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A small green shot with bubbles coming out of it is next to a taller glass with a dark carbonated beverage in it.
A light blue tropical drink cartoon with a straw and a citrus wheel

“The next time you check into a deserted hotel on the dark side of Hollywood, make sure you know just what kind of vacancy you’re filling or you may find yourself a permanent resident of… The Twilight Zone” - Mark Silverman


Inspiration

Opened in 1994 as the second expansion for Hollywood Studios, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is a freefall drop through the 5th dimension.  The ride was added to attract more thrill seekers to the once-new park Hollywood Studios. Props lining the end of the ride to the photo area are all references to the Twilight Zone show, and one particular jar of pickled sausages appears to have a bit of a cult following. It’s been rumored that a worker left their pickled sausages and found them glued down with the remaining props. When asked at Stage 89, imagineers involved in prop collecting were asked about the rumor to which they responded uncertainly. This rumor although still unverified inspired this non-alcoholic bomb-type drink featuring a dark and sour malt beverage and a shot of carbonated pickle juice.


Workshopping

As the Tower of Terror is a dropping elevator, this drink must follow the bomb drink style whereas you drop a shot into a larger beverage. We needed something shocking in execution - in reference to the lightning shock that caused the Hollywood Tower dilemma. We also needed something to reference that jar of pickles in the ride’s queue. We also also needed a dark foreboding tower!

With that all in mind, we knew we needed pickle juice. To give it a zing, we carbonated it. Yup, we carbonated pickle juice for this one. What about the dark tower? For the sake of experimentation, we thought to ourselves, “What goes well with pickle juice?” Pickleback drinks combine pickle juice and whiskey. Maybe that? How about something more original?


We took up the task of tasting pickle juice (which is basically vinegar) with a variety of dark ingredients that we had at the XBar. Among the various alcoholic reagents, one non-alcoholic beverage stuck out among the others: a bottle of malt beverage (brand Malta India). The combination of sour savory sweet bitter was not something any of us expected would taste good… but it did! We wound up tweaking the recipe a bit to include a bit of lime juice, and what we created was seemingly a shockingly palatable shot for those willing to take the plunge! All that remained was the execution. So carbonate your pickle juice, prepare your tall glass of lime and malta, and drop!



Flavor Analysis

A savory, briney, malted experience that corrects the assumption that all mocktails are built to be sugary drinks. It has the fullness of a meal with a slightly foamy feeling to follow.

Tower of Terror Shot

Tower of Terror Shot

  • 7 oz (207 ml) Malt Beverage (Malta India)
  • 1 oz (30 ml) Lime Juice
  • 1 Shot (2 oz - 59 ml) Carbonated Pickle Juice

Method: Build in Glass, Drop to Combine

Garnish: Pickle Juice

More drinks inspired by: Disney

Guided Recipe in 60 Seconds: YouTube

Watch Us Mix this Recipe Live!

Comments?

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