Fizzy Lifting Drink - A Willy Wonka Inspired Cocktail
For the release of the 2023 Wonka, I’ve created 4 Willy Wonka Movie themed cocktails for you. This one is the fizzy lifting drink, hover-choc inspired cocktail.
Willy Wonka might be all about chocolate and candy. But at the heart of it all is magic and pure imagination. (mind the pun) So instead of eating your Wonka themed confections, why not drink them?
The first movie, Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory, starring Gene Wilder who in my opinion was the best Wonka to date, was released in the early 70s. 1971 to be exact. The first remake of the movie, Charlie and the chocolate factory starring Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka was released in 2005.
As a side note, I really couldn’t take that movie serious. Johnny Depp is a fantastic actor but that character was just too weird.
What I’m trying to say is that it makes sense that a lot of adults will be excited for this third movie - Wonka.
And yes, us adults love chocolate. But we also love cocktails.
Home Movie Release
Let’s be honest with ourselves, yes a trip out to the Cinema is great, but there’s a cost of living crisis meaning most of us will just be waiting for the 2023 Wonka to be released on streaming platforms. I’m looking at your Amazon Prime and Disney+.
That does not mean we have to have a lesser experience. In-fact, we can make the whole thing more of an experience! We can dress up head to toe in purple without feeling embarrassed and pause to pee. Even more importantly, we can make Wonka themed cocktails and magically drinks.
In which case you’re in the right place. I’ve covered movie cocktails before, check out these 7 movie inspired drinks to learn more. But today, it’s all about Wonka.
How the Fizzy Lifting Cocktail was inspired by Wonka
You may remember the above scene from the original Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory. I know I sure do.
It’s where Charlie and his gran pa pa drink the fizzy lifting drink which makes them float surrounded by bubbles. I thought it was an excellent scene, very disappointing that they didn’t bring this back in the 2005 remake.
I had low hopes that we would see the return of this. But then I watched the trailer for the new Wonka and seen something oddly familiar.
Speaking of the Wonka Trailer
Not quite a fizzy lifting drink but a chocolate that makes people fly, to which Willy Wonka now played by Timothee Chalamet mentions the Hover-choc. A chocolate that makes you, well, hover.
I can only assume this is a play on the fizzy lifting drink.
So that was enough for me to say right! I’m bringing back the fizzy lifting drink in my own way. Couple of weeks later and here we are!
How To Layer Cocktails
The key is for the liquid you’re layering to be added lightly and as spread out as you can. To do this, take a spoon and put it just above the liquid you’re layering on.
Top tip: having the spoon backwards (so the inside of the spoon is facing down) helps a lot.
Then slowly pour your layering liquid on top. What will happen is it will run over the back of the spoon and spread over the full surface area instead of just being poured in one spot which can be quite heavy.
It also helps if you have a bar spoon like this. The flat end can be used for layering. If you’re shopping from the USA, this is the spoon you want.
It also helps if you have a speed pourer so you can pour slowly. Speed pourers are very cheap so its worth picking a few up. Don’t bother spending a lot of money of speed pourers, they serve one job, you don’t need it to be fancy. Just get these ones from amazon if you’re UK based, or for you USA based folk, get these ones.
How to layer ANY liquid
For layering any liquid, the key is density. The more lighter a liquid is, the more likely it is to float. Trying to float 2 liquids with the same density (such as water) would be impossible. They’d just mix together, you can’t stop that. But if one of the liquids is more dense, a slow pour will layer on top.
The bigger the differences in density the crisper the layer.
And what makes the biggest difference in the density of liquid? Sugar.
The more sugar in a liquid the heavier it is. So all you really have to do is put the liquid with the most sugar at the bottom, and the liquid with the least sugar at the top.
I have a chart to help with this. Click here, it’ll take you to my alcohol density chart which lists the most popular types of alcohol from the least dense to the most. It’ll also explain more about density in liquids. I just picked an orange liquid from the bottom of the chart and a green one from above.
To use it for making your own layered drinks. Just make sure whatever is being layered on top is further up on the chart then the one below.
Alcohol Density Chart
Once you’ve perfected your layered drinks, check out these recipes;
Flag shots. Here are my 5 layered flag shots.
As for the cocktails, start by checking out my layered Ukraine flag cocktail here.
Baby Guinness
Don’t forget to check out the B52’s older and more popular brother, the Baby Guinness.
B52 Shot
Finally, a must tried layered drink is the ever so popular B52 Shot.
Ingredients and Tools
For the Fizzy Lifting Cocktail
This drink is made up of 2 layers, which is kind of a combination of 2 of the other Wonka inspired cocktails I’ve done. The Wonka cocktail and the Oompa Loompa cocktail. Infact, the first layer is exactly the same as the Oompa Loompa
#1 Lime Juice
Citrus is important for the majority of cocktails and this is no exception. So pick up some fresh limes ready for squeezing.
#2 Orange Juice
This will give us that orange look and flavor we’re after.
#3 Passionfruit Syrup
Orange and passionfruit is a great combination which works perfect for this Wonka themed cocktail as the combination of both of these with lime juice creates a perfect sweetness for our bottom layer.
Now the second layer is more similar to the Wonka cocktail. We’ll need…
#4 Gin
You could swap this for vodka if you prefer but I find the gin goes perfectly with these flavours.
#5 Violet liqueur
This is a purple violet tasting liqueur, you’ll usually find it under creme de violette. It adds a floral taste but will also make the second layer purple, which is perfect for Wonka.
#6 Soda Water
Finally we’ll have a dash of bubbles just on top to give this fizzy lifting drink a fizzy lift.
For the Serve and Garnishing
That about covers the ingredients for this Fizzy Lifting cocktail inspired by Willy Wonka, but let’s cover some other basics to get you started:
#1 Wine Glass
Your also going to need some glassware. I’d recommend a wine glass for this one filled with ice.
#2 Cocktail Shaker Set
Next, you’re going to need a cocktail shaker as this is a shaken cocktail. If you don’t already own a cocktail shaker, I’d recommend picking up a Boston shaker, which is a tin on tin styled shaker. That being said read this article about the 4 different styles of cocktail shakers so you can better decide which shaker will suit you.
And if this is your first shaker, get a set so you have everything you need and can upgrade each piece to suit yourself.
My Recommendation
If you’re not ready to make the plunge into buying a cocktail shaker, then use a jar with a tight fitting lid, or any similar container with a tight fitting lid that you can fill with ice and liquid and shake without it coming loose.
#3 Cocktail Spoon
You’ll need a bar spoon for the second layer. If you’ve read the article on layering drinks and cocktails, you’ll understand why this is important. It’s built for layering.
Basic Bar Spoon
#4 Fizzy rainbow sweets
Finally, we’ll garnish this with a rainbow belt. Any fizzy sweet or candy will do just fine so do pick up your favourite type!
Tips and Tricks
Pre-batching
If you love this recipe and plan on having a few, or you’re hosting a Wonka watching party and don’t want to be pausing constantly to mix up cocktails, then I’d suggest pre-batching.
To do this, multiple all the ingredients by as many cocktails as you plan on making. Then store it in 2 bottles with closed caps (one orange layer pre batch, one purple layer pre batch) and keep them refrigerated. This can be done the night before.
When it comes to serving, simply pour out the required amount, shake, strain, and layer.
More Willy Wonka Inspired Cocktails
As mentioned, this is just 1 of many Willy Wonka inspired cocktails I’ll be sharing with you.
For something chocolatey and purple - check out the Wonka cocktail.
For something resembling and inspired by the Oompa Loompa - check out the Oompa Loompa.
For something sweet and sour that tastes like candy - check out the Candy Cocktail
If you just want to scan through all the cocktails with advance for hosting your own Wonka watching party, then check out the full list of Wonka inspired cocktails here.
More Movie Inspired Cocktails
At this point I think I’m slowly becoming the movie cocktail guy. I’ve been creating movie inspired cocktails for as long as this website has been a thing. I cover quite a lot of these on this article here about all the popular movie themed and inspired cocktails you can make.
But every now and again I like to really dedicate some time to certain movies and shows. Such as these Charlie and the Chocolate Factory/Willy Wonka themed drink recipes.
I’ve done everything from the Baby Yoda cocktail to the Cruella De Vil Cocktail. Check out the recipes below for the full range.
Fizzy Lifting Cocktail Recipe
Fizzy Lifting Cocktail
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients for the bottom layer in a cocktail shaker and shake well with ice.
- Strain the mix in a wine glass filled to the top with ice.
- For the second layer, mix the gin and violet liqueur in a glass or jug then slowly pour the mix over the back of a bar spoon on top of your orange layer.
- Finish by gently pouring in a splash of soda water and garnish with a twisted fizzy rainbow belt.
Notes
If you're struggling with the layers, check out this free guide on how to understand and layer any liquid.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
206.72Fat
0.39 gSat. Fat
0.04 gCarbs
18.62 gFiber
3.23 gNet carbs
15.38 gSugar
11.55 gProtein
1.34 gSodium
10.82 mgCholesterol
0 mgThe nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
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Hi, I’m Cameron, guv’nor of Smartblend. If you liked this then you’re in luck, I have a bunch more recipes like it. I share only vegetarian and pescatarian food recipes, cocktails, and drink guides with a sprinkling of wellness and mindful drinking. If that sounds like you, then stick around!
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