Recipes Below
The Emerald City’s glittering illusion inspires a decadent, mint-chocolate cocktail that, like the Wizard, may not deliver on its promises—but dazzles with its rich flavor and jewel-like presentation.
Inspired by the Yellow Brick Road’s symbolism of hope and self-discovery, this smoky-sweet cocktail remix blends mezcal, gin, elderflower, and citrus into a visually striking drink that echoes Dorothy’s dreamlike journey to the Emerald City.
Follow the Yellow Brick Buzz: Oz-Inspired Cocktails That Turn a Classic Film into a Dazzling Nightcap.
Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) and her dog Toto (Terry) are living a fairly happy life in sepia-toned Kansas. Except for one problem- Ms. Gulch and she wants to take Toto away, so Dorothy decides they need to run away. A tornado comes and picks up her Aunt and Uncle's house with Dorothy and her little dog in it. They land, but not Kansas, and not sepia (in the remastered version), and not totally on the ground either.. They landed Somewhere Over the Rainbow and right on top of the Wicked Witch of the East which sends her sister, the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) after Dorothy for her ruby red shoes. Glinda the Witch of the North(Billie Burke), tells Dorothy that she needs to go to Emerald City to as the Wizard of Oz (Frank Morgan) who can help her. On her way to the Emerald City, she makes a few odd companions the Tin Man (Jack Haley) Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) and Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) and together, they set out on the Yellow Brick Road to have all of their dreams come true in the Emerald City.
The Yellow Brick Road is a gold-laden path that leads from Munchkin Land to the Emerald City. In the book and the movie, the Yellow Brick Road symbolizes a sort of rebirth of self-discovery, hope and the pursuit of dreams and it leads Dorothy and her companions to their ultimate goal. Upon that inspiration, a remix of the Leo Robitschek's cocktail "Paris is Burning" (inspired by the documentary movie "Paris is Burning") would be appropriate for the bedazzled runway to a jeweled city. Combining Mezcal, Gin, Elderflower Liqueur, Pineapple and Lemon Juices and Agave to create a beautifully warm, floral and fruity-sweet cocktail with a touch of smoke. Served in a highball with a sphere and garnished with several dashes of Angostura Bitters floating on top- just like the red poppies hovering above the ground by the Yellow Brick Road- put there by the Wicked Witch of the West.
At the end of the Yellow Brick road lies the Emerald City a towering, jeweled citadel that promises visitors a lavish spectacle and a very powerful, smart and magical leader- The Wizard. The city ends up being an illusion which inspired the basis for the Emerald City cocktail to taste like an after-dinner mint chocolate; you think it's going to freshen your breath after dinner, but it doesn't. At least it's delicious, and so is this cocktail, shaking together White Rum, Green Crème de Menthe, White Crème de Cacao, Cointreau and Aquafaba, for a minty sweet cocktail with a pillowy top. Serve it in a coupe for a pedestal-tall jewel, like the Emerald City. Put on your green-tinted glasses- The Emerald City won't solve the problems you came for it to solve, but it tastes and looks so good.
Dorothy and her companions finally get what they are looking for through their own means as the Wizard points out to them. With a few clicks of her slippers and the earnest exclamation that, "There's no place like home." Dorothy awakens to her life back in Kansas with a braver and wiser view of the world that she learned from the Yellow Brick Road and the Emerald City. Watch The Wizard of Oz while enjoying these two cocktails and maybe you too will look at home through emerald-colored glasses.
The Wizard of Oz (1939). Directed by Victor Fleming. Adapted from “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Noel Langley.
Performances by Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Charley Grapwin, and The Munchkins.
Music by Herbert Stothart. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Production. Distributed by Loew’s Incorporated.
Yellow Brick Road
-
1 oz (30mL) Mezcal
1 oz (30mL) Gin
.5 oz (15mL) Elderflower Liqueur
1 oz (30mL) Pineapple Juice
.5 oz (15mL) Lemon Juice
.25 oz (7.5mL) Agave
4-5 Dashes Angostura Bitters
Dropper Saline
-
In a mixing glass, Combine 1 oz Mezcal, 1 oz Gin, .5 oz Elderflower Liqueur, 1 oz Pineapple Juice, .5 oz Lemon Juice, .25 oz Agave, and a dropper of Saline. Stir for 2 minutes. Strain into a Rocks Glass with a rock. Garnish with Angostura Bitters.
Cocktail recipes and instruction videos are created by Boozy Movies, LLC
Emerald City
-
1.5 oz (45mL) White Rum
.5 oz (15mL) Crème de Menthe
.25 oz (7.5mL) White Crème de Cocoa
.25 oz (7.5mL) Cointreau
1 oz (30mL) Aquafaba
-
In a shaker tin, combine 1.5 oz of White Rum, .5 oz Creme De Menthe, .25 oz Creme De Cocoa, .25 oz Cointreau and 1 oz Aqua Faba or Egg White. Fill with ice and the spring and some more ice then cover and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Fine strain into your coupe and garnish with an orange twist.
-
An Egg White Substitute for cocktails
1- 15 oz can Garbanzo Beans/Chickpeas 1
barspoon Cream of Tartar
Strain out the chickpeas using a fine mesh strainer. Pour chickpea brine in a clean and dry condiment bottle, add 1 tsp cream of tartar and stir gently to combine. Seal and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. * A note on using aquafaba for cocktails: Gently swirl prepared aquafaba before use to redistribute the settled cream of tartar; acid such as citrus juice will be necessary for frothing emulsion.
If you like these cocktails, we think you’ll love:
If you like this movie, we think you’ll love:
