The Blitzen

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Cocktail History

The Blitzen is a Novel Nightcaps original cocktail that was created as an indulgent Christmas-inspired twist on traditional hot chocolate.

The recipe starts with a rich and creamy hot cocoa mix that’s blended with milk, much like the comforting cocoa recipes typically enjoyed during the colder months. However, this boozy variation sets itself apart by introducing the unique flavor profile of blueberry, which adds a subtle tart sweetness that’s then complemented by the refreshing, herbal complexity of a minty amaro. To round out the drink, dark chocolate liqueur is added, enhancing the cocoa’s richness and giving the cocktail a deeper, velvety finish. This combination of fruity, herbal, and chocolatey notes makes for a festive, fascinating beverage that feels both cozy and sophisticated.

Cocktail Ingredients

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

Milk: This is a beverage made with the liquid from dairy cows, which is pasteurized and homogenized to ensure safety and consistency.

Hot Cocoa Mix: This is a dry beverage mix made with cocoa powder, sugar, milk powder, and flavorings, which are blended together into a sweet, chocolate base that’s dissolved in hot water or milk.

Blueberry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with blueberries, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a sweet, berry-forward flavor.

Fernet-Branca Menta: This is a liqueur made in Italy with a proprietary blend of herbs, roots, and spices, including myrrh, saffron, chamomile, and rhubarb, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused with mint to develop a cooling, bittersweet flavor.

Dark Crème De Cacao: This is a liqueur made with cacao, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a rich, dark chocolate flavor.

Whipped Cream: This is a dairy topping made with cream and sugar, which are whipped into a light, airy texture.

Cocoa Powder: This is a powder made from ground cocoa pieces that has a fine texture and bitter, chocolate flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Prairie Farm Vitamin D Whole Milk
• 🔗 Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Premium Hot Cocoa Mix
• 🔗 Tattersall Distilling Blueberry Liqueur
• 🔗 Fernet-Branca Menta
• 🔗 Tempus Fugit Spirits Crème De Cacao Liqueur
• 🔗 Reddi-Wip Original Dairy Whipped Topping
• 🔗 Ghirardelli Majestic Premium Cocoa Powder

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.

Saucepan: This is a deep cooking pot with a long handle that’s used for heating and preparing ingredients on the stovetop.

Spatula: This is a flat kitchen tool with a flexible or rigid head that’s used for scraping, folding, mixing, and spreading ingredients.

Ladle: This is a large deep-bowled spoon with a long handle that’s used for scooping and serving punches and other batch drinks.

Irish Coffee Mug: This is a heat-resistant glass mug with a sturdy handle and footed base that’s used for serving warm cocktails and coffee drinks.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 All-Clad 3-Ply Stainless Steel 3 Quart Sauce Pan
• 🔗 OXO Heavy Duty Silicone Spatula
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips Silicone Everyday Ladle
• 🔗 Godinger Dublin Irish Coffee Mug

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Rich and dark cocoa color

• Aroma: Chocolate and cream

• Taste: Sweet blueberry mixed with pleasant, bright chocolate

• Finish: An accenting note of slightly herbal, menthol-laced Fernet-Branca

Kendall’s Take
“I lovingly dubbed this recipe the ‘Christmas Frankenstein’ because I 100% tossed a bunch of unexpected ingredients into a simple hot chocolate just to see what would happen. Blueberry and Fernet Branca-Menta aren’t exactly the first ingredients that come to mind when you think of boozy cocoa, but somehow mixing them works. The blueberry adds a subtle brightness while the minty herbal edge keeps it from getting too heavy, and together they turn the hot chocolate into a layered, festive mug that feels way more interesting than your standard spiked cocoa. If you have the ingredients on hand, this is a fun one to try during the holidays!”

Recipe