Cocktails of the past, present, and future.

There is no season so rich with memory, merriment, and hope as December. Dickens knew it well. In fact, he didn’t just write a moral tale—he wrote the greatest cocktail metaphor ever told (though he may not have realized it while scribbling with ink-stained fingers and a stiff glass of gin beside him).

Because like the spirits that visit Ebenezer Scrooge, our holiday cocktail traditions exist in three forms: the drinks we cherish, the drinks we celebrate with now, and the creations that hint at where mixology is headed next.

So, slip into your warmest chair, cue the carolers in your imagination, and raise a glass to the spectral trio that defines the season.

The Ghost of Christmas Past — The Classic Spirit

Before fancy garnishes and smoky showmanship, there were fireside ladles, communal mugs, and spirits strong enough to thaw London’s winter chill. The Ghost of Christmas Past isn’t showy. It favors warmth, depth, and a touch of history, inviting us to sip slowly and remember.

Featured Cocktail: Hot Gin Punch

A Victorian winter staple, Hot Gin Punch was ladled out at holiday gatherings and revelrous parties much like Fezziwig’s grand affair. Imagine citrus oils mingling with warming spices, dark sugars melting into juniper heat… it’s Dickens in a glass.

Ingredients

• London Dry Gin
• Earl Grey tea
• Brown sugar
• Fresh lemon & orange slices
• Clove, cinnamon, nutmeg
• Dash of red wine (optional, but historically delightful)

Method
Warm all ingredients gently in a pot (never boiling—Scrooge would approve of restraint). Ladle into teacups or punch glasses, garnish with citrus studded with clove.

Sip Story
This is the drink that would have warmed Scrooge’s frozen heart long before Jacob Marley’s chains rattled through the door.

Perfect Pairing: Roasted chestnuts or fig-pudding brownie bites.

The Ghost of Christmas Present — The Festive Spirit

This spirit bursts through the door with food in one hand and a goblet in the other. It laughs loudly. It believes in seconds—of dessert and cocktails. It delights in fresh cranberries, bright citrus, warm spices, and joyful excess. It’s the embodiment of Fezziwig, twirling until ribbons fly.

Featured Cocktail: Spiced Cranberry Rum Sour

A modern crowd-pleaser built for laughter, clinking glasses, and impromptu toasts from your favorite overly emotional uncle.

Ingredients

• Dark rum
• Fresh lemon juice
• Spiced cranberry syrup (cranberries + clove + orange peel + cinnamon)
• Egg white (or aquafaba for a lighter, plant-based foam)
• Orange bitters

Method
Shake all ingredients vigorously (the proper holiday shake is an elbow workout). Strain into a coupe and top with a dot or swirl of cranberry syrup.

Sip Story
This glass invites singing, dancing, and the sort of cheer that even Bob Cratchit wouldn’t dare water down.

Perfect Pairing: Cranberry-orange baked brie crostini or candied pecans.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come — The Innovative Spirit

Minimalist, mysterious, and a little thrilling—this ghost doesn’t reveal much. But its presence hints at the direction of cocktail culture: sustainability, global botanicals, unexpected flavor pairings, and dramatic presentation. Its message? The future is bold and intentional.

Featured Cocktail: Smoked Herbal Aquavit Martini

Aquavit, a caraway- and dill-driven spirit with centuries of Nordic heritage, is stepping into the modern spotlight. It speaks of a world where gin isn’t the only botanically expressive star in town.

Ingredients

• Aquavit
• Dry vermouth
• Dash of absinthe
• Optional: smoked glass or rosemary smoke bubble

Method
Stir over ice until chilled and silky. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Add smoke theatrics if you feel like the Ghost is watching.

Sip Story
A drink that whispers more than it speaks—inviting curiosity about what cocktails we’ll be sharing a decade from now.

Perfect Pairing: Sea-salt rye crisps with dill-cucumber cheese spread.

A Small Pour for Scrooge

When writing about spirits, we can’t ignore the man who changed his ways. He deserves a dessert cocktail to mark his redemption.

Scrooge’s Walnut Flip

Rich, velvety, nutty, and lightly sweet—proving that anyone, even a miser, can soften with enough holiday warmth.

Key Notes

• Amontillado sherry
• Toasted walnut liqueur
• Cream & egg yolk
• Nutmeg finish

A drink that starts stern and ends sweet. Sound familiar?

Raise a Glass to the Spirits That Visit Us

We drink not just to celebrate, but to remember, and to imagine. The holidays deliver all three, wrapped like Scrooge’s journey—from memory, to gratitude, to possibility.

So this season, sip the past with reverence, drink the present with joy, and toast to the future with curiosity.

Cheers to the spirits who visit us—and the ones we pour. 🥂

Inspired by Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (1843). This article offers educational and interpretive commentary on classic literature through the lens of wine and spirits.