If you were a liquor enthusiast between 2014 and 2019, you would be familiar with Viniq Shimmery Liqueur.
Viniq shimmery liqueur entered the liquor market in 2014 and quickly entered many menus, homes, and hearts.
One impressive thing about this shiny alcoholic beverage was its flavor. Viniq had a uniquely rich taste from the perfect blend of Moscato, premium vodka, and many fruit flavors.
Because Viniq was an excellent liquor, from its flavor to its taste, people still wonder why Viniq was discontinued abruptly. This article will address this and other Viniq-related concerns.
Why was Viniq discontinued?
No one knows why Viniq was discontinued. Viniq discontinued the production of their shimmer liquor sometime in 2019 or 2020; the exact date is unknown.
Before discontinuing their shimmer liquor, Viniq Shimmery Liqueur was on a fast rise in America. Viniq had even begun to creep into the Australian market in 2016.
In 2016, Viniq Shimmery Liqueur had three distinct flavors; Viniq original, Viniq glow, and Viniq ruby. With these three flavors, Viniq stayed at the top of the liquor market in America.
After almost seven years of a good market run, E & J Gallo, the Viniq distillers, discontinued its shimmering liqueur suddenly.
To date, Viniq distillers are yet to release an official statement stating why Viniq was discontinued. So no one knows why Viniq was discontinued.
We know that after 2020, Viniq slowly disappeared from the market, and it is extremely difficult to find at the moment.
What is Viniq liqueur?
Viniq liqueur was a brand of shimmery liqueur made by E & J Gallo winery. Viniq liqueur is a perfect blend of fruity flavors, Moscato, and quality vodka.
This liqueur comes in a tall, slender bottle crammed with this glittery goodness.
Viniq liqueur was distributed in three flavors; Viniq original, Viniq glow, and Viniq ruby, with Viniq original, being the most popular.
Viniq liqueur has been likened to things like the galaxy, nail polish, and even a magic potion because of its out-of-this-world shimmery look.
An interesting fact many do not know about Viniq liqueur is that it was the first ever shimmery liqueur targeted at the American market. Before Viniq shimmery liqueur, no premium glittery liqueur was made to cater to the American market.
What kind of alcohol is Viniq?
Viniq shimmery liqueur was an excellent sparkly alcoholic beverage that combined premium vodka, natural fruity flavors, and Moscato.
Viniq shimmery liqueur not only appeals to the palate but to the eyes as well. That is why this unique blend of alcohol quickly rose to fame in America and from America to other countries like Australia.
What does Viniq shimmery liqueur taste like?
Viniq shimmery liqueur combines Moscato, vodka, and fruit blends. This trio combination gives Viniq shimmery liqueur a rich flavor.
Viniq glow will hit your palate with a powerful peachy flavor doused in notes of sweetness.
Viniq original has this intricate fruity flavor it gets from a flawless blend of orange blossom, peach, berry, and citrus.
Viniq ruby, on the other hand, tastes exactly as you expect it to. Its flavor beautifully combines the sweet and refreshing zest of red berries.
All three types of Viniq shimmery liqueur burst with fruity flavors, making them so good.
Let’s look at what makes this oh-so-good alcoholic beverage glitter.
Why is Viniq shimmery?
All flavors of Viniq shimmery liqueur owe their sparkling look to mica powder.
Mica powder is a colorant used for various purposes, from textiles to cosmetics to soaps.
Mica powder is not a popular industrial dye, but its sparkly effect speaks for it. Mica powder gives a natural and rich shimmer to whatever it is added to.
Although mica is mined in Brazil, Belgium, and China, most commercially available mica is mined in India.
Mica powder can be produced naturally and synthetically.
Natural mica is produced from Muscovite, a naturally occurring silicate mineral. Before processing, mica is mined as a pearl-like sheet with shimmery predispositions.
After mining the pearl-like mica sheets, the sheets are crushed into a powdery state and mixed with natural oxides, after which heat is applied to the mix to create a potent shimmery dye with a rich color.
