Pan Galactic Gargle BusterCocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Pan Galactic Gargle Buster is a bold, sci‑fi‑named highball that leans into playful excess rather than a documented cocktail lineage. With vodka and whiskey sharing the base, it sits in the “kitchen-sink” party drink tradition: big spirits, loud liqueurs, and a fizzy top-up that turns it into something long, bright, and easy to keep sipping. You’ll find it reads more like a novelty crowd-pleaser than a barroom classic, built for impact and conversation.
On the palate, vodka keeps things clean while whiskey adds a warmer, deeper backbone. Aniseed liqueur brings a distinctive licorice snap that immediately announces itself, and crème de menthe layers in a sweet, cooling mint note that plays against the anise. A dash of lime juice cuts through the liqueurs’ sweetness with a quick tart edge, and lemonade lifts everything with bubbly citrus sweetness, stretching the strong core into a refreshing, aromatic long drink.
Serve it when you want something unapologetically punchy but still tall and fizzy—house parties, themed nights, or any gathering where novelty matters as much as flavour. If you enjoy assertive, polarising profiles like anise and mint, you’ll appreciate how it stays vivid even with the lemonade. It also suits drinkers who like their highballs sweet-leaning, aromatic, and a little bit outrageous.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Highball glass
Ingredients
Cocktail Colin says:
Vodka and whiskey lay a blunt, boozy base while aniseed liqueur and crème de menthe clash into a sweet licorice-mint rush, sharpened by a dash of lime juice and stretched into fizzy, candied citrus by the lemonade top-up. It works when the lemonade’s bubbles and lime’s bite temper the syrupy liqueurs, and it’s best for adventurous drinkers who enjoy loud, dessert-like highballs.
Method
How to make a Pan Galactic Gargle Buster
- Vodka 30ml, Whiskey 30ml, Aniseed liqueur 30ml, Creme de menthe 30ml, Lime juice Dash, Lemonade Top up
-
- Combine the vodka, Pernod, lime juice, Southern Comfort and crème de menthe in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake well
-
- Strain into a tall glass with ice, before topping up with lemonade, and serving
Power tips
Elevate the Pan Galactic Gargle Buster with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Use fresh lime juice rather than bottled for a brighter and more authentic citrus kick.
- Chill the highball glasses in a freezer before serving to help maintain the drink’s cold temperature longer.
- Upgrade to premium to receive even more power tips on this cocktail.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
How should the Pan Galactic Gargle Buster be mixed to ensure the best flavor?
The Pan Galactic Gargle Buster should be prepared by first adding vodka, aniseed liqueur, whiskey, and creme de menthe into a shaker with ice. Shake well until cold, then strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Add a dash of lime juice and top up with lemonade for a refreshing finish. Despite the instruction 'not stirred,' the initial shake ensures all ingredients are well-chilled and mixed.
Can I substitute the aniseed liqueur in the Pan Galactic Gargle Buster with something else?
Yes, if you do not have aniseed liqueur, you can substitute it with sambuca or absinthe for a similar anise-flavored profile. Keep in mind that absinthe is stronger in both flavor and alcohol content, so you may want to use it sparingly compared to the original liqueur quantity.
What is the best way to serve the Pan Galactic Gargle Buster?
The Pan Galactic Gargle Buster is best served cold in a highball glass. You can garnish it with a slice of lime or lemon on the rim of the glass for an added citrus appeal, enhancing both the drink's presentation and its slightly tart flavor profile. Serve immediately after mixing to enjoy its refreshing qualities.
How does the alcohol content in the Pan Galactic Gargle Buster compare to other cocktails?
With an alcohol content of 13.5%, the Pan Galactic Gargle Buster sits in the mid-range compared to other cocktails. For reference, light cocktails might have an alcohol content as low as 5-8%, whereas stronger cocktails can exceed 20%. This makes the Pan Galactic Gargle Buster a moderately strong choice, suitable for those looking for a noticeable, but not overwhelming, alcohol presence.
How can I customize the Pan Galactic Gargle Buster to suit my taste better?
To customize the Pan Galactic Gargle Buster, consider adjusting the ratios of the main spirits based on your preference for sweetness or strength. For a sweeter drink, you might increase the creme de menthe or lemonade. For a stronger bite, up the vodka or whiskey content. Adding fresh mint leaves or a splash of soda water can also introduce new flavor profiles and textures.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Try this refreshing blend of vodka and lime
Vodka Gimlet
Vodka, Lime juice, Lemon juice, Lime cordial, Sugar / simple syrup
Experience this fruity mix of vodka and schnapps
Sex on the Beach
Vodka, Peach schnapps, Orange juice, Cranberry juice
Try this creamy blend with a gingerbread twist.
White Russian Christmas
Vodka, Coffee liqueur, Gingerbread syrup, Cream, Mincemeat
Try this tropical mix of coconut and citrus
Caribbean Sex on the Beach
Coconut rum, Vodka, Spiced rum, Orange juice, Cranberry juice, Grenadine
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments