If your idea of a winter wonderland includes cognac, vodka, tequila and other grown-up drinks, then holiday pop-up bars are for you. Alabama is the temporary home of two such pop-ups – Miracle and Sippin’ Santa – and they’ll be open for most of December to people craving liquid joy.
Queen’s Park, 112 24th St. North in downtown Birmingham, and The Camp at MidCity, 59089 University Drive in Huntsville have been transformed into Miracle Locations. That means an abundance of Christmas decorations, seasonal music, festive events and, most importantly, a Christmassy cocktail menu.
The two “bar-in-a-bar” locations are Miracle on 24th Street (Birmingham, through December 30) and Miracle at MidCity (Huntsville, through December 24). Both have menus of specialty cocktails with imaginative names like Santa’s Little Helper, Elfing Around, Christmapolitan, and Grandma Got Run Over by a T-Rex. Two shots are also available at Miracle locations: Naughty and Nice.
Meanwhile, Neon Moon, 2318 Second Avenue North in Birmingham, is the Alabama site for Sippin’ Santa, a tiki bar-themed Christmas pop-up. Sippin’ Santa is a Miracle spin-off with a tropical flair.
Sippin’ Santa’s menu includes cocktails like Holiday on Ice, Kris Kringle Colada, Yule Tide, and Rudolph’s Rum Rhapsody. A top eleven shot completes the agenda. Sippin’ Santa will be in Neon Moon through December 30th.
Miracle and Sippin’ Santa are part of a company that licenses holiday pop-ups at bars across the country. There are 119 Miracle locations in 2022, says one publicist, and 40 Sippin’ Santa locations. Birmingham and Huntsville are the only places in Alabama.
TIED TOGETHER: How a bar in Birmingham spreads Christmas cheer with cocktails
People visiting Miracle locations in Alabama have 10 holiday cocktails and two shots to choose from, according to online menus. Sippin’ Santa in Birmingham offers eight cocktails and one specialty shot.
Here’s a breakdown of the drinks, ingredients, locations, and prices. (Note: Prices listed here are from online menus for Miracle at Queen’s Park and The Camp and Sippin’ Santa at Neon Moon.)
The Christmasapolitan, a holiday cocktail coming to Miracle pop-up bars in 2022. (Melissa Hom/Courtesy of Miracle)
CHRISTMAS
On the menu at: Miracles in Birmingham and Huntsville.
Ingredients: Vodka, Elderflower, Dry Vermouth, Spiced Cranberry Sauce, Lime, Rosemary, Absinthe Mist.
Price: $12 Birmingham, $14 Huntsville.
Santa’s Little Helper, a holiday cocktail coming to Miracle’s pop-up bars in 2022. (Melissa Hom/Courtesy of Miracle)
SANTA’S LITTLE HELPER
On the menu at: Miracles in Birmingham and Huntsville.
Ingredients: Gin, caraway syrup, eucalyptus, sage, lime, seltzer.
Price: $12 Birmingham, $14 Huntsville.
Christmas Cricket, a holiday cocktail coming to Miracle pop-up bars in 2022. (Melissa Hom/Courtesy of Miracle)
CHRISTMAS CRICKET
On the menu at: Miracles in Birmingham and Huntsville.
Ingredients: Blanco Tequila, Vanilla Liqueur, Minty Amaro, Coco Pandan, Cream, Mole Bitters, Dark Chocolate.
Price: $13 Birmingham, $14 Huntsville.
Elfing Around, a holiday cocktail coming to Miracle pop-up bars in 2022. (Melissa Hom/Courtesy of Miracle)
ELEVEN AT
On the menu at: Miracles in Birmingham and Huntsville.
Ingredients: Prosecco, gin, mulled wine reduction, grapefruit bush, aromatic bitters, orange bitters.
Price: $12 Birmingham, $14 Huntsville.
Holiday Spiked Chai, a holiday cocktail coming to Miracle pop-up bars in 2022. (Melissa Hom/Courtesy of Miracle)
HOLIDAY SPIKE CHAI
On the menu at: Miracles in Birmingham and Huntsville.
Ingredients: Brandy, Jamaican Overproof Rum, Coffee Liqueur, Amaretto, Chai, Almond Milk, Egg White, Tiki Bitters, Nutmeg.
Price: $13 Birmingham, $16 Huntsville.
Snowball Old-Fashioned, a holiday cocktail coming to Miracle pop-up bars in 2022. (Noah Fecks/Courtesy of Miracle)
SNOWBALL OLD FASHIONED
On the menu at: Miracles in Birmingham and Huntsville.
Ingredients: Rye, gingerbread, aromatic bitters, wormwood bitters, orange essence.
Price: $12 Birmingham, $15 Huntsville.
Grandma was run over by a T-Rex, a holiday cocktail coming to Miracle pop-up bars in 2022. (Melissa Hom/Courtesy of Miracle)
GRANNY WAS RUN OVER BY A T-REX
On the menu at: Miracles in Birmingham and Huntsville.
Ingredients: Vodka, orange liqueur, gentian aperitif, aloe vera, spiced pomegranate and grapefruit mix, lime, aromatic bitters.
Price: $13 Birmingham, $16 Huntsville.
Yippie Ki Yay Mother F****r!, a holiday cocktail coming to Miracle pop-up bars in 2022. (Melissa Hom/Courtesy of Miracle)
YIPPIE KI YAY MOTHER F****R!
On the menu at: Miracles in Birmingham and Huntsville.
Ingredients: Barbados Rum, Rhum Agricole, Trinidad Overproof Rum, Ube and Coconut Orgeat, Acid Adjusted Pineapple Juice.