Synthetic mica is created in a laboratory, resulting in a synthetic mineral, fluorphlogopite, which mirrors the sparkly nature of naturally made mica.
Synthetic mica often has a smoother texture and a richer color than natural mica.
What do you mix Viniq with?
Viniq shimmery liqueurs are delicious drinks that can be blended with many things.
Here are four ways you can mix Viniq:
Viniq ruby with lime juice and vodka (Viniq cosmo)
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. of Viniq ruby
- ¾ oz. of lime juice
- 1 ½ oz. of Vodka
- ¾ oz. of Triple Sec
- Lime wheel
- Ice
- Viniq glow (optional)
Guide
- Add lime juice, triple sec, vodka, and ice to a shaking glass, then shake the mixture well.
- Pour the mix into a martini glass, follow this with the lime wheel, lightly shower in the Viniq glow, and enjoy.
Viniq glow with bare-foot Moscato and lemon-lime soda
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Viniq glow
- 1 oz. Bare-foot Moscato wine
- ½ oz. Sweet/sour mix
- Lemon-lime soda
- Lemon wheel
Guide
- Add Viniq glow, Barefoot Moscato wine, and sweet/sour mix to a glass cup.
- Proceed with a drizzle of lemon-lime soda and garnish with a lemon wheel. Drink responsibly.
Viniq original with pineapple juice and Moscato (Viniq tropical glam cocktail)
Ingredients:
- ½ oz. of Moscato
- 3 oz. of Viniq original
- ½ oz. of pineapple juice
- Mint
- Orange wheel
Guide
- Add some ice to a glass and add the Viniq original, followed by the Moscato, then top with the pineapple juice.
- Add mint and the orange wheel as a garnish.
Viniq original and chili powder
Ingredients:
- Chili powder
- 2 oz. of Viniq original
- 1 orange wheel
Guide
- Add the Viniq original to an elegant glass, dip the orange wheel or slice in chili powder, and add it to the cocktail.
Does Viniq need to be refrigerated?
When you open a bottle of Viniq shimmery liqueur, you do not need to refrigerate what is left.
All you need to do is place the bottle of leftover Viniq at room temperature and serve whenever you want to.
Refrigerating viniq will change its flavor a little, and you may not like that.
If you want to enjoy Viniq cold, add some ice when you want to drink it instead of refrigerating it.
How much does Viniq cost?
Because Viniq is so hard to find, a bottle of Viniq shimmery liqueur can sell for $20 and even higher, depending on the seller.
So if you’re scouting for a bottle of Viniq in 2022, we suggest you keep an open mind on the price because this fruit liqueur can be priced higher than you expect.
Best Viniq alternatives
Viniq shimmery liqueur is such a standout liqueur that there aren’t so many alternatives that can fill its place.
However, you can indulge in a DIY Viniq with these brief guides:
These guides will help you make Viniq in three delicious flavors and exciting colors. Let’s get started.
Ingredients for Red Viniq:
- Strawberry liqueur
- Silver pearl dust
- Moscato
- Vodka
Ingredients for Green Viniq:
- Sour apple pucker
- Midori
- Moscato
- Silver pearl dust
Ingredients for Blue Viniq:
- Blue raspberry vodka
- Silver pearl dust
- Moscato
- Blue Curacao
Guide
Choose any recipe above, mix all the ingredients in a shaking or empty bottle, shake well, and store at room temperature.
Here’s another way to make DIY Viniq shimmery liqueur:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of vodka
- ⅓ cup of simple syrup
- ⅓ cup of Moscato
- ¼ teaspoon of petal luster dust in whatever color that fits the proposed color of the Viniq you want to make ( for instance, gold for Viniq glow)
Guide
- Mix the vodka and wine in a shaking bottle, and follow with the simple syrup. Combine well. Add in the petal luster dust while stirring. Add mix to a glass bottle with a lid.
- Shake the liqueur before drinking, as the luster dust would have settled at the bottom of the drink.
- Cool the bottle of liqueur at room temperature until you need it.
Read also: What Soda Goes Good With Vanilla Crown?
