There are a great may recipes out there (not least in h2g2) for how to make a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster (PGGB), but unfortunatelly, none of them can be a true representation of what Douglas Adams wrote, if only for the great difficulty in obtaining the proper ingredients.

This entry attempts to promote thinking about what is known about its contents, as quite frankly many of the recipes seem devoted purely to being an strongly alcoholic mix, will little though devoted to actually replicating the beverage they are named after

The 'Official' Recipe

• Take the juice from one bottle of that Ol' Janx Spirit
• Pour into it one measure of water from the seas of Santraginus V.
• Allow three cubes of Arcturan Mega-gin to melt into the mixture (it must be properly iced or the benzine 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...

Deciphering the Recipe

• Quite what 'that Ol' Janx Spirit' could equate to is unknown, as is 'water from the seas of Santraginus V'.
• 'Arcturan Mega-gin' obviously sounds like it should equate to gin, although the 'mega-' prefix suggests extra potency. The fact that it comes in cubes and melts suggests that it is frozen.
• 'Fallian marsh gas' being bubbled through it suggests that the drink should be at least slightly fizzy. The dying of pleasure suggests that the gas has a pleasant aroma.
• 'Qualactin Hypermint extract' obviously implies a mint oil of some kind, though whilst the 'hyper' prefix suggests that it may well be a strong extract, the phrase 'subtle sweet and mystic' when describing the aroma, indicates that it should not be overpoweringly strong.
• The 'tooth of an Algolian Suntiger' bringing 'the fires of the Algolian Suns' to the drink suggests that this is a spicy ingredient. A solid that easily dissolves in the mixture created thus far.
• 'Sprinkle Zamphour', a simple instruction. Seeing as the PGGB is liquid, it is probable that this is not a liquid ingredient, as the act of sprinkling would cause some mixing with the drink. More likely it is some form of powder to be added in much the same manner as the chocolate on top of a cappucino.
• 'Add an olive' speaks for itself. The description does not note whether it remains or disolves however...

Other Information

The fact that it apparently, 'tastes like a slice of lemon wrapped around a large gold brick', suggests that there is the sharpnes, if not the taste of fresh lemon to the final product. I think from the remainder of the description it is safe to say that the drink is very, very potent.

Going by the television series the final drink is a light green colour, and is served in a wine glass, we are not talking about large measures of ingredients (unless making up multiple servings).

Putting it all together

• It should contain strong gin (possibly freeze-distilled).
• The drink should be at least slightly fizzy, to represent the marsh gas. This could be achieved by either using a fizzy ingredient or by putting the mixture into a SodaStrean, or simmilar.
• It should smell pleasently, as derived from both the marsh gas and the hypermint extract.
• It should have at least a subtle minty flavour, but should not smell too strongly of mint.
• It should taste spicy, though not necessarily too spicy.
• It should have some form of powder or sprinkles on top.
• It should have the sharpness of biting into a lemon, and possibly some flavour of lemon.
• It should be light green in colour.
• It should be served with an olive.
• It should be served cold (ingredients from the freezer, or shaken with ice).
• It should be very potent.

This still leaves the first two ingredients with their properties unknown, save for that the spirits are likely to be some sort of spirit or combination of spirits, and that the water is very likely to be an aqueous* liquid.

Suggested Ingredients

• Strong, white rum, kept in the freezer.
• Strong vodka, from the freezer.
• Strong gin, kept in freezer until needed.
• Cheap, fizzy cider.
• Some form of mint liqueur, for both mint flavour/aroma and colour. Again, keep in the freezer.
• Lemon oil, not too much.
• Dash of green Tabasco.
• Sprinkle of cinnamon.
• An olive, to serve.

Cheers!