Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Harry Potter Potions and Elixirs at Universal Orlando Resort

A visit to Universal Orlando Resort is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself within J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  Watch a dragon breath fire right in front of your eyes at Universal Studios' Diagon Alley or fly a broom across the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry and through the Forbidden Forest at Universal's Islands of Adventure Hogsmeade.  After selecting a wand, or maybe a wand selecting you, at Ollivanders and casting some magical spells with it amongst the theme parks interactive features take a moment to take in your surroundings while enjoying some of the variety of potions and elixirs available at Universal Orlando Resort's Harry Potter attractions.

Some of these delicious beverages are referenced directly within the Harry Potter books and movies such as Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice while others such as Fishy Green Ale are simply inspired by the magical works of J.K. Rowling.  These non-alcoholic beverages are the perfect cure for handling a hot Florida day while exploring Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.  The theme parks also offer some alcoholic potions for those over 21 years old who wish to indulge in them.  Drink a shot of Fire Whisky followed up with a pint of Wizard's Brew or Dragon Scale which are all alcoholic beverages exclusive to Universal Orlando Resort's Wizarding World of Harry Potter.



Butterbeer


Butterbeer appears to be one of the favorite beverages amongst the witches and wizards within the pages of the Harry Potter novels and in the corresponding movies.  While it is referenced getting house-elves drunk in the books, the Butterbeer at Universal Orlando Resort is non-alcoholic.  It is a tasty sugary concoction that blends together the flavors of cream soda, butterscotch, shortbread cookies and whipped cream.

We've tried themed sodas available at grocery stores and diy recipes at home, but have to say the Butterbeer my family has had at Universal Orlando Resort is by far the best.  It is available in three varieties at Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade -- cold, frozen and hot.  Cold Butterbeer is a creamy, buttery confection combining the taste of butterscotch and shortbread topped off with a foamy froth cap of deliciousness. Imagine mixing together a butterscotch sundae with a glass of cream soda and giving it the appearance of a pint of British ale and you have yourself a mug of Universal Orlando Resort's cold Butterbeer.

Butterbeer is also available heated up and the hot version is a nice way to warm up your belly on a mild weathered winter day or when there is a bit of an evening chill in the air during a night time visit to Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade.  My personal preference though is frozen Butterbeer.  This variation is like drinking a Butterbeer slush.  Oh it is good!  Plus frozen Butterbeer is the only one of the three you can drink with a straw because in the other two versions that utensil instigates a carbon dioxide overload that will turns your beverage into a bubbling cauldron which will quickly overflow from your cup like a school volcano science project.



Tongue Tying Lemon Squash


Made from real lemons this tart drink with a hint of vanilla has become the favorite lemonade among the Muggles who visit Universal Orlando Resort.  You may be enchanted to give someone a kiss after drinking a Tongue Tying Lemon Squash as its tangy flavor is sure to have your lips puckered.

Otter's Fizzy Orange Juice


Oranges and Florida go together like magical spells and wands so you'd have to expect something like Otter's Fizzy Orange Juice being available at Universal Orlando Resort's Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  It is a carbonated orange creamsicle flavored soda with a cinnamon and sugar coated rim to a cup that is garnished with a fresh orange slice.  It is not your typical orange juice but is a perfect beverage for a Florida vacation combining the State fruit with whimsical Harry Potter flair.

Fishy Green Ale


While the non-alcoholic specialty drinks at Wizarding World of Harry Potter are meant to be exclusive aspects of the Universal theme park experience, Fishy Green Ale stands out as being uniquely available at Diagon Alley.  It has a greenish coloring providing the appearance of a magical potion and a sip will provide you a creamy mint taste with a hint of cinnamon to it.  Take a look at the bottom of your cup and you'll notice it is filled with "fish eggs!"  Well not really fish eggs...they're plump blueberries.  Your Fishy Green Ale comes with an extra large straw so you can suck up these fish eggs through it.  Beware the blueberries absorb the cinnamon and mint from the drink combining with the fruitiness of the berries for a flavor explosion within your mouth.

Peachtree Fizzing Tea


Take a peach cobbler, mix it up in a blender, then drink it and you have yourself a Peachtree Fizzing Tea.  Featured in the Harry Potter movies, this drink has been brought to life at Universal Orlando Resort.  The resort boasts that this bubbly peach and ginger flavored concoction has a fizzing volume of a whopping 87%.



Pumpkin Juice


At first glance of a bottle of Pumpkin Juice at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I thought to myself how disgusting is that? Ugh!  But I mustered the courage to try out the drink and have to admit it really was delicious.  Pumpkin Juice combines the taste of apple cider with pumpkin pie.  Hints of spices and brown sugar compliment the main two flavors so that it is like enjoying Thanksgiving Day desert within a bottle of juice.  Don't hesitate in picking up a bottle of Pumpkin Juice while you are at Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade.



