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.

Spiced Rum: This is a type of rum made with fermented sugarcane byproducts and yeast, which are distilled and then infused with added spices to develop a warm, spiced flavor.

Chai Concentrate: This is a beverage base made with black tea, a blend of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and other spices, water, and sugar, which are brewed and concentrated to develop a rich, spiced tea flavor.

Brandy: This is a spirit made with fermented fruit juice and yeast, which are distilled and then aged to develop a smooth, rich flavor.

Coffee Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with coffee, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a bold, roasted coffee flavor.

Amaretto Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with almonds or apricot kernels, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a sweet, nutty flavor.

Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water, which are heated into a syrup with a sweet flavor.

Egg White: This is the clear portion of an egg that’s separated from the yolk and used to add frothy texture to cocktails.

Coconut, Pineapple, & Allspice Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with coconut, pineapple, allspice, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a slightly bitter tropical flavor.

Aromatic Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with a blend of herbs, spices, roots, and botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop an aromatic, bittersweet flavor.

Nutmeg: This is a spice made from the seeds of the nutmeg tree, which are dried and grated for their warm, aromatic flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 365 By Whole Foods Market Organic Unsweetened Almond Milk
• 🔗 Far North Spirits Ålander Spiced Rum
• 🔗 TAZO Organic Chai Latte Concentrate
• 🔗 St-Rémy VSOP French Brandy
• 🔗 Tattersall Distilling Coffee Liqueur
• 🔗 Disaronno Originale Amaretto
• 🔗 Liber & Co. Classic Pure Cane Gum Syrup
• 🔗 Crude Bitters & Sodas “Tropi-500” Toasted Coconut, Pineapple, & Allspice Bitters
• 🔗 Angostura Aromatic Bitters
• 🔗 Morton & Bassett 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 and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.

Grater: This is a kitchen tool with sharp perforated edges that’s used for finely shredding, grating, or zesting ingredients.

Straw: This is a thin tubular utensil that’s used for more slowly sipping cocktails and mixed drinks.

Barrel Mug: This is a ceramic mug shaped like a small wooden barrel that’s used for serving tropical or tiki-style cocktails.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips Handheld Grater
• 🔗 Compostable Bamboo Paper Straw
• 🔗 Christmas Carol Barrel Mug

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 Take
“This cocktail completely won me over the first time I tried it at a local Miracle Christmas pop-up bar, and recreating it at home only made me love it more. The chai base brings warmth and spice in a way that feels festive without defaulting to the Christmas season’s usual hot chocolate, which I really appreciate. Yes, the ingredient list is a little longer than some recipes, but the Holiday Spiked Chai is absolutely worth the extra effort. It’s divine!”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found on the menu at Miracle, the Christmas-themed pop-up bar franchise.