If you’ve scrolled through a Disney drinking group recently, you’ve seen it. People are saying the Moonshine Sour at EPCOT’s American Adventure pavilion has changed, and some of them are saying it’s WILDLY different.
We had one recently, and we couldn’t tell much of a difference. Maybe our palates aren’t refined enough to tell; that is definitely a possibility.
But we get it. When a drink you love changes, it’s a bummer, especially if you’ve been looking forward to sipping one in your favorite place.
So in case the rumor turns out to be true, or you just want one without a plane ticket, here’s how we make our Moonshine Sour recipe at home whenever the craving hits.
Jump to RecipeWhat Is the Moonshine Sour at EPCOT?
The Moonshine Sour is a blackberry moonshine cocktail from the Regal Eagle Outdoor Bar in the American Adventure pavilion. It’s Ole Smoky Blackberry Moonshine with blood orange sour and lemon, and it’s one of our favorite stops on the whole World Showcase loop.
It’s sweet, tart, and very easy to drink. That last part is the problem. It goes down like fruity lemonade, which means it can be quite easy to knock it back fast.
Is the Moonshine Sour Changing?
Disney hasn’t officially announced any change to the Moonshine Sour. What we have is a lot of guests online saying the new version tastes different, and a lot of others saying it tastes exactly the same.
We’re in the second group, for now. We’ll keep ordering it (for research, obviously) and update this post if we notice a real difference.
Why Park Cocktails Can Taste Different
We can’t tell you what Disney changed here, if anything. We can tell you what we’ve noticed around the parks in general: a lot of the outdoor bars and kiosks now pour pre-batched cocktails. The mix is made ahead, so the cast member can pour, garnish, and hand it over fast.
We understand why they do it. The lines move faster, and standing in the Florida sun for 20 minutes waiting on a sour is no fun.
BUT, something gets lost. Part of the fun of a cocktail is watching someone build it in front of you, and a pre-mixed pour doesn’t give you that.
Where to Get a Hand-Made Cocktail Instead
If watching the bartender work is half the fun for you, same here. It’s a big part of why we love GEO-82 so much. Every drink is mixed by HAND at the bar inside Spaceship Earth, and you can taste the difference.
The Hurly Burly and Nomad Lounge are other great spots for a handmade cocktail, and most of the resort lounges work the same way. The catch is the price. Sigh.
A cocktail at GEO-82 or a Deluxe resort lounge costs a pretty penny more than a kiosk sour, so we treat those as the one great drink of the day, not the whole crawl. Our list of the best bars at Disney World has the lounges we think are worth it.
How to Make the EPCOT Moonshine Sour at Home
This copycat Moonshine Sour takes four ingredients plus one homemade syrup. It tastes like the one we’ve been ordering at Regal Eagle, and you can make it in about five minutes once the syrup is ready.
The Moonshine
We use Ole Smoky Blackberry Moonshine, the same one in the park version. It used to be tough to find, and it’s a lot easier to get now. We can grab it near us without any trouble these days.
Still, plan ahead. Ole Smoky’s blackberry moonshine page shows where that flavor is available near you, so check it before you drive all over town.
Before we could find it locally, we made this with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry, which came out in 2025. It’s a flavored whiskey, not a moonshine, and at 70 proof to Ole Smoky’s 40 it makes a stronger, warmer drink. It works great if that’s what your store has.
The Sour Mix
We’ve used several different sour mixes over the years. If you want to match the park version, look for a blood orange sour, like Finest Call Blood Orange Sour.
You can order that exact mixer on Amazon. If you’re planning ahead for a party or a watch night, add it to your cart a few days early.
The Blackberry Syrup
We make our blackberry simple syrup from scratch. It’s just blackberries, sugar, and water, and it takes about 15 minutes on the stove. The steps are in the recipe card below, and a batch keeps in the fridge for about two weeks.
If you’d rather skip the stove, Monin Blackberry Syrup works too. It’s on Amazon, right next to the Finest Call.
EPCOT Moonshine Sour (Copycat Recipe)
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Jigger or measuring shot glass
- Small saucepan (for the syrup)
- Fine mesh strainer
- Rocks glass
Ingredients
Cocktail
- 2 oz Ole Smoky Blackberry Moonshine (or Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry for a stronger drink)
- 3 oz blood orange sour mix (we like Finest Call)
- 0.75 oz blackberry simple syrup (homemade, or Monin)
- 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
- ice
- fresh blackberries for garnish
Blackberry Simple Syrup
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blackberries
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
Blackberry Simple Syrup
- Add the blackberries, sugar, and water to a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring it to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Simmer for about 10 minutes, mashing the berries as they soften.
- Take it off the heat and let it cool for 10 minutes.
- Pour it through a fine mesh strainer, pressing the berries to get all the syrup out.
- Store it in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Cocktail
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the moonshine, blood orange sour, blackberry syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake hard for about 15 seconds.
- Strain into a glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with fresh blackberries.
Notes
EPCOT Moonshine Sour FAQs
Where can I get the Moonshine Sour at EPCOT?
At the Regal Eagle Outdoor Bar in the American Adventure pavilion, right outside Regal Eagle Smokehouse. The line is mostly in full sun, so grab your drink and head for one of the umbrella tables nearby.
How strong is the Moonshine Sour?
Ole Smoky Blackberry Moonshine is 40 proof (20% ABV), about half the strength of a standard vodka. So this one drinks lighter than the word “moonshine” suggests.
Swap in Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry (70 proof) and it gets noticeably stronger. At home, you control the pour.
Can I make a big batch for a party?
Yes, and we see the irony. Here’s the pitcher version:
- 1 bottle (750 ml) Ole Smoky Blackberry Moonshine
- 1 liter Finest Call Blood Orange Sour
- 1 heavy ounce of blackberry syrup (homemade or Monin)
- 6 ounces fresh lemon juice (about three lemons)
Stir it all together in a big container and keep it cold. Pour over fresh ice so it doesn’t water down, and garnish with fresh blackberries.
Can I make a non-alcoholic Moonshine Sour?
Yes. Skip the moonshine and add 2 ounces of sparkling water or lemon-lime soda so the drink keeps its size. Everything else stays the same: blood orange sour, blackberry syrup, and fresh lemon over ice.
It’s sweeter without the moonshine, so start with half the blackberry syrup and add more to taste.
Is the Moonshine Sour frozen?
No. The Moonshine Sour at Regal Eagle is served over ice, not blended. If you want a slushie version at home, blend everything with about a cup and a half of ice.
Grab One Before You Decide
If you’re heading to the American Adventure on your next trip, order a Moonshine Sour and decide for yourself whether it changed. We’ll be over here with our unrefined palates and a pitcher of the homemade version.
If you’re planning the full loop, our Drinking Around the World guide has every pavilion’s best pour.
If you’re stocking the home bar, our Viking Coffee and Ottawa Apple recipes make a good next round.
