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BREWERIES
Find out which Albuquerque bar is getting a Miracle
If finding Christmas spirit is the mission, Happy Accidents should be a mandatory destination this month.
Through December (excluding New Year’s Eve), the Nob Hill-based cocktail spot will play host to the Miracle bar, a specialty pop-up that serves holiday themed-drinks in a setting that oozes Christmas cheer. This will mark the fourth consecutive year Happy Accidents has transformed into Miracle, and it has proven to be a consistent hit among patrons — so much so that it’s best to plan ahead.
“It’s our busiest month of the year, and we usually double what we normally do in revenue,” Kate Gerwin, owner of Happy Accidents, said. “I recommend people come during the week. The weekends are pretty packed up, and usually we go on a waitlist pretty early. If people do want to come on Friday or Saturday, come as early as possible, right at 5 p.m. when we open up is the best bet.”
Launched in 2014, Miracle is a global phenomenon, with hundreds of bars participating in the United States and in countries such as Australia, England, Norway, Costa Rica, Norway and Panama. Miracle provides the cocktail ideas and special holiday glassware to the participating establishments to ensure consistency at every location.
“There’s only usually one bar per city allowed to do the franchise,” Gerwin said. “Because I’ve known the people that have run it for over 10 years, we were pretty lucky to get that spot for Albuquerque.”
The drinks typically change on an annual basis. A couple of Gerwin’s favorites this year are The Krampus, a tequila-based cocktail served in a memorable mug depicting the frightening figure from Christmas lore, and a Coconut Hot Chocolate that utilizes hot buttered rum from her own family’s recipe book. There are plenty more creative options to sample including the Christmapolitan, the Biscochito Coquito and there’s even a cocktail nod to “Die Hard.”
“I always think the drinks are fun and festive,” Gerwin said.
The Miracle glassware is available for purchase as well, and 10% of all sales will benefit the SEVA Foundation, a global nonprofit eye care organization “that works with local communities around the world to develop self-sustaining programs that preserve and restore sight.”
Additionally, Gerwin says there will be some holiday food specials — posole, for example— to add to the atmosphere. As for the decor, Happy Accidents gets its own creative license.
“There’s not really many requirements for the decor. So we kind of do our own thing there, and it’s grown every year,” Gerwin said. “We like to play a lot off the glassware … It’s over-the-top Christmas, that’s for sure.”
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Ultimately, that’s the main objective: To go above and beyond to provide a little extra cheer to the Duke City.
“If you like Christmas, this is definitely where you need to be,” Gerwin said. “The cocktails, the nonalcoholic drinks — just the energy. We try and go over the top with everything. It’s wildly popular. The best part about the whole thing is that people leave with big smiles on their faces.”
SPECIAL SERENADE: Though it hasn’t been promoted heavily as of yet, Gerwin says that Happy Accidents recently added private karaoke rooms to the bar. They are available for the holidays and can be reserved.
