The Perfect Cocktails to Pair with Your Favorite Holiday Movie

A CHRISTMAS STORY

While there's definitely room for an Ovaltine-themed drink, we're going in a different direction with Ralphie's Pink Nightmare after the costume Aunt Clara gifts Ralphie. Looking for something stronger? Order the delicious You'll Shoot Your Eye Out brought to you by Sazerac & Sourced Cocktails.

Ralphie's Pink Nightmare

2 Ounce Grey Goose Vodka

1/2 Ounce St. Germaine

Strawberries

1/2 Ounce Lemon Juice

1/2 Ounce Simple Syrup

Muddle a few strawberries in a glass, then add other ingredients to a shaker over ice. Shake for about 20-30 seconds and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with strawberry. Bonus points if you choose a pink marshmallow bunny peep as a garnish instead.

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION

We're holding our holiday standard's as high as Clark Griswold with a Spiked Eggnog. You can even create an authentic experience by serving them in moose antler glassware  like in the movie.

Clark & Eddy's Eggnog

3 Cups Eggnog

1/2 Cup Disaranno Amaretto Liqueur

1/4 Cup Bacardi White Rum

Dash of Cinnamon and/or Nutmeg

Combine wet ingredients in a pitcher or punchbowl, pour into glasses, and add spices on top.

HOME ALONE

Kevin's freedom from his family, who he willed to disappear, is celebrated with a chocolate sundae and dirty movies. This has inspired this mischievous milkshake for us adults. “I’M EATING JUNK FOOD AND WATCHING RUBBISH, YOU BETTER COME OUT AND STOP ME!”

Kevin's Spiked Chocolate Peanut Butter Sundae

1 Frozen Banana

2 Tbsp. Peanut Butter

1-2 Scoops Chocolate Ice Cream

2 Ounces Bacardi Spiced Rum

Toppings (see below)

Blend all ingredients, pour into glass, and add whipped cream, chopped peanuts, sprinkles, and a cherry.

On a different note, we also highly recommend Boozy Ice Cream from The Tipsy Scoop, found locally in Brooklyn, NY. They are the creamiest ice creams we've ever had. For those who aren't local, you can find four or six pack pints on Goldbelly, which will deliver to anywhere in the US. Fantastic gift, or splurge on a treat for yourself. Let us know your favorites, we love the Spiked Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream and Mango Margarita Sorbet. Enjoy, ya filthy animal.

ELF

It's hard to believe that it's been 17 years since Will Farrell became Buddy the Elf, and to commemorate that we're sticking to "the four main food groups: Candy, Candy Canes, Candy Corn, and SYRUP!"

Buddy famously adds maple syrup to his spaghetti at dinner, then the next morning creates a balanced breakfast of spaghetti, various syrups including maple and chocolate, M&M's, Marshmallows, Smores Pop-Tarts.

Later in the movie, he makes friend with an ex-felon while working in the mail room of his dad's job, who adds liquor to his coffee. Thinking it's syrup, Buddy joins in, resulting in a hilarious drunken fiasco on the job.

Buddy the Elf's Maple Bourbon Smash

2 Ounces Bourbon

1 Ounce Maple Syrup

1 Ounce Lemon Juice

Combine ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake for about 20 seconds, and pour into a rocks glass with a large sphere ice cube. Garnish with lemon peel.

THE GRINCH

There are now three versions showcasing Dr. Seuss' Grinch character (The original 26 minute cartoon from 1966, the Jim Carey version, and now the 2018 animated movie with Benedict Cumberbatch voicing the title role). No matter which is your top, we're seeing lime green! 

 The Grinch Sour

1 Ounce Vodka

1 1/2 Ounces Midori

2 Ounces Sweet & Sour Mix

1 1/2 Ounces Fresh Lime Juice

Dash Lemon Lime Seltzer or Sprite

Maraschino Cherries for Garnish

Shake all ingredients over ice, top with splash of soda and garnish with cherries.

RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER

A children's classic that teaches us there is a place for all of us unique little misfits in the world, we'll be drinking Yukon Cornelius' Peppermint Mine while we watch. If you've ever wondered why he licks his ax in the search for silver & gold, it's because he's actually hoping to strike it rich with a peppermint mine. Apparently the scene explaining this has been cut when aired on TV, but streaming & DVD versions still include it.

Yukon Cornelius' Peppermint Mine

2 Ounces Vanilla Vodka

4 Ounces Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

2 Ounces Half & Half

1/4 Tsp McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract

Simple Syrup (add extra sugar to water, should be 3:2 ratio)

Peppermints, crushed for rim.

Dip rim of martini glass in simple syrup, then into the crushed peppermints. Add the other ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake it up and strain into glass.

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN

This is one children's movie our toddlers will watch on REPEAT.

And as cute as that is, we'll be in the kitchen chugging this delicious Melted Snowman Martini and laughing our faces off at both the melted snowmen in our glass and on the screen.

Melted Snowman

2 Ounces Vanilla Vodka

1 Ounce Fireball Whiskey

1 Ounce Rumchatta

1 Ounce Half & Half

Powdered Sugar

Chocolate Chips

Combine liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake & pour out into a martini glass. Sprinkle powdered sugar, and add two chocolate chips for the eyes.

THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL

If this movie isn't a staple in your Christmas movie watching lineup, you've got to give it a shot. Michael Caine and Kermit the Frog head up this star studded cast (as Scrooge and Bob Cratchit, respectively), including Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, The Great Gonzo as Charles Dickins, and Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig. Beautiful music, humorous quips, and incredible acting by Caine result in this feel good classic. 

