We’re your ice cream man, stop us when you’re passing by.

You remember when you were a kid and you’d chase after the ice cream truck to score Creamsicles and Bomb Pops? Wouldn’t it be better if there were booze involved? Well, that’s what we thought, anyway, but then again, we were the only 8-year-old hanging out with a Gimlet in one hand and a SuperSoaker in the other.

Anyway. MGM Grand’s Wet Republic took two things we all know and love and put them together into the poolside treat, the Drunken Popsicle. Served in plastic cones with a long, thin spoon through the middle in lieu of wooden sticks, the Drunken Popsicles come in Red Bull/vodka, Corona limon and Frida Margarita. They’re served in an acrylic, modernist tray for rapid deployment of the cones.

The Corona limon offering doesn’t betray much if its beery roots, aside from the light bitterness you might normally associate with a Corona and lime. Instead, there’s an almost nutmeg/cinnamon quality that was entirely unexpected. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it gives the treat a heaviness that isn’t present in the others.

The Red Bull/vodka pop is surprising in its lightness compared to its liquid counterpart. It retains the flavor of the drink, but takes away its overpowering sweetness, making this an excellent choice for poolgoers who have grown logey in the sun.

The margarita flavor is the star of the class, a strawberry/raspberry blend that’s bright and zippy. The main taste is mostly strawberry, but the raspberry provides an underlying tartness that makes the whole package flavorful and refreshing. It’s also the most substantial taste of the bunch, but does it without knocking you out of your seat.

By Jason Scavone

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