This green and purple cocktail is an ode to two of comic books’ most famous villains: Midori and blanco tequila give it that iconic acid green, and a hand-mixed purple float of grenadine, triple sec, and blue curaçao settles on top in its own distinct layer. It’s a striking drink for a costume party, a comic-book movie night, or anyone who just wants to feed their inner comic book nerd.
This cocktail was created as an ode to Joker: Folie à Deux, the 2024 sequel to the critically acclaimed 2019 film Joker. The sequel delved deeper into the chaotic world of Arthur Fleck, with Joaquin Phoenix reprising his Oscar-winning role and Lady Gaga joining as Harley Quinn, with a musical element that gave audiences a new way of seeing these two classic characters. Whether you’re revisiting the film, celebrating a Joker-and-Harley costume, or just need a photogenic cocktail for a comic-themed party, this one delivers on color and drama.
Why You’ll Love This Green and Purple Cocktail
It’s visually dramatic. The purple float settles into its own distinct layer at the bottom of the glass, so every pour looks intentional and striking, not muddy. It’s a fun mixology project. Building the purple mix drop by drip gives you full control over the exact shade, which makes this a good drink to make with friends. It’s a costume-party natural. The colors work for any green-and-purple costume theme, comic book night, or Halloween party, not just around one movie’s release. And it photographs beautifully. This is the kind of cocktail people take pictures of before they take a sip.
Ingredient Notes: Midori, Triple Sec, and Blue Curaçao
Midori. Suntory launched this bright green melon liqueur in Japan in 1964, originally under the name Hermes Melon Liqueur, made from Yubari melons and muskmelon. It was rebranded Midori (Japanese for “green”) for its 1978 U.S. debut, and it’s the ingredient doing the heavy lifting on this cocktail’s acid-green base.
Triple sec. This clear, orange-flavored liqueur originated in France in the mid-19th century, made from sweet orange peels, bittersweet Curaçao orange peels, or both. Here it dilutes the grenadine and softens the blue curaçao before it’s layered in.
Blue curaçao. Curaçao liqueur traces back to the Caribbean island of the same name, where Dutch settlers began making it from the dried peel of the bitter laraha orange in the 19th century. The blue version gets its color from added dye rather than the fruit itself, and just a few drops here are enough to push the purple mix into its final shade.
Tips for Building This Layered Cocktail
Shake the base first. Add the Midori, tequila, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice and shake for 15 seconds, then strain into a Nick and Nora glass — its narrow bowl and stem help keep the purple float distinct once it’s added.
Mix the purple layer separately. Dilute the grenadine with triple sec, then add blue curaçao drip by drip, stirring after each addition, until you reach the shade you want. If the mix comes out too dark or brownish, add more triple sec to lighten and dilute it.
Pour it slowly down the side. Add the purple mix slowly against the inside of the glass rather than straight into the center, so it settles at the bottom in its own layer instead of blending into the green.
Don’t stir once it’s built. Part of the visual effect depends on the two colors staying distinct, so serve it as soon as it’s layered and let your guests stir it themselves if they want the colors to blend.
Looking for more? Try our The Witch’s Brew and Van Helsing Takes Manhattan, see all the Halloween Cocktails Perfect for Spooky Season, and browse TABLE’s Cocktails.
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Joker and Harley Folie à Deux Cocktail
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
Description
Midori, blanco tequila, lemon, and simple syrup shaken and strained into a Nick and Nora glass, topped with a hand-mixed purple float of grenadine, triple sec, and blue curaçao, for a striking two-tone drink.
Ingredients
For the cocktail:
- 1 oz Midori
- 1 oz blanco tequila
- 1 oz lemon juice
- .5 oz simple syrup
- .25 oz purple mix (see below)
- Ice, for shaking
For the purple mix:
- .5 oz grenadine
- .25 oz triple sec
- Small amount of blue curaçao
Instructions
For the cocktail:
- Add all ingredients to a shaker.
- Add ice and shake for 15 seconds.
- Strain into a Nick and Nora glass.
- Slowly add the purple mix to the side of the glass, allowing it to settle at the bottom.
For the purple mix:
- Dilute the grenadine with triple sec.
- Begin adding blue curaçao drip by drip, stirring after each addition.
- If the mix comes out too dark or brownish, add more triple sec to further dilute.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Cocktail, drink
- Method: Shaken, layered
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cocktail
- Calories: About 270
Joker and Harley Cocktail FAQs
How do I get the two layers to stay separate?
Pour the purple mix slowly down the inside of the glass rather than into the center. It’s denser than the green base, so it settles at the bottom in its own layer instead of mixing in.
What if my purple mix looks too brown?
Add more triple sec to dilute it and lighten the color before adding more blue curaçao.
Is this cocktail only for Joker fans?
Not at all. The green-and-purple color combination works for any comic book party, Halloween costume theme, or just anyone who wants a striking, photogenic drink.
About the Recipe Author
Zack Durkin is an experienced bartender and cocktail recipe developer for TABLE Magazine, known for pop-culture-inspired drinks tied to movies, TV shows, and current events, including cocktails built around The Last of Us, Anora, Mean Girls, and Pantone’s Color of the Year. Read more of his work at TABLE.
About the Stylist
Anna Franklin is TABLE Magazine’s food stylist and recipe developer. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Academy of Culinary Arts, she spent many years cooking in restaurant kitchens and photo studios before moving into food styling. Anna tests, plates, and styles the recipes and restaurant features in TABLE’s print and digital editions, working alongside photographers Dave Bryce and Laura Petrilla. Read more of her work at TABLE.
About the Photographer
Dave Bryce is TABLE Magazine’s contributing architecture, interiors, and food photographer, based in Pittsburgh. He photographed Fallingwater: Living with and In Art (Rizzoli, 2025) and regularly shoots for Pittsburgh Magazine and American Farmhouse Style, working with architects, interior designers, and hospitality brands. See more at davebrycephotography.com.
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