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Cocktail History
The Blitzen is a Novel Nightcaps original cocktail that was created as a Christmas-inspired twist on hot chocolate. Like many holiday cocoa recipes, this one starts with my favorite indulgent hot cocoa mix and milk, and it adds the unique flavor combination of blueberry, minty amaro, and dark chocolate liqueur.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Milk: This is a liquid rich in calcium and protein that is produced by mammals. I used Prairie Farm Vitamin D Whole Milk.
Blueberry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with blueberries, sugar, and alcohol. I used Tattersall Distilling Blueberry Liqueur.
Fernet-Branca Menta: This is an amaro made in Italy with peppermint, gentian root, aloe, herbs, spices, sugar, and alcohol.
Dark Crème De Cacao: This is a liqueur made with dark chocolate, spices, sugar, and alcohol. I used DeKuyper Crème De Cacao Dark Liqueur.
Hot Cocoa Mix: This is a sweetened chocolate product made with ground cocoa beans and sugar. I used Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Premium Hot Cocoa Mix.
Whipped Cream: This is heavy cream that has been whipped and beaten until it’s light and fluffy. I used Reddi-Wip Original Dairy Whipped Topping.
Cocoa Powder: This is cocoa bean that has been ground into a fine powder. I used Ghirardelli Majestic Premium Cocoa Powder.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Saucepan: This is used to warm the ingredients. I used the Cuisinart 3-Quart Stainless Steel Saucepan with Cover.
Spoon: This is used to stir the ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips Silicone Spoon.
Ladle: This is used to transfer the drink to cups. I used the OXO Good Grips Silicone Everyday Ladle.
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 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “I lovingly dubbed this recipe a ‘Christmas Frankenstein’ because a bunch of ingredients were quite literally flung into an otherwise simple drink to see what happened. I really wasn’t sure what to expect of the blueberry and Fernet Branca-Menta additions; you don’t see blueberry paired with chocolate in general that often, for example. But I thought both made The Blitzen an incredibly unique and much more complex hot cocoa than I’d ever tried before.”
Recipe
The Blitzen
The Blitzen is a Novel Nightcaps original cocktail that was created as a Christmas-inspired twist on hot chocolate. Like many holiday cocoa recipes, this one starts with my favorite indulgent hot cocoa mix and milk, and it adds the unique flavor combination of blueberry, minty amaro, and dark chocolate liqueur.
Ingredients
Method
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Whisk hot cocoa mix into milk in a saucepan over medium heat.
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When warm, pour hot cocoa, blueberry liqueur, Fernet-Branca Menta, and dark crème de cacao into a mug.
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Stir for 5-10 seconds.
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Garnish with whipped cream and cocoa powder.
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This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-09-19.
More Christmas Cocktails
If you like this cocktail recipe, here are a few others I’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Chestnut Hot Chocolate: A brandy cocktail made with milk, frangelico liqueur, chestnut spread, saline solution, cocoa powder, cinnamon, whipped cream, and a chestnut
Kohler Mint Cocoa: A chocolate mint brandy cocktail made with milk, white peppermint schnapps, dark crème de cacao, cocoa powder, whipped cream, and grated chocolate
Jalisco Hot Chocolate: A tequila cocktail made with milk, vanilla extract, hot cocoa mix, ground cinnamon, cayenne pepper, ancho chile powder, and a dried pepper
Hot Peppermint Patty: A low-proof cocktail made with milk, white peppermint schnapps, dark crème de cacao, white crème de menthe, cocoa powder, whipped cream, and grated chocolate