Price: $13 Birmingham, $15 Huntsville.
Jingle Balls Nog, a holiday cocktail coming to Miracle pop-up bars in 2022. (Melissa Hom/Courtesy of Miracle)
JINGLE BALLS NOG
On the menu at: Miracles in Birmingham and Huntsville.
Ingredients: Cognac, Cream Sherry, Almond Milk, Cream, Egg, Vanilla, Nutmeg.
Price: $12 Birmingham, $12 Huntsville.
Hot Buttered Rum, a holiday cocktail coming to Miracle pop-up bars in 2022. (Melissa Hom/Courtesy of Miracle)
HOT BUTTER RUM
On the menu at: Miracles in Birmingham.
Ingredients: Aged Jamaican Rum, Velvet Falernum, Mixed Spice Butter, Oak Milk, Nutmeg. (Served hot.)
Price: $13.
MULLED WINE
On the menu at: Miracles in Huntsville.
Ingredients: Mulled Wine, Tawny Port, Orange Liqueur, Christmas Spices. (Served hot.)
Price: $13.
Nice and Naughty Shots will be available in Miracle pop-up bars in 2022. (Melissa Hom/Courtesy of Miracle)
BEAUTIFUL SHOT, NAUGHTY SHOT
On the menu at: Miracles in Birmingham and Huntsville.
Ingredients for a nice shot: Rum, Mint Tea, Chocolate.
Ingredients for the cheeky shot: bourbon, cinnamon.
Price: $6 each Birmingham, $8 each Huntsville.
Kris Kringle Colada, a cocktail coming to Sippin’ Santa’s pop-up bars in 2022. (Randy Schmidt/Courtesy of Sippin’ Santa)
KRIS KRINGLE COLADA
On the menu at: Sip on Santa Claus in Birmingham.
Ingredients: Dark Jamaican Rum, Amaro, Allspice Liqueur, Lime, Pineapple, Coconut Cream.
Price: $12.
Sippin’ Santa, a cocktail coming to Sippin’ Santa pop-up bars in 2022. (Randy Schmidt/Courtesy of Sippin’ Santa)
SIPPIN’ SANTA CLAUS
On the menu at: Sip on Santa Claus in Birmingham.
Ingredients: Aged Demerara Rum, Amaro, Lemon, Orange, Gingerbread Mix.
Price: $12.
Island of Misfit Toys, a cocktail coming to Sippin’ Santa’s pop-up bars in 2022. (Randy Schmidt/Courtesy of Sippin’ Santa)
ISLAND OF TOYS FOR EXCEPTIONAL TOYS
On the menu at: Sip on Santa Claus in Birmingham.
Ingredients: Jamaican Aged Rum, Chai Tea, Cream, Pumpkin Puree, Cinnamon, Lemon.
Price: $12.
Holiday on Ice, a cocktail coming to Sippin’ Santa’s pop-up bars in 2022. (Randy Schmidt/Courtesy of Sippin’ Santa)
HOLIDAY ON ICE
On the menu at: Sip on Santa Claus in Birmingham.
Ingredients: Vodka, Dark Roast Cold Brew, Evaporated Milk, Ancho Chili Liqueur, Cinnamon Syrup.
Price: $12.
Jingle Bird, a cocktail coming to Sippin’ Santa’s pop-up bars in 2022. (Randy Schmidt/Courtesy of Sippin’ Santa)
JINGLE BIRD
On the menu at: Sip on Santa Claus in Birmingham.
Ingredients: Bourbon, pineapple rum, campari, lime, pineapple, jingle mix.
Price: $12.
Yule Tide, a cocktail coming to Sippin’ Santa’s pop-up bars in 2022. (Randy Schmidt/Courtesy of Sippin’ Santa)
CHRISTMAS AREA
On the menu at: Sip on Santa Claus in Birmingham.
Ingredients: Tequila, applejack, lime, maple cranberry syrup.
Price: $12.
Undertow Toddy, a cocktail coming to Sippin’ Santa’s pop-up bars in 2022. (Randy Schmidt/Courtesy of Sippin’ Santa)
UNDERTOW TODDY
On the menu at: Sip on Santa Claus in Birmingham.
Ingredients: Cognac, Chartreuse, Curaçao, Chocolate Hazelnut Syrup. (Served hot.)
Price: $13.
Rudolph’s Rum Rhapsody, a cocktail for two coming to Sippin’ Santa’s pop-up bars in 2022. (Randy Schmidt/Courtesy of Sippin’ Santa)
RUDOLPH’S RUM RHAPSODY
On the menu at: Sip on Santa Claus in Birmingham.
Ingredients: Rum from Jamaica and Puerto Rico, lime, orange, pineapple, passion fruit, falernum, honey, ginger, aromatic bitters.
Price: $30. (Cocktail for two to share.)
Premium elf shots will be available at Sippin’ Santa’s pop-up bars in 2022. (Randy Schmidt/Courtesy of Sippin’ Santa)
TOP SHELF ELF (SHOT)
On the menu at: Sip on Santa Claus in Birmingham.
Ingredients: House Spiced Rum, Falernum, Cinnamon.
Price: $6.
Miracle and Sippin’ Santa glasses and mugs are also sold at the various locations. Ten percent of proceeds from the sale of three mugs (Santa Pants, Christmas Carol Barrel, and Santa Heads) go to the Seva Foundation, which its website describes as “a global nonprofit eye care organization that works with local communities around the world develop self-preserving programs that preserve and restore vision.”