Christmas-Themed ‘Pop Up Bar’ Returns To Nutley For 2022

NUTLEY, NJ — The “Snowball Old-Fashioned.” The “Christmapolitan.” The “Jingle Balls Nog.” And a rum-and-cognac-fueled libation that will have you hollering, “Yippie Ki Yay!” These are some of the boozy beverages that you can find this holiday season at Cowan’s Public in Nutley at this year’s Miracle On Centre.

In the past few years, the annual pop-up bar – which also includes Christmas-themed décor (see above photo) – has made appearances across the nation. The “Miracle” concept was created when founder Greg Boehm transformed his bar, Mace, into a winter wonderland in 2014. The annual pop-up bar – which also includes Christmas-themed décor (see above photo) – has since spread to more than 200 participating locations, including Cowan’s Public, which has hosted it before.

Cowan’s will run its own version of the Miracle pop-up until Sunday, Jan. 1.

According to Skopos Hospitality, which is also running the Miracle cocktail pop-up at The Parkside Social in Verona, the drink menu is similar at both bars. Visitors can expect to find creative concoctions such as:

• Christmapolitan - vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, lime, rosemary, absinthe mist
• Santa’s Little Helper - gin, spiced caraway syrup, eucalyptus, sage, lime, seltzer
• Christmas Cricket - blanco tequila, vanilla liqueur, minty amaro, coco pandan, cream, mole bitters, dark chocolate
• Elfing Around - prosecco, gin, mulled wine reduction, grapefruit shrub, aromatic bitters, orange bitters
• Holiday Spiked Chai - brandy, Jamaican overproof rum, coffee liqueur, amaretto, chai, almond milk, egg white, tiki bitters, nutmeg
• Snowball Old-Fashioned - rye, gingerbread, aromatic bitters, wormwood bitters, orange essence
• Jingle Balls Nog - cognac, cream sherry, almond milk, cream, egg, vanilla, nutmeg Hot Buttered Rum (served hot)
• Hot Buttered Rum - (served hot) aged Jamaican rum, velvet falernum, mixed spiced butter, oak milk, nutmeg
• Mulled Wine (served hot) - mulled red wine, tawny port, orange liqueur, Christmas spices
• "Nice" Shot - rum, peppermint tea, chocolate
• "Naughty" Shot - bourbon, cinnamon

There are also some upcoming local events to get you in the holiday spirit, too.

“In terms of upcoming holiday/Miracle events, we are doing the following things (in addition to serving fun, whimsical cocktails every day in our decked-out restaurant),” a spokesperson told Patch:

• There will be Sleigh Ride Bus Tours to all of the Skopos Miracle Restaurants (in Nutley, Verona, Wood-Ridge, and Harrison) on December 3 and 10
• There will be an Ugly Sweater party on December 3 from 7:30 p.m. until close
• Brunch with Santa and Mrs. Claus on December 17 from 1 to 4 p.m.; along with a toy drive to benefit the local Chieffo Family Toy Drive
• New Year's Day Pajama Brunch

Skopos Hospitality is also hosting other Miracle pop-up bars this year at Gus' Last Word in Wood-Ridge and Franklin Social in Jersey City. Skopos will also hold a "Sippin' Santa Pop Up" in Harrison.

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