Gillywater


Visitors will notice bottles of Gillywater being sold throughout Universal Orlando Resort's Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  At first glance it will appear this is just normal bottled water with a Harry Potter themed label.  And that is all it is ... unless you add a secret ingredient.



Stop by Eternelle's Elixir of Refreshment located in Diagon Alley to purchase a vial with a potion that will transform your normal Gillywater into a flavorful treat.  Pick from one of four elixirs, pour the potion into a bottle of Gillywater, and shake it up.  Voila! You have one of these concoctions:

Babling Beverage that is the flavor of fruit punch;

Draught of Peace is a mixture of blueberry, blackberry, cherry and raspberry;

Fire Protection Potion which tastes like watermelon mixed with peach and strawberry;

Elixir to Induce Euphoria is pineapple flavored with a touch of mint.



Looking for a stronger drink than a Butterbeer? Try a Dragon Scale, Hogs Head Brew or Wizard's Brew.  These actual craft beers are brewed exclusively for Universal Orlando Resort by Florida Beer Company which also produces the Duff beers for The Simpsons area of the Universal Studios theme park.

Hogs Head Brew can be found at Universal Orlando Resort's Islands of Adventure theme park.  Stop by the Hogs Head Pub in Hogsmeade to get yourself a pint.  Hogs Brew tastes quite a bit like George Killian's Irish Red with a Scottish ale twist to its flavoring.  If you want to be a bit more adventurous try yourself a Deathly Hallows, which for some sort of copyright or other legal reasons the resort can't refer to the drink as but the bartenders will know what you are talking about, when visiting the Hogs Head Pub.  It consists of golden Strongbow hard cider, topped with amber Hogs Brew and capped with the dark coloring of Guinness.  Each beverage has its own level creating an interesting look within the cup and create an interesting blend of flavors as you drink it.



Hogs Head Pub doesn't serve soda but rather provides apple and pear ciders as non-alcoholic beverages.  These also make for great mixers in alcoholic drinks.  Try a Hogs Tea which is essentially a Long Island Iced Tea that instead of soda uses raspberry iced tea mixed together with a combination of gin, rum, tequila, and vodka.  You may also want to try a Pear Dazzle which is vodka mixed with pear cider and lemonade.

Dragon Scale and Wizard's Brew, like Fishy Green Ale, are unique to the Diagon Alley area of Universal Studios theme park.  Wizard's Brew is a dark stout with coffee and chocolate flavoring.  This sweet stout is a strong drink but remarkable not bitter.  Those who like dark beers like Guinness or Bell's Kalamazoo Stout will definitely appreciate a Wizard's Brew.  Dragon Scale is an amber lager similar to the regular Duff's beer available in The Simpson's area of Universal Studios theme park.  This brew is more for people who enjoy pale ales.  A Deathly Hallows drink mix in Diagon Alley is a combination of Strongbow Cider, Dragon Scale and Wizard's Brew.



In the Harry Potter books, Fire Whisky is an alcohol partaken by witches and wizards described as causing a burning sensation when drunk that fills one's body with courage and that is too potent for Muggles to drink.  A shot of Fire Whisky can now be enjoyed though by Muggles who venture to Universal Orlando Resort's Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade attractions.  Created by TerrePure Spirits, Blishen's Fire Whisky is a Harry Potter branded cinnamon flavored alcohol that is a bit mellower than Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey but still has that great Red Hots candy style taste to it.  Have a shot by itself or toss it in a pint of Dragon Scale, Hogs Brew or Strongbow Cider for an extra jolt to your drink.



As you can see there are a lot of great Harry Potter themed beverages to help enhance your experience while visiting this fantasy world of wizards and witches at Universal Orlando Resort. These really are some great elixirs to help you have a good time. From family friendly non-alcoholic potions like Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice to alcoholic elixirs for the Over 21 crowd like Dragon Scale, Hogs Tea and Fire Whisky there is something for everyone to help put them in a Wizarding World of Harry Potter mood.  Which of these beverages either is your favorite or one that you would like to try?

4 comments:

  1. Butterbeer sounds better than I imagined! Sounds like a fun place to hang out with the kids :)

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  2. I'm actually going there for a day in January, and I'm super excited :). Definitely want to try the butterbeer!

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  3. I’m not a big Harry Potter fan, but this part of Universal Studios is so much fun. It’s my favorite place to visit.

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  4. Oh wow! A must visit place indeed. I always wanted to taste a glass of butterbeer.

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