The Holiday Cocktails Taking Over MA Drink Menus This Year: Cheap Eats

MASSACHUSETTS — A number of Massachusetts bars, restaurants and lounges are making it easy to toast to the holidays this year with seasonal specials.

Last week's Cheap Eats column focused on locations offering a warm cup of hot chocolate. This week we'll offer a quick look at locations offering something a little stronger.

• Related: 'Tis The Season For Hot Chocolate In Boston: MA Cheap Eats

Back for 2024 is the Miracle at Kimpton Marlowe Hotel popup, which opens on Friday with holiday-themed libations, bartenders sporting ugly sweaters and even a 6-foot Santa Claus.

"Miracle at Kimpton Marlowe will again be all aglow with colorful ornaments hanging from the ceiling while catchy Christmas tunes provide the perfect holiday soundtrack to immediately fill guests with seasonal merriment," officials said. "Stockings will hang from an elevated marble fireplace and Santa caps will top bar stools in this festive winter wonderland where cheerful libations are consumed under twinkling lights and strings of silver, green and gold garland."

Festive cocktails this year include the Christmapolitan, Snowball Old-Fashioned, Stocking Stuffer, Christmasaurus, Crooked Antler, Santa Slide, Run Run Reindeer, Rudolph’s Replacement and Koala La La La.

The popup will run through Christmas Eve.

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At Karma Asian Fusion, in Winchester, officials shared that the restaurant will launch special cocktails paying homage to two holidays: Christmas and New Year's.

The Figgy Noel is a variation of the classic Manhattan.

"It’s a rich, luxurious, slightly fruit-forward variation of the Manhattan, perfect for sipping and is topped off with cinnamon smoke ensuring the presentation of this cocktail remains part of the whole experience," officials said.

The Midnight 75 cocktail, a twist on the French 75, "is a slightly floral, citrusy complexity that enhances the drink’s refreshing nature," officials said.

"Bergamot lends a distinctive aromatic layer to the drink, making it feel more aromatic and nuanced. St-Germain introduces an elegant sweetness and floral note that complements the bergamot’s citrusy sharpness, rounding out the drink with a soft, honeyed richness," they added.

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In Duxbury, Island Creek Oysters has launched its Winsorbread House popup at The Windsor House.

"Island Creek’s The Winsor House will completely transform giving guests a new menu of signature holiday cocktails and a few of their original favorites paired perfectly with their rustic fish house menu that celebrates the shellfish farm," officials shared.

The popup launched last weekend and will continue through New Year's Day with both holiday cocktails and mocktails for those under 21.

Holiday cocktails will include a white chocolate egg nog with dark rum, gingerbread old fashion and a winter mule.

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For those hoping to be more hands-on with their cocktails this year, Buttermilk and Bourbon's chef Jason Santos and beverage director Sarah Heimreid will host a "Candyland Cocktail Class" on Dec. 11 at the Arsenal Yards location.

The event will run from 6 to 9 p.m., and tickets can be purchased here.

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