Skittles Shots

To Knowsley and an ambassadors reception, where I was fortunate enough to witness the birth of a new drink.

Skittles Shots (or Skittles Schnapps , as some called it) involves taking a bottle of vodka and pouring yourself a good measure to drink. Then take a bag of Skittles, those horrible multi-coloured sweets that unsuspecting children are now afflicted with in Christmas selection boxes, carefully remove all green ones and a proportion of purple, then tip into your partially emptied vodka bottle.

Leave out of the freezer for a day to allow the sweets to dissolve, then serve without ice in plastic cups. If plastic cups are not available, antique shot glasses will suffice.

The drink was invented by the lovely Claire McKenzie, pictured rather shakily here. All swore by the drink’s nostalgic, cola-cube taste and potency.

Alas the Southport Drinker continues his Lenten fast and could not partake. He also had to look on manfully as the guests knocked back Cheeky Vimtos and Atomic Mary’s.

Your hero left early, just as the madness was beginning.