Holiday Spiked Chai

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Cocktail History

The Holiday Spiked Chai is a Christmas cocktail that was originally served at Miracle, the renowned organizers of festive pop-up cocktail bars worldwide during the holiday season. This copycat recipe, inspired by the Minneapolis Miracle Bar’s menu in December 2022, combines the warming flavors of spiced rum and brandy with creamy almond milk and a rich chai base. Almond liqueur and simple syrup also enhance the sweetness, while a frothy egg white lends the drink a silky texture. And a dash of bitters rounds out the flavors, giving the cocktail a subtle depth reminiscent of tiki-style drinks. Staying true to the bar’s whimsical holiday spirit, this recipe is traditionally served in the iconic Christmas Carol Barrel mug, designed by Cocktail Kingdom, for an extra touch of festive cheer. It’s a perfect way to bring the magic of Miracle’s holiday vibes into your own home.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Almond Milk: This is a beverage made with almonds, salt, and water. I used 365 By Whole Foods Market Organic Unsweetened Almond Milk.

Spiced Rum: This is a type of rum made with sugarcane, spices, and water that has been barrel aged for a long period of time and flavored with spices. I used The Kraken Original Black Spiced Rum.

Chai Concentrate: This is a beverage made with chai spices, black tea, and water. I used TAZO Classic Chai Latte Black Tea Concentrate.

Brandy: This is a spirit made with distilled white wine. I used Driftless Glen Distillery 5 Year Reserve Brandy.

Coffee Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with coffee, spices, sugar, and alcohol. I used Tattersall Distilling Coffee Liqueur.

Amaretto Liqueur: This is a liqueur made in Italy with almonds, spices, and alcohol. I used Di Amore Amaretto Liqueur.

Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. I used this stovetop recipe.

Egg White: This is the clear liquid in an egg. I used fresh egg white.

Toasted Coconut, Pineapple, & Allspice Bitters: This is a food product made with coconut, pineapple, allspice, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Crude Bitters & Sodas “Tropi-500” Toasted Coconut, Pineapple, & Allspice Bitters.

Aromatic Bitters: This is a food product made with botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Angostura Aromatic Bitters.

Grated Nutmeg: This is a spice made from the seed of a nutmeg tree. I used freshly grated whole nutmeg.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface to catch spills, provide grip for glasses and tools, and keep the workspace clean and organized. I used the Highball & Chaser 18×12 Bar Mat.

Jigger: This is a small, double-sided measuring tool that’s used to accurately portion spirits and mixers, typically with one side measuring 1 oz and the other 1.5 or 2 oz. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker consisting of a metal tin and a glass or metal mixing glass that’s used for shaking and blending ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a metal strainer with a spring around its edge that’s used to filter out ice and solids when pouring the cocktail into a glass. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Grater: This is a tool that’s used to finely shred or zest ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips Grater.

Straw: This is a thin, tubular utensil that’s used for sipping cocktails. I used the Compostable Bamboo Paper Straw.

Barrel Mug: This is a cut that’s shaped like a small barrel and is used to serve rustic or tiki cocktails. I used the Christmas Carol Barrel Mug.

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Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Light caramel chai color

• Aroma: Fresh nutmeg, rum, and creamy chai

• Taste: Thick textured mouthfeel with rum, bourbon, cream, coffee, and spicy chai

• Finish: Strong chai spice with hazelnut notes

Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kendall’s Take: “This was hands down my favorite cocktail from a local Miracle bar’s menu last year, and I have been so excited to try it again ever since my former partner recreated it at home for me in December 2022. I’m very new to chai in general and have fallen head over heels in love with using it in drinks, and this is the one that started it all. I really like that it’s a departure from the popular boozy hot chocolates of the Christmas season and highly recommend reshaking it! It has a lengthy list of ingredients, but it’s worth the labor.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from the menu at Miracle, a Christmas-themed pop-up bar franchise. The specifications are an estimate based on my best guess for a well-balanced drink.