 For this one, we're giving you three spirit choices, just like the ones who visited Scrooge:

Ghost of Christmas Past

The doll-like ghost that appears to Scrooge shows him the sorrow of his lonely past, which made him the way he is today. She's soft and delicate, which is why we love the Elderflower Royale to represent her. In a flute glass, place a sugar cube, fill with 6 ounces of Brut Sparkling Wine, 1 ounce St-Germaine Elderflower Liqueur, and a few dashes of Angostura bitters.

Ghost of Christmas Present

Delightfully cheerful, if you are one to live in the present, we think Great Lakes Christmas Ale is for you. Flavors of honey, cinnamon, and ginger; this ale is so popular it typically sells out. According to them, it pairs well with "roast duck, spiced dessert, and ugly sweaters."

Ghost of Christmas Future

While Absinthe is no longer made with that infamous wormwood that makes one hallucinate and cut their ear off, it still gives us the same thrill of the meeting Grim Reaper-like Ghost of Christmas Future. Showing Scrooge the future should he not change his cold ways, we see the full turnaround of Ebenezer's character. We're going classic with Pernod's Absinthe Drip. Pour 1 1/2 ounces Pernod Absinthe in a glass, place a sugar cube in a spoon, and slowly drip 4 ounces of fresh cold water. This simple cloudy green cocktail is gives a light anise flavor. It's light, refreshing, and will bring you back to life.

NARNIA - THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE

This book-turned-movie by C.S. Lewis has many religious parallels, including the traitor brother named Edward (like Judas), Aslan the Lion who sacrifices himself, is stripped of his mane, and returns from the dead a few days later. Saint Nick himself even appears to help the children by gifting them items that will help them battle the devilish White Witch Jadis.

Influenced by the hot chocolate and Turkish Delights Jadis feeds Edward, we're spiking our hot chocolate for an adult take on one of our favorite seasonal drinks.

Jadis' Spiked Hot Chocolate

2 Cups Milk

3 Tbsp Cocoa Powder

2 Tbsp Sugar

1/4 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Optional - pinch of cinnamon & marshmallows or whip cream for toppings

2 Ounces Bourbon, Rum, or Irish Cream

Heat milk, cocoa powder, sugar, and chocolate chips in a saucepan, stirring frequently (do not let boil). Once the chocolate chips have melted, add your liquor of choice & vanilla extract, stir and serve immediately.

CHRISTMAS CHRONICAL PART 1 & 2

Although not a "Classic", we're sure this one is destined to become one. Starring Kurt Russell as a hot, fit, rocked-out version of Santa Claus,  with his real life beau Goldie Hawn as Mrs. Claus, this story tells about the True Believers and a unique take on the history of the man himself.

This is one pair where the sequel is actually just as good as the original. The first movie follows siblings Teddy & Kate Pierce helping Santa find his magical sack of toys to restore Christmas, all while recording it on a hand held camera to prove to the world that Santa exists. Unfortunately for them, Santa confiscates the tape without their knowledge.

In the second movie, True Believer Kate laments spending the holiday in the tropical paradise of Cancun, sipping tropical drinks, and watching her mom's new beau step in place of her deceased father. She should be in the snow with hot cocoa and shopping trips to the mall, after all!

We're using that idea to marry the tropics with classic winter flavors with the Christmas Sangria.

Christmas Sangria

1 Bottle of Dry Red Wine (chilled)

1 Cup Chopped Fresh Pineapple

2/3 Cup Frozen Cranberries

1 Cup Pineapple Juice

1 Cup Cranberry Juice

1 Cup Orange Juice

1 Orange, sliced

1/3 Cup Cointreau or Grand Marnier

2 Tbsp Honey

To finish:

Club Soda

Sugared Cranberries & Rosemary Sprigs, for garnish

Add all ingredients to a pitcher, stir well, and chill for a minimum of 2 hours. Add to glass with ice, top off with a splash of club soda, and garnish.

JINGLE JANGLE

Another instant classic with rave reviews, is Jingle Jangle. A once-cheerful toymaker (Forest Whitaker) is betrayed by his apprentice (Michael Key of Key & Peele), and decades later overcomes that defeat when he is reconnected with his granddaughter and astringed daughter. The dancing, lively toys (one voiced by Ricky Martin), and inventions inspires us to craft a Frozen Mexican Hot Chocolate.

Frozen Mexican Hot Chocolate

3 Ounces Dark Chocolate, Chopped

2 Tbsp Sugar

2 1/2 Tbsp Hot Chocolate Mix

1/2 Tsp Cinnamon

1/4 Tsp Cayenne Pepper

1 1/2 Cups Milk of Choice

Start by melting chocolate down, then add 1/2 cup milk, sugar, hot chocolate mix, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. Once stirred, let cool and place in blender with the rest of the milk and 2-3 cups of ice. Blend and pour into glass, topping with whipped cream and a pinch of cinnamon.

Now, we know what you're thinking - we missed a TON. It's A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Charlie Brown Christmas, Love Actually, Die Hard... the list goes on. Let us know your favorite movie, and what you drink while watching it. You never know, you may be featured in the next blog!

Between watching Christmas movies, baking cookies, wrapping presents, and spiking our favorite hot drinks, we're thoroughly enjoying the holiday season thus far. We hope you are too! Thanks for reading, and we love reading your comments.

Have a happy & safe holiday season!

Cheers for now,

The Hart Team