Restaurants around the state are embracing the holiday spirit with their cocktail offerings. Adding new elements to traditional flavors like eggnog, peppermint and cranberry, these drinks will add to your celebrations.
Vanilla Hot Chocolate Martini, B2 Bistro + Bar • Point Pleasant
Rimmed with chocolate sprinkles and garnished with mini marshmallows, the Vanilla Hot Chocolate Martini at B2 Bistro hits festive notes. It’s made with Ketel One vodka, Dark Creme de Cocoa, vanilla and cinnamon syrup.
B2 Bistro + Bar, 709 Arnold Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach; 732-295-0709
Noggin’ On Heaven’s Door, Skunktown Distillery • Flemington
This one will have you knock-knock-knockin’ on heaven’s door. It’s made with Skunktown’s apple pie moonshine, eggnog and nutmeg, and is served with a cinnamon candy rim.
Skunktown Distillery, 12 Minneakoning Road, Flemington; 908-824-7754
Santa’s Little Helper, Ocean Casino Resort’s Jingle Bell Bar • Atlantic City
The casino brought holiday spirit to its 1927 lounge by transforming it into a pop-up, the Jingle Bell Bar. The menu includes an assortment of themed drinks, including Santa’s Little Helper, made with Bailey’s Red Velvet Cupcake, Absolut Vodka, cream, and a candy cane garnish. The pop-up also offers a twist on a Moscow Mule called the Gingerbread Mule, made with Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, Canton Ginger Liqueur, lemon juice and ginger beer.
Ocean Casino Resort’s Jingle Bell Bar, 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City; 609-783-8000
[RELATED: Pop-Up Bars Aim to Recreate the Childhood Magic of Christmas—With Booze!]
Sparkling Holly, Morton’s The Steakhouse • Hackensack
This sweet new sip will stick around through New Year’s Eve. Made with Combier Créme De Cassis and cranberry syrup, it’s topped with brut sparkling wine. Its red color may put you in mind of a certain rotund jolly fellow with reindeer posse.
Morton’s The Steakhouse, 1 Riverside Square Mall, Hackensack; 201-487-1303
Peppermint Irish Coffee, The Black Swan • Asbury Park
This pub opened earlier this year and brought an Irish atmosphere to town. Now it’s putting a holiday spin on Irish Coffee. Made with Irish whiskey and peppermint Schnapps, and topped with fresh whipped cream, it will warm you up and get the party started.
The Black Swan, 601 Mattison Avenue, Asbury Park; 732-361-7159
Starboard Spritz, Battello • Jersey City
The Starboard Spritz at Batello—a newbie on NJM‘s 30 Best Restaurants list this year—combines several ingredients, including Rock Rose gin, Falernum, cranberry, sage, lime, plum bitters and Cava rosé that can be enjoyed under the restaurant’s holiday decorations.
Battello, 502 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City; 201-798-1798
Mistletoe Mule, Sugar Factory • Atlantic City
True to its name, Sugar Factory is offering one of the sweetest drinks on this list. The Mistletoe Mule is made with cherry vodka, ginger beer, cranberry juice and, as a brightening offset, fresh lime. Served in a large goblet, the mule is stuffed with gummy cherries and gummy Christmas trees, It’s available through December 31.
Sugar Factory, 1000 Boardwalk (Hard Rock Hotel & Casino), Atlantic City; 609-428-7751
Yippee-Ki-Yaynog, BarBacoa • Summit
For the entire month, BarBacoa has transformed its restaurant into a Christmas Cantina, complete with holiday decorations, outdoor fire pits and a new cocktail list. The Yippee-Ki-Yaynog is made with Patron Silver and house-made horchata, and is garnished with a smoking cinnamon stick. Also available all month are the Cantina Cocoa (Cimarron Blanco Tequila, hot chocolate, marshmallow fluff, whipped cream and candy cane) and more holiday cocktails.
BarBacoa, 10 Maple Street, Summit; 908-273-6006
Tantrums Allowed, Olivia’s • Hoboken
From mixologist Roger Gonzalez comes a new holiday cocktail. Tantrums Allowed begins with Mescal Recuerdo and adds cinnamon syrup, fresh apple cider and a cinnamon stick garnish.
Olivia’s, 1038 Garden Street, Hoboken; 201-383-9728
Figgettaboutit, Reyla • Asbury Park
Not only does this cocktail have a fantastic name, but its ingredients also fuse flavors in every sip. Made with roasted-fig-and-pear-infused bourbon, China-China, Capelletti Aperitivo and Angostura Bitters, this baby will help you figgettabout any holiday stress.
Reyla, 603 Mattison Avenue, Asbury Park; 732-455-8333
Spiked Hot Chocolate, Grain & Cane • Berkeley Heights
This eatery is putting a special twist on a classic holiday drink. Grain & Cane’s Spiked Hot Chocolate combines Baileys, Courvoisier, and coffee liqueur whipped cream and is topped off with peppermint.
Grain & Cane, 250 Connell Drive, Berkeley Heights; 908-897-1920