As a connoisseur of all things holiday-related and a seasoned observer of Hallmark movies, I must say that this year’s lineup has been quite a rollercoaster ride for the taste buds! From the divine Sparkling Cider to the downright bizarre Choux de Chapeau (I’m still not sure what that was meant to be), these films have taken us on a gastronomic journey like no other.
Each year, I eagerly anticipate the Countdown to Christmas section on Hallmark’s movie schedule, and this past holiday season, I found myself intrigued by the recurring theme of characters urging others to taste their “unusual hot cocoa” or suggesting peculiar ingredients to enhance their festive beverages. I chose to compile a list of the drinks that seemed interesting enough to try, as well as some concoctions that might not lead to the most joyful of holiday celebrations.
To compile this list, I carefully reviewed all 32 Countdown to Christmas releases from this year and established a few criteria. Initially, for a drink to be featured, the character needed to explicitly identify the beverage or its components. I prefer not to speculate about the contents of anyone’s drink. Furthermore, this list excludes common holiday drinks like hot chocolate, eggnog, and mulled wine. As humorously stated in The 5-Year Christmas Party, mulled wine can provide “the headache without the fun.” Now, let’s explore the festive beverages!
Christmas Concoctions That Sound Pretty Tasty
Swiss Dark Hot Chocolate Topped With Orange Zest And Chiles (Holiday Crashers)
In the delightful series “Holiday Crashers”, I found myself admiring Bri’s (Daniella Monet) discerning palate at an unattended gathering. She lamented that the hot chocolate was made with American filtered chocolate, finding it somewhat watery and bitter. Her solution? A rich blend of Swiss Dark chocolate for a smoother consistency, paired with cream. Given the Vermont setting, Bri proposed using local farm produce such as maple syrup or caramel cream to truly embrace the region’s flavors. In an exciting turn of events, it was her unique touch—orange zest and chiles—that charmed the caterer, and even landed Bri a job!
Nick’s Jingle Juice (Trivia At St. Nick’s)
As a cinema enthusiast who can’t resist a clever cocktail reference, especially when it comes to rum, I was thoroughly entertained by the twist on a Jungle Juice in “Trivia at St. Nick’s”. During one of the trivia rounds, the teams were challenged to identify at least four ingredients in one of the bar’s signature holiday cocktails by sampling it. Our man Freddie (Ari Brand), ever the expert, swiftly recognized the Nick’s Jingle Juice upon detecting its distinctive notes of rum, fruit punch, a subtle hint of lemonade, and pineapple juice. Yes, I’d love another round of that delightful concoction, and don’t forget to keep my tab running!
Spiced Eggnog Lassi (Christmas With The Singhs)
The Singhs’ Christmas celebration centered around merging cultures and introducing fresh traditions, as demonstrated when Asha (Anuja Joshi) and Jake (Benjamin Hollingsworth) found themselves challenged by rigid family customs during their initial holiday together. I found it delightful that for their engagement party, Asha’s mother offered a Spiced Eggnog Lassi – a beverage from her culture – to the couple.
A Lassi, widely enjoyed in India, is a beverage similar to a smoothie, made primarily from yogurt. Various recipes incorporate various fruit and spice blends, suggesting its potential likeness to eggnog.
Pa-Rum-Pum-Pum Punch (Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story)
I’ve made it clear that I enjoy punny drink names, and “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story” certainly delivered on that front (in fact, the festive drinks might have been the most Christmasy part of a movie that seemed slightly lacking in holiday spirit otherwise). As Alana and Derrick entered the Christmas event at Arrowhead Stadium’s bar, they were presented with a variety of holiday-themed cocktails, including:
- Espress-snow Martini
- Mistletoe Mule
- Santa Claus-mopolitan
- Santa’s Sippin’ Stocking
It seemed like they might have run out of fuel towards the end, but then came my favorite moment: the Rum-Pum-Pum Punch. This stands out just for its name (and the fact that rum punch is undeniably fantastic. Plus, it’s extra enjoyable if Hallmark Hunk Wes Brown is the one serving.)
Eggnog Martini, Cinnamony (The 5-Year Christmas Party)
Among this year’s Countdown to Christmas films, “The 5-Year Engagement Party” stood out as one of the top picks; nevertheless, despite being a film centered around a catering business, there was an unexpected paucity of conversations about beverages. Quality over quantity is key here, and I can’t help but recommend a well-crafted Eggnog Martini, with its cinnamon flavor as Max (Jordan Fisher) aptly put it when he served one to Alice (Katie Findlay). The playful glances shared between the two characters only added to the overall atmosphere.
Black And White Milkshake (A Carol For Two)
There’s something special about a good black and white cookie, and with that sweet treat being so big in New York, it’s no surprise that a Black and White Milkshake would pop up in the NYC-based A Carol for Two. In the movie, the dessert in question is used to lure Broadway producer Marty (John B. Lowe) to hear Violette (Ginna Claire Mason) and Alex (Jordan Litz) perform their duet. According to recipes, a Black and White Milkshake is made by topping a vanilla milkshake with a fair amount of chocolate syrup or fudge sauce. Don’t forget your candy cane topper!
These Drinks Belong On The Naughty List
Fruit Cake Stuffed In A Mug And Soaked In Eggnog (Our Holiday Story)
The fruit cake is a traditional holiday dessert that often gets a bad rap, and I can’t say Our Holiday Story helped out in that department. The central couple in this Hallmark offering really loved Fredo’s fruit cake, but I can’t stomach their preferred way of eating (drinking?) it — stuffed in a mug and soaked in eggnog.
Paul’s Homemade Eggnog With Sklarb (Holiday Touchdown)
One of the funnier and more heartwarming subplots of Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story involved Ed Begley Jr.’s Paul, as he honored his late wife’s memory by trying to recreate her homemade eggnog recipe. The only problem was he couldn’t read her handwriting to figure out what one ingredient — which he called “sklarb” — was. While his experimentation with different ingredients was much funnier than Holiday Touchdown’s magic hat nonsense, I don’t recommend adding sesame to your eggnog, as Paul did in one iteration.
Choux de Chapeau (Holiday Touchdown)
It’s important to mention that, while I enjoy the movie Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, there’s something intriguing about the drink served to Alana and Derrick at the Arrowhead festival. The name given was “Choux de Chapeau,” which seems like a mix of “hat,” “pastry” and “cabbage.” Perhaps the bartender intended “Coup de Chapeau,” or “hat trick,” as a tribute to the Chiefs aiming for three consecutive Super Bowl victories?
Regardless of its description, the drink was a special creation by Wes Brown, the Bartender, using homemade peppermint vodka. Here’s the crucial point: NEVER SERVE A DRINK WITH PEPPERMINT VODKA IN ANY SIZE CONTAINER OVER 36 OUNCES! Just thinking about such a hangover makes me need Tylenol.
2021 was a significant year for peppermint, and if you’re seeking to savor its taste, I recommend trying out the “Candy Cane Martini” from “Christmas with the Singhs” or the “Believe in Christmas” Peppermint Oat Latte with Coconut Whipped Cream.
I trust that these ideas sparked thoughts for your unique holiday drinks, and I’m confident that we’ll see many more in the lineup when we discuss the 2025 TV programming.
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2024-12-20 17:07