Hold on to your Santa hat! Miracle, the bedazzling cocktail pop-up at Brewster’s Beer Garden in Petaluma, is back with a bevy of new drinks to satisfy even the grumpiest elf.
Also returning is Sippin’ Santa, a cheeky Tiki-inspired cocktail pop-up at the Flamingo Resort’s Lazeaway Club in Santa Rosa.
Launched in 2014, Miracle was dreamed up by New York bar owner Greg Boehm, with Sippin’ Santa introduced the following year. Together, the pop-ups partner with nearly 200 locations around the world to bring kitschy holiday cheer to the masses.
While Boehm and his hospitality company, Cocktail Kingdom, provide the holiday-themed cocktail recipes and general guidelines, each participating location is responsible for the decorations and setup.
This year, it took the Brewster’s team about three weeks to transform the beer garden into a glittering wonderland, resplendent with twinkly lights, a life-size gingerbread house, a towering Christmas tree and a gift shop selling cocktails to-go and limited-edition glassware.
“This year, we added a ton more lights and expanded the decorations, so I definitely think it’s our best year yet,” said Mike Goebel, owner of Brewster’s, who’s hosting Miracle for the fifth time. “I love seeing the excitement on people’s faces when they enter the space. The energy and magic is infectious and such a joy to be around.”
This year, Miracle at Brewster’s is offering an array of new cocktails, including Rudolph’s Replacement, The Krampus, and Marshmallows & Unicorns. Several fan favorites will also return, like the Christmapolitan and Christmas Cricket.
“Lots of extended families and friends choose to gather with us for their holiday celebrations, which is very gratifying to see,” Goebel said. “Everywhere I look people are smiling, laughing and making memories. It’s truly amazing.”
Joann Spiegel, cocktail developer and vice president of Miracle, said the company solicits feedback from bartenders who poured last year’s cocktails to improve the menu each year.
“Typically, we roll over some of the bestsellers, then balance the menu with new recipes inspired by Christmas traditions from around the world,” Spiegel said. “As our partner list grows, it allows us to dive into the traditions of new states and countries. It’s a well of inspiration that will never run dry.”
This year, Spiegel’s favorite cocktail is the new Carol Barrel, a tropical-inspired sipper with Irish whiskey, banana liqueur, rum, Guinness punch, lime and chocolate bitters.
“Think Irish whiskey kissed with the flavors of a tropical Christmas,” Spiegel said. “As it mellows out over the ice, it gets better with every sip. I could drink it all night long.”
At the Flamingo Resort’s Lazeaway Club, Sippin’ Santa is making its second annual appearance with its own share of kitsch and 10 Tiki-inspired cocktails.
Benson Wang, managing partner at the Flamingo and co-founder/CEO of Palm House Hospitality, said the laid-back vibe of Sippin’ Santa aligns perfectly with the Lazeaway Club’s escapism ethos.
“The tropical-holiday theme is a great fit for the Lazeaway because we’re all about relaxation and recharging,” Wang said. “Sippin’ Santa is a great way for people to be festive, let loose and have fun. You don’t need to plan — you just show up. We need that more than ever in our lives right now with all going on in the world.”
Wang said it took his team about two weeks to transform the space into a twinkling Tiki wonderland with “miles of lights,” while the overall vision was planned months in advance.
A special pupu (appetizer) and cocktail-pairing menu will be available, along with six new cocktails and four returning favorites.
If you really want to jingle all the way, book an overnight stay in the Flamingo’s Santa Suite ($750/night), a festive hotel suite complete with crackling fireplace, twinkly lights, a Christmas tree, priority reservations at Sippin’ Santa and more.
“The whole idea behind the Flamingo is about transporting you to a different space so you can escape and relax,” Wang said. “We want people to come to Sippin’ Santa to celebrate and have fun. There’s a lot of healing and value in just that.”
Miracle at Brewsters Beer Garden: 229 Water St., Petaluma, 707-981-8330, brewstersbeergarden.com. Through Jan. 2.
Sippin’ Santa at Lazeaway Club, Flamingo Resort: 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-8530, flamingoresort.com. Through Jan. 8.