# Hard Candy Cocktails These Jolly Rancher Drinks Turn the Sweet into an Adult Beverage By M | Published 2015-10-30 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/candy-cocktail References: [popsugar](http://www.popsugar.com/food/Jolly-Rancher-Cocktails-38913490) & [popsugar](http://www.popsugar.com) The Jolly Rancher [candy cocktail](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sour-patch-kids-watermelon-drinks) is an ideal drink for nostalgic adults that still have a lurking sweet tooth for their favorite childhood candies. This homemade drink transforms the popular [hard candy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/c4-performance-energy-jolly-rancher-peach) into a liquid tequila drink featuring the popular flavors. The fruity drink features a tequila base topped with lemon and cranberry juice. Then melon liqueur is added a refreshing candied fruit taste. The cranberry juice and melon transform the drink into a pale pink shade that might remind drinkers of their favorite Jolly Rancher flavor. This is a great beverage for anyone that enjoys [artificial fruit flavors prominent in sweets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/candy-lips). You could even float a piece or two of the hard candies in the cocktails for garnish and watch as the color from the sweet spreads into the drink. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.6/10 - Popularity: 6% | Activity: 5% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Hard Candy Cocktails:** Opportunity for mixologists to create innovative cocktail recipes using nostalgic childhood candies, appealing to adults with a sweet tooth. - **Jolly Rancher Flavors:** Opportunity for candy companies to collaborate with beverage brands to create Jolly Rancher-inspired alcoholic drinks, tapping into the nostalgia trend. - **Fruit-flavored Liqueurs:** Opportunity for liquor companies to develop new fruit-infused spirits with innovative flavors, capitalizing on the demand for unique and enticing cocktail ingredients. ### Who This Affects Most - **Beverage:** Beverage companies can explore collaborations with candy brands to create nostalgic-themed alcoholic drinks, targeting adult consumers seeking unconventional flavors. - **Candy:** Candy manufacturers can expand their product range by partnering with liquor brands to create alcoholic beverages that incorporate their signature sweet flavors, providing a unique and playful drinking experience. - **Liquor:** Liquor producers can experiment with fruit-infused liqueurs to enhance mixology options and attract customers looking for creative cocktail ingredients and flavor profiles. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Hard Candy Ice Pops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jolly-rancher-ice-pops.md) - [Candy-Flavored Lemonades](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jolly-rancher-watermelon-lemonade.md) - [Crispy Freeze-Dried Hard Candies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jolly-rancher-freeze-dried.md) - [Fruity Candy Ropes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jolly-rancher-ropes.md) - [Craft Cocktail Lollipops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gourmet-cocktail-lollipop.md) - [Fiery Fruit-Flavored Gummies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heat-wave-gummies.md) - [Nostalgia-Inducing Candy Cocktails](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/adventures-in-candy-land-cocktails.md) - [Unconventional RTD Cocktails](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unconventional-rtd-cocktails.md) - [Freeze-Dried Hard Candies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jolly-ranchers-freeze-dried.md)