Grab Christmas Cocktails at These Miracle Pop-Ups In and Around Miami

Miracle, the Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar that serves up a healthy dose of the holiday season, will return to Miami this holiday season.

Beginning in mid-November, the festive experience — and Miracle's new tropical-themed Sippin' Santa experience —  will include hundreds of bars around the world that have signed on to participate in the 2023 season, once again offering a menu of festive cocktails, over-the-top decorations, and exciting (new) mug designs aimed at bringing the holiday season to life.

With its kitschy holiday décor and glassware and a curated line of seasonal-inspired libations, Miracle will make its official holiday season debut with a pop-up at Better Days, one of just a handful of Florida establishments selected to participate in the annual cocktail takeover event.

The flagship Miracle location, appropriately dubbed Miracle on 9th Street (this year taking over the Cabinet Mezcal Bar in New York City), will kick off the season on Wednesday, November 8. All U.S. and global Miracle and Sippin' Santa partner locations will follow, officially opening to the public beginning Monday, November 20, and running through December 31.

The Miracle bar pop-up was born in 2014 when the event's founder, Greg Boehm, decided to halt construction of what was to be his new East Village cocktail bar, Mace, instead transforming the unfinished space into a pop-up bar serving holiday-themed drinks with plenty of over-the-top Christmas cheer.

In 2015, Miracle expanded to include four locations, and in 2016 went worldwide with pop-ups in Greece, Montreal, and Paris. Currently, Boehm and manager Joann Spiegel are pleased to expand the concept to all corners of the U.S., plus pop-ups in Canada, Europe, Asia, and Central America.

Both Miracle and Sippin' Santa will be activated by more than 200 bars this year, a roster that showcases a variety of venues throughout every major U.S. city, as well as England, the Netherlands, Panama, and Canada.
Although Sippin' Santa will only pop up at northern Florida locations for the 2023 season (Honu Restaurant and Tiki Bar in Dunedin, Polynesian Fire Luau in Daytona, and the Red Gill Bistro in Jacksonville), Miracle at Better Days represents one of a dozen Miracle bars across the state. A full list of all participating locations can be found online, in addition to the other Florida locations below.

• Cry Baby's and Baby J's Bar — 1-7 W. University Ave., Gainesville
• Grape & Grain Exchange — 2000 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville
• Ravish — 210 E. Ocean Ave., Lantana
• The Courtesy —1288 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park
• Tamiami Tap — 711 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota
• The Daytrader Tiki Bar & Restaurant — 2236 E. County Hwy., Seaside
• Forgotten Tonic — 6 Aviles St., St. Augustine
• Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails — 1111 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
• Strandhill Public — 10288 Causeway Blvd., Tampa
• BTW's Crafted Concoctions — 115 E. Main St., Tavares

When Miracle at Better Days opens next month, expect the longtime Miami bar to offer a plethora of holiday libations, including Miracle's longtime favorites like the "Christmapolitan" (vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, lime, rosemary, and an absinthe mist); "Elfing Around" (prosecco, gin, mulled wine reduction, grapefruit shrub, and bitters); "Jingle Balls Nog" (cognac, cream sherry, almond milk, cream, egg, vanilla, and nutmeg); and the John McClane-themed "Yippee Ki Yay Mother F****r!" (Barbados rum, rhum agricole, Trinidad overproof rum, ube and coconut orgeat, and pineapple juice), and "Grandma Got Run Over by a T. Rex" (vodka, orange liqueur, gentian aperitif, aloe vera, spiced pomegranate and grapefruit mix, lime, and aromatic bitters).

Joann Spiegel, the cocktail expert behind recipe creation for Miracle, has crafted an array of new and delicious holiday-themed cocktails that will debut on this year's menu, including "Marshmallows & Unicorns" (gin, vanilla liqueur, velvet falernum, cherry liqueur, cardamom, black pepper, marshmallow, lemon, egg white, tiki bitters, soda); "Elfing Around No. 2" (cognac, mulled wine reduction, Champagne, lemon, aromatic bitters, absinthRudolph'slph’s Replacement" (vodka, coffee liqueur, white creme de cacao, orange curaçao, chai, almond milk, aromatic bitters); and the "Krampus" (reposado tequila, oloroso sherry, allspice dram, mezcal, ginger, hibiscus, lime, hellfire bitters).

Each Miracle cocktail is served in Christmas-themed mugs and glassware, including the Santa hat-wearing T-Rex tiki mug, all of which can be purchased to take home from the bar while supplies last. At the end of the season, Miracle will donate ten percent of all proceeds from the retail sales of its sSanta'se Santa's Head, Santa Pants, and Christmas Carol Barrel mugs to its official 2023 holiday charity partner, Seva Foundation.

Miracle at Better Days. November 20 through December 31, at 75 SE Sixth St., Miami; 786-777-0060; betterdays305.com.