Drink in the Holidays with these Seasonal Beverages
Long Beach bars and restaurants really step it up during the holiday season, not only offering special drink menus, but also transforming their establishments into dreamy winter wonderlands with abundant decorations. Here are a few places to drink in the holidays immersed in festive decor and enjoying holiday cocktails.
THE ORDINARIE
For six years running, The Ordinarie (210 The Promenade N.) has transformed into “Miracle at The Ordinarie,” an explosion of festive decor to coincide with the holidays. It’s a bright, spectacular and slightly kitschy celebration that includes more than a dozen seasonal cocktails, including the likes of the “Christmapolitan” (a cosmo laced with spiced cranberry sauce) and “Snowball Old Fashioned” (an old fashioned poured over an actual snowball). Also, enjoy traditional offerings like hot buttered rum and mulled wine. Reservations are available on Resy.com.
BAMBOO CLUB
For the second year, local tiki bar The Bamboo Club (3522 E Anaheim St) has transformed into The Tinsel Club for the holidays. Now through January 1, head to this tropical watering hole to experience the wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling decor while enjoying 10 holiday tiki cocktails. Try the “Yukon Cornelius,” with pineapple, coconut, lemon, creme de menthe, and 9North Carta Blanca. Take home a limited edition Tinsel Club cocktail glass with an all-new design by artist Ken Ruzic.
PORT CITY TAVERN
From November 29 to January 1, Port City Tavern (4306 E Anaheim St) will become Nauti or Nice, a holiday pop-up featuring seasonal cocktails, hula Santa and sandy snowman tiki mugs for purchase, and wall-to-wall Christmas decor with a nautical flair. On the cocktail menu, you can find “You’re a Mean One” (tequila, pineapple, cactus lime, and absinthe, turning the drink a Grinchy shade of green) and the Martini Tree (decorated with pine boughs, baubles, and four espresso martinis).
THE SOCIAL LIST
At The Social List (2105 E 4th St) on Retro Row, the holiday cocktail menu is reminiscent of indulgent seasonal desserts. “The Cookie Clause” is a vodka-based cocktail spiked with chai cream liqueur, and “The Figgy Pudding” is made with a spiced brown butter rum. Cocktail connoisseurs who prefer stiffer drinks will be fascinated by the punchy “You Don’t Smell Like Santa,” which starts with bourbon, then adds liqueurs with notes of botanicals and spices, and is finished with spiced wine and tiki bitters for a gorgeous red color in this semi-tropical sip.
BEACHWOOD BREWING
Using spirits distilled in-house, Beachwood Brewing's Distillery & Taproom (3630 Atlantic Ave) in Bixby Knolls will be serving up holiday cheer from their Winterwood Wonderland menu until December 31. Several of the holiday cocktails come in a specialty mug, including the “Krampus Kurse,” made with rum, apricot, citrus, and fruit cake cordial, which comes in a cozy teacup-shaped mug with a Christmas sweater-inspired design. The Santa-themed “He Sees You When You’re Drinking” is served hot in a mug shaped like a bright red Santa boot, and features the big flavors of spiced rum, amaro, sweet vermouth, chicory bitters, and coffee.
LONG BEACH CREAMERY
Eggnog is the drink most associated with the holidays and, as you’d expect, it can be found at numerous local eateries and bars. You might try this frozen version from one of Long Beach’s most creative and popular ice creameries. Long Beach Creamery (222 Broadway, 4141 Long Beach Blvd.) creates it using eggnog from the acclaimed Broguiere’s Farm Fresh Dairy, with a jigger of cognac as well as cinnamon and nutmeg added, this is not only delicious, but the whipping process, actually lightens the nog, so you have a flavorful and light treat.
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