The international Christmas-themed pop-up bar Miracle was hosted at two locations in Connecticut during the 2018 holiday season, Highland Brass Co. of Waterbury and Ordinary of New Haven. Both venues kicked off official openings of Miracle on Black Friday, bringing the kitschy holiday décor, costumed bartenders and holiday-themed craft cocktails to the New Haven and Waterbury areas. On December 10, both bars hosted a visit from members of the United States Bartenders’ Guild of Rhode Island (USBG RI), who traveled via a bus tour from Twin River Casino Hotel in Lincoln, Rhode Island, which stopped first at Highland Brass Co. before driving the group to Ordinary.
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- New Haven’s Ordinary hosted the Miracle pop-up bar during the 2018 holiday season.
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- The Miracle pop-up bar menu, drawn by New Haven-based artist Jaime Jones.
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- Miracle cocktails, including the Partridge in a Pear Tree, the Christmapolitan and the Bad Santa.
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- Heather MacDonald of Ordinary preparing Miracle cocktails for guests.
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- The Christmapolitan and the Yippee Ki Yay Mother F****r! cocktails.
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- For the second year, Waterbury’s Highland Brass Co. hosted the Miracle pop-up bar.
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- Gary Dritschler, Market Manager, Campari America; Colleen McCluskey, Bartender, Highland Brass Co.; Keith Jones, Bartender, Highland Brass Co.; and Corey Bonderenko, Partner, Highland Brass Co.
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- Members of USBG RI with Gary Dritschler, Market Manager, Campari America (top row, far right).
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- The Yippie Ki Yay Mother F****r! is a blend of sweet potato, Barbados rum, CachaÇa, Trinidad Overproof Rum, Dry Curaçao, marshmallow orgeat and lime.
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- Corey Bonderenko of Highland Brass Co. preparing the Gingerbread Flip cocktail: bourbon, gingerbread syrup, elemakule tiki bitters, whole egg, nutmeg and gingersnap cookie crumbs.
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- Bonderenko making the Run Run Rudolph cocktail, a mixture of gin, mulled wine puree, lemon and Prosecco.
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- A holiday toast between Rhode Island and Connecticut USBG members.
Photos 6 – 12 by Nick Caito.
