Cocktails can be a warm comfort during the holidays. One way to find that comfort is via the Christmas pop-up bar, Miracle, at The Ordinarie in Long Beach. The Miracle pop-up bar concept was created in 2014 by Cocktail World’s Greg Boehm and his longtime bar manager Joann Spiegel in New York City. They have created a model and experience in Miracle pop-up bars which happen across the US, plus pop-ups in Canada, Europe, Asia, and Central America.
It’s no secret that bars and pubs have had to pivot and find new ways to serve their clientele during this extended pandemic. It takes creativity and imagination. Months before the COVID-19 pandemic, as if on cue, the seeds of the Miracle pop-up bar idea were planted across the nation and to Southern California.
The Ordinarie is run by Christy Caldwell and his wife Jaime is where one of those seeds was planted. The Ordinarie annually hosts a Miracle pop-up for the Christmas season, bringing fans of the creative concoctