If going to see The Nutcracker staged by Boston Ballet, dressed up for the show, is one of your beloved holiday memories, too, chances are you’re making plans to check out the most festive bars and restaurants this holiday season. Make sure Time Out Market Bar is on your list: Three Nutcracker-themed drinks now grace the menu, adding to the already-festive lineup of seasonal cocktails at the Fenway food hall for December.
Meghan Murphy, assistant general manager at Time Out Boston, created the drinks inspired by her own childhood fondness for the show. "As a mini ballerina myself at the time, I was blown away by the magic of it all," she says. "This is what the season is all about: love, giving to others, shiny lights, nostalgia and the overwhelming pure joy and excitement of it all."
The drinks bring to mind one of Boston's most beloved holiday traditions with flavor and whimsy.
Of course, there’s a Sugar Plum Fairy. This pink drink matches bright, tart crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) with vanilla, lemon and edible glitter. Clean-tasting vodka is the spirit that livens this cosmo-like cocktail.
TuTu Tini is for the espresso martini lovers out there. This festive rendition adds creamy peppermint and chocolate liqueurs to locally roasted Atomic Cold Brew coffee and vodka. Shaken on ice and strained into a peppermint-garnished glass, you’ll feel like grown-up Clara discovering the Kingdom of the Sweets while savoring this one.
Nutcracker Mai Tai celebrates the high-quality ingredients behind the bars at Time Out Market—and it supports a good cause. A classic punch made with Planteray 3 Stars and Dark rums and lime, this mai tai gets the festive addition of cinnamon-honey syrup and house-made pecan orgeat, a sweet and nutty staple of tiki-style drinks.
The Nutcracker Mai Tai is also December’s Cocktail for a Cause, donating $1 from every drink sold to Cradles to Crayons this month. The charity provides essentials for home, school and play to children in low-income situations. Founded in Boston in 2002, Cradles to Crayons now also works in Philadelphia and Chicago.
December’s Nutcracker-themed cocktails are $15–$16 and available throughout the month at Time Out Market.