You need a drink. Maybe someone needs to buy you a drink. Who knows? It's the holidays. It's the season of both giving and receiving.
Whether it’s from the hustle and bustle of decorating and buying presents, or simply enjoying a merry night out with friends, it’s easy to find a reason to raise a glass at the holidays.
Some places really pull out all the stops when serving up some specialty holiday cheer.
These unique drinks will have even the biggest Scrooge go from saying “Bah! Humbug!” to “Chug! Chug! Chug!”
1. Miracle On 9th Street (549 East Ninth Street)
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This colorful and festive pop-up bar is a winter wonderland of bright Christmas tree lights, silver snowflakes and colorful holiday décor. Leaving no corner of the venue bare, they even have a “Hanukah Hideaway,” a cozy little section for the chosen peeps.
They feature twelve unique cocktails, one for each day of Christmas, and all are good enough to come back for. Among their most potent is the "Bad Santa", a concoction of Jamaican rum, Trinidad Overproof rum, Batavia Arrack, pineapple juice, lemon juice, milk, eight spices and coconut water.
2. Black Tree (261 Metropolitan Avenue - Brooklyn)
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This urban Williamsburg eatery puts an innovative spin on their offerings, and the cocktails definitely don’t get the short end of the stick. Their wintery "White Manhattan" mixes Van Brut New Make Whiskey with Atsby “Armadillo Cake” vermouth and blueberry bitters.
If you’re looking to warm your belly, "The Wood & Fire" uses Van Brunt Stillhouse whiskey with egg, chocolate bitters and kumquat for a tangy twist. And how can a cocktail go wrong with a toasty slice of bacon garnish?
3. Dutch Kills (27-24 Jackson Avenue - Queens)
Rated as one of the top cocktails bars in all of the five boroughs, it’s not surprising that this Long Island City speakeasy would come up with a few things to tantalize the taste buds for Christmas, even if it's not on their cocktail menu.
Have a holiday on the beach with their "Queens Park Swizzle", a minty mixture of dark and light rum, lime, Demerara sugar and Angostura bitters. They also make specialty cocktails to order, so give them a flavor you want and they’ll craft a Christmas cocktail just for you.
4. Sippin’ Santa’s Surf Shack (13 First Avenue)
Made especially for the holidays in the space Boliermaker is, this Christmas dive has an array of different ways to indulge in a little holiday merriment, like with their "Jingle Bell Wipe Out", which is Bell’s Christmas Ale matched up with a Fireball shot.
If you want a bit of a smoother sleigh ride, try the bar’s namesake beverage, "Sippin’ Santa", a sweet mix of bourbon, crème de menthe, crème de cacao, egg white, wormwood bitters and nutmeg. You’ll be chuckling a warm “Ho! Ho! Ho!” before you know it.
,5. Baita (200 Fifth Avenue)
A snowy, mountain ski lodge takes over Eataly’s scenic rooftop bar, bringing in fake snow, pine trees and Adirondack chairs for a winter escape within the city. Also serving up cured meats and cheeses, the lodge has an impressive array of beverages to evoke the season as well.
Aside from the eggnog, they pride themselves on their signature hot, or caldi, cocktails like their "Gnomo Ciccolato", a boozy hot chocolate made with Frangelico and Galliano and Lavazza cocoa, topped with whipped cream and crushed candy cane. Joy to the world indeed!
6. The Drink (228 Manhattan Ave - Brooklyn)
thedrinkbk It's finally here: our favorite time of the year! Come cozy up by our sweet little tree with a cup of hot Wassail or a glass of eggnog ($7 each), and maybe sneak a kiss with your honey under the mistletoe. #holidaysinbrooklyn #wassail #eggnog #christmastree #mistletoe
Nestled between Grand and Maujer Streets in East Williamsburg sits The Drink, a cool and casual spot that evokes the aura of the mostly-hipsterish millennial neighborhood. For the holidays, however, they try to spice things up some.
Their meant-to-share cider pitcher "The Trade Winds" combines flavors of two seasons to make a unique holiday treat. The citrus kick of Famous Grouse scotch whiskey joins fresh pumpkin juice and chili-pepper-spiced tea with hints of nutmeg and clove, so you can still get a pumpkin spice fix too.
7. Anfora (34 Eighth Avenue)
This chic watering hole knows how to keep it classy for Christmas. With ultra-plush black leather seats and intimate booths perfect for a cozy holiday date, Anfora boasts an ambiance equal to the caliber of its drinks.
Their house-special cider and white mulled wine are both seductively seasonal, but it’s the "Brooklyn Hot Toddy", made with NY Distilling Rock & Rye, St. Agrestis amaro, lemon and honey that gets the Yule log burning for more.
Check out 6 Holiday-Themed Bars to Get Your Drink On in NYC.
[Feature Image Courtesy Huffington Post]