Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Borg drink is a viral Gen-Z favorite that’s really not all that new

Sorry, kiddos. "Borg" has been around for a while. We just call it something else.

Every new generation thinks they’ve invented the wheel when it comes to anything trendy. We’re sorry to say, Gen-Z, but “flared leggings” are called yoga pants, most of us were using flip phones before you were born, and don’t even think about talking to us about pop punk unless you know who Billie Joe Armstrong is.

When it comes to drinks, most generations have a hallmark party beverage that defines their college years, holding the power to flood them with a rush of nausea and fuzzy memories even decades later. For Gen-Z, that drink is called “Borg.” What they haven’t realized yet, though, is that this falsely fruity concoction has been around for years under the name “Jungle Juice.”

While Jungle Juice was originally invented by U.S. soldiers during the Second World War, it was Millenials who made it the truly trashy, hangover-inducing party swill it is. Most stereotypically mixed in a large bucket or something else that can be found in a dorm garage, Jungle Juice is a mixture of vodka and a cheap, fruity mixer such as Kool-Aid. Naturally, there aren’t any hard and fast recipe rules, but that’s the usual gist of Jungle Juice.

The Gen-Z twist, Borg, does have some clever upgrades, and for that, we give them due credit. Firstly, the rather gross-sounding name is actually a witty acronym for “Black Out Rage Gallon.” We love that there’s no beating around the bush with this generation. They know how to call a spade a spade. Second, unlike the communal trough that’s used to dole out Jungle Juice, Borg is made and served in individual plastic jugs, cutting down on germ spread. We can appreciate that growing up in the days of COVID has made for some much healthier thinking. We also love that Borg can be capped, making it much more difficult for potential predators to tamper with a drink.

Of course, the optional addition of new ingredients like Liquid IV also help to curb the hangover that will undoubtedly come with drinking vodka from a plastic jug. That sure would have been nice back in the day.

Borg drink recipe

Farm, food & life

(From Farm, Food & Life)

Ingredients:

  • 1 plastic gallon jug of water
  • Vodka
  • MiO or another flavor enhancer

Method:

  1. Fill the gallon jug halfway with water.
  2. Add vodka until there are no more bubbles.
  3. Add MiO, to taste.
  4. Shake to mix thoroughly.

Editors' Recommendations

Lindsay Parrill
Lindsay is a graduate of California Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu, San Francisco, from where she holds a degree in…
Jefferson’s Bourbon makes the most well-traveled spirits you’ll ever drink
What's aging at sea? Jefferson's Bourbon has brought the past back to life
Jefferson's Bourbon Rye.

Kentucky and bourbon go way back. The state has made American whiskey famous, and its heritage is impressive. But that does not mean that the industry has carried on from generation to generation.

Between ever-changing consumer palates, an up-and-down economy, and Prohibition, the whiskey scene has endured a lot. Thriving within is a delicate dance involving honoring the old ways while gently tweaking them to properly fit the future.

Read more
What is a Gose style beer? All about this unique drink
Get to know this sour, tart, salty beer.
Gose beers

To say that there are a lot of beer styles is a massive understatement. Beer beginners might feel overwhelmed even when it comes to classifying popular beer styles like lagers, stouts, and IPAs. This is before you even get into offshoots of the lager, such as pilsners and Vienna lagers or barrel-aged or imperial stouts and double IPAs, New England-style IPAs, and even milkshake IPAs.

While the ginormous beer tree seems to grow a new beer style branch every few months, there are roughly around 100 different styles currently being brewed worldwide. That’s an awful lot of beer to pay attention to, let alone be knowledgeable about. But fear not, ordering a pint at your local bar or brewery won’t come with a questionnaire asking you to name the various styles. Still, it’s always a good idea to learn a little bit about some of the lesser-known styles in case you ever want to carry on an intelligent conversation with a beer fan. Today, it’s the Gose style of beer’s turn.
What is a Gose?

Read more
The best bars in New York City: Our top picks
Here's where to belly up to the bar in NYC
The Quixote Bar.

If you're known as The City That Never Sleeps, you probably have a few good bars to your name. New York is the ultimate beehive, going strong regardless of the borough or time of day. That makes for a pretty rich NYC bar culture.

Sure, there are trending establishments that draw huge lines—look at you, Double Chicken Please. But there are also excellent dives, tremendous wine bars, and watering holes that make you reexamine the definition of a great cocktail.

Read more