Spodi

A spodi (many alternative spellings exist, including "spodee", "spodee-odee", "sbodi", "sbodee", etc.) is an alcoholic fruit beverage or the parties where such are consumed. Legend says it originated on sailing ships which may be true, as alcohol would preserve the fruit and fruit prevents scurvy. The term is probably slang from the Pacific Northwest region. The drink is known elsewhere by a variety of names including jungle juice, hairy buffalo, PJ, hunch punch, and wop (not to be confused with the racial slur) or wopatui.

The spodi is, by its very nature, a party drink that is made and consumed in large amounts. The drink is made in a large container like a five gallon bucket, a plastic trash can or even a bath tub. The container is filled with fruit, either cut up or thrown in whole. The container is then filled with hard liquor of the makers' choice. Most people prefer a very strong but neutrally flavored liquor such as vodka or grain alcohol (i.e.Everclear). Additions to the taste might include a liqueur like triple sec, a schnapps, fruit juice or even Kool-Aid flavoring packets. The container is then let to sit (refrigerated if possible) for at least a day.

An alternative to putting the fruit and alcohol in a container is to get large melons, create a small hole in the rind, and put the alcohol straight into the melon. The melons should also sit for a day to absorb the contents into the flesh. This is sometimes known as "plugging" the melon.

On the day of the spodi party, the fruit and the liquid are separated. The fruit is eaten by the party attendants. The liquid is similar to a homemade schnapps. Mixed with a fruity soda like 7-up or ginger ale it makes a hard punch. The liquid can also be used as the basis for many other cocktails.

The attraction of a spodi is in the social atmosphere created by sharing a common drink and (particularly for those that dislike the taste of alcohol) the ease of getting drunk by eating fruit. Depending on the strength of the original alcohol, the consumed pieces of fruit have similar alcohol content of a mixed drink.

Origins and alternate names

The name "spodi" is likely to be related to the term used in the classic R&B song, "Drinkin' Wine Spodee-O-Dee", which was a 1949 hit by Stick McGhee, and was later covered by many artists including Jerry Lee Lewis. Interestingly, another McGhee song is the thematically similar "Jungle Juice".

In the American midwest, spodi is known as "Hairy Buffalo". It's served from the bucket, or in a punchbowl, and a proper serving of Hairy Buffalo has fruit in the bottom of the glass, to be consumed after drinking the liquor. In the Appalachian regions of the US it is also known as "Hooch".

External links

• A MetaFilter discussion about spodi and related beverages, with links to other references