Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster
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The Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is a fictional alcoholic drink which is mentioned in Douglas Adams's humorous science fiction series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Below is a brief excerpt from chapter two of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy which describes the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster:
| “ | Here's what the Encyclopaedia Galactica has to say about alcohol. It says that alcohol is a colourless volatile liquid formed by the fermentation of sugars and also notes its intoxicating effect on certain carbon-based life forms. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy also mentions alcohol. It says that the best drink in existence is the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. It says that the effect of a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is like having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick. The Guide also tells you on which planets the best Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters are mixed, how much you can expect to pay for one and what voluntary organizations exist to help you rehabilitate afterwards. The Guide even tells you how you can mix one yourself. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy sells rather better than the Encyclopedia Galactica. | ” |
The Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster has also been described in the novel as the alcoholic equivalent to a mugging: expensive and bad for the head.
"Earth versions" of the drink have been made available at some stage shows of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, as well as bars such as Zaphod Beeblebrox in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Recipes for these "Earth versions" can be found at Wikibooks[1].
In the movie, Zaphod mixes two glasses of the drink for himself and his semi-cousin Ford Prefect, using all three of his arms. Upon drinking it, both of them scream loudly. The drink is unavailable to everyone but Zaphod in the Infocom computer game (as Arthur, activating the Nutrimatic Drinks Dispenser results in receiving Advanced Tea Substitute). Zaphod jokes about sending one drink after the other through both of his heads in both the original radio series, and in the subsequent novel Life, the Universe and Everything.
In an interview,[2] Douglas Adams stated that there are a number of environmental and weapons treaties and laws of physics which prevent the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster from being mixed on Earth.
The Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, like many other elements from Adams' works, has inspired many and found its way into a variety of non-Hitchhiker's genres.
[edit] Original fictional recipe
The Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster was invented by Zaphod Beeblebrox, a major character in the series. Its original, fictional recipe, is as follows: (Excerpt taken from "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy", 2002)
The Guide even tells you how you can mix one yourself
- Take the juice from one bottle of that Ol' Janx Spirit, it says.
- Pour into it one measure of water from the seas of Santraginus V - Oh, that Santraginean sea water, it says. Oh those Santraginean fish!!!
- Allow three cubes of Arcturan Mega-gin to melt into the mixture (it must be properly iced or the benzene is lost).
- Allow four litres of Fallian marsh gas to bubble through it (in memory of all those happy Hikers who have died of pleasure in the Marshes of Fallia).
- Over the back of a silver spoon float a measure of Qualactin Hypermint extract, redolent of all the heady odours of the dark Qualactin Zones; subtle, sweet, and mystic.
- Drop in the tooth of an Algolian Suntiger. Watch it dissolve, spreading the fires of the Algolian suns deep into the heart of the drink.
- Sprinkle Zamphour.
- Add an olive.
- Drink... but... very carefully...
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