth. If the two basters ever catch up to each other, the person with the two basters must drink both and then the basters are split to opposite sides and the race starts over again. Repeat until the bucket is consumed. Another, less competitive approach is the unspoken agreement that the last person to baste must fill and then give to another to drink, thus keeping the baster in motion.