The Wonka Cocktail
For the release of the 2023 Wonka movie, I’ve created 4 cocktails, this one is the namesake itself - The Wonka 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 if we so wish. 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 is all about Wonka.
How the Cocktail was inspired by Wonka
Willy Wonka is associated with all things chocolate, I mean, the man has a chocolate factory. So it made sense to make a chocolate cocktail. However, I didn’t want to do the usual rich chocolatey indulgent. I wanted to do something more interesting.
So instead of filling this with said rich chocolate, we’re going to be using a clear chocolate liqueur - cacao Blanc.
I also wanted to make this purple as everything Willy Wonka seems to be purple.
So to achieve that we’re adding in the hate it or love it ingredient that is violet.
The Garnish
For the garnish we’re going to pair this with a whole bar of quality street. Why quality street you may ask? Well…
I wanted to print of a golden ticket, but alas, I didn’t have the printer. So I tried making my own which well, didn’t work.
So I thought to myself well hey, surely with the release of Wonka just around the corner, the shops will be filled with Wonka branded chocolate, right? You’d be surprised. Not a damn thing.
So what I ended up choosing was quality street purely based on the fact that A) it was absolutely delicious, and B) it was purple.
If you haven’t tried the Quality street chocolate yet, I’d recommend you give it a go. But as for garnishing this cocktail, go with whatever chocolate you like the most (or a golden ticket if you can)
Ingredients and Tools
For the Wonka Cocktail
#1 Gin
Gin makes an interesting base for a chocolate cocktail. The cocktail itself is like a mix between an Aviation and a 20th Century Cocktail.
#2 Cacao Blanc
This will give us our chocolaty flavour but keep the drink clear. Lot’s of brands make cacao blanc, I’d just pick up any that are accessible for you, as they all pretty much taste the same.
#3 Violet Syrup
Now this is a hate it or love it ingredient. If you like Parma violets, you’ll like this. The people who enjoy violet drinks say they taste floral and bright, which I love. People who hate it think it tastes like soap or perfume. So it really is the marmite of the cocktail world.
For the Serve and Garnishing
That about covers the ingredients for this Wonka cocktail, but let’s cover some other basics to get you started:
#1 Short Glass
Your also going to need some glassware. I’d recommend a short glass for this cocktail as it sits better.
The Exact Glass I Used
#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 Large Ice Mould
Finally, you’ll need a large ice cube. We want this cocktail sitting on top of one large cube which can be easily done with a cheap mould.
Large Ice Moulds
Tips and Tricks
Pre-batching - Make the night before
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 in a bottle in a fridge. You can do this the night before.
When it comes to serving, simply pour out the required amount, shake and strain.
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 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
For something Fizzy and fun - check out the Fizzy Lifting 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.
The Wonka Cocktail Recipe
The Wonka Cocktail
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake well.
- Strain into a rocks glass over 1 large block of ice.
Notes
Shake this cocktail vigorously. It needs more dilution then your regular cocktail. You want to be shaking for around 30 seconds - 1 minute.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
216.19Fat
0.03 gSat. Fat
0 gCarbs
13.73 gFiber
0 gNet carbs
13.73 gSugar
13.33 gProtein
0 gSodium
9.36 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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