Shh! 4 secret menu drinks at Universal Epic Universe
The cryptic introduction is a subtle nod to the bartenders that the patron is about to order one of four drinks from the Burning Blade secret menu.
Universal Beverage Program Manager Joshua Franck refused to acknowledge the existence of a Burning Blade secret menu during media previews for Universal Epic Universe.
"Unfortunately, as far as I know, there is no secret menu," Franck said during an interview in Dark Universe.
Burning Blade Tavern and Dark Universe opened in late May as part of the 750-acre theme park featuring more than 50 rides, attractions, shows and experiences.
The Burning Blade is hard to miss in Dark Universe - with the windmill atop the restaurant bursting into flames every 15 minutes. Inside, the old mill restaurant is themed as a hangout for monster hunters with their trophies covering the walls.
The Burning Blade menu features classic pub grub - hamburgers, wings, bratwursts, pretzels, beer, wine and cocktails. The Burning Blade secret menu drinks all fall into the $14 to $19 price range.
Universal Creative planted Easter Eggs all over the park for fans to find and the Dark Universe is full of them.
You have to listen carefully to the audio soundtracks playing in Dark Universe if you want to discover the secret drinks on the Burning Blade menu.
The best place to discover secrets about the Universal Monsters-themed land is at the window of the Dr. Jekyll Apotheker next door to the Das Stakehaus restaurant.
Every 30 minutes, visitors can hear Dr. Jekyll loudly arguing inside his apothecary - and he might just tell you what to order at the Burning Blade Tavern.
Epic Universe visitors are always coming into the Burning Blade Tavern and suggesting new cocktails for the bartenders to make, according to Franck.
"We love the fact that our guests have so many ideas and they're so passionate," Franck said. "If we hear that people are requesting things, we take a look at them. We may add things to the menu."
Here are the four secret menu drinks available at the Burning Blade Tavern.
Crossbow
The Crossbow combines Strongbow Gold Apple Cider and Darkthorne Mead. It's like a Snakebite beer cocktail without the beer. The mead replaces the stout or lager in the traditional half-and-half recipe.
The Crossbow was the first secret menu drink discovered by Epic fans and has proved so popular that the Burning Blade has already added it to the menu.
"It is a recent add," Franck said. "It is something that guests came in and wanted to construct themselves. We took a look at it and we said, 'We really like this idea.'"
The Disney Food Blog ordered the Crossbow when it was still a secret menu item and found the cocktail to be the perfect blend of sweet and tart.
"It's pretty sweet, but that combination of the cider and the mead helps cut through some of the sweetness of the cider and the tartness of the mead," according to the Disney Food Blog. "It's honestly the perfect balance in our opinion, and it offers a nice option for people who don't want sugary, syrupy drinks or beer."
The once-secret Crossbow now shows up on the Burning Blade online menu but is still not available for mobile order.
Smoking Jacket
Smoking Jacket is another beer cocktail - this time with the beer remaining in the mix.
Darkthorne Mead is still the star here, combined with a Reaper's Reserve caramel-spice brown ale from Florida's Crooked Can Brewing.
The drink is named after the Invisible Man's jacket - which is a close color match to the cocktail, according to theme park junkie and foodie Paige Bryant.
"You can definitely taste the cinnamon, nutmeg and clove in this drink," Bryant wrote on Instagram. "The mead adds a nice sweetness to it and kind of gives it more of a fall flavor."
Jekyll's Remedy
Jekyll's Remedy remains a secret menu item in part because the drink's test tube souvenir shot glasses did not arrive in time for the grand opening of Epic Universe.
Jekyll's Remedy includes a mix of vodka, peach schnapps, sour mixer, cardamon and clove extracts.
Hyde's Reagent
Hyde's Reagent is the companion drink to Jekyll's Remedy - intended to be sipped side by side by drinking companions.
Mr. Hyde's cocktail includes a mix of tequila, orange liqueur, creme de cassis, sour mixer, simple syrup and chipotle essence.
The Jekyll and Hyde drinks still can't be found on the Burning Blade online menu, but they can be mobile ordered through the Universal Orlando app.
Franck declined to discuss the Jekyll and Hyde secret menu cocktails.
"What I can tell you is that we're always working on new ideas and we have new things that will be coming in all the time," Franck said. "We'll be refreshing these programs continually and will always have something new and exciting."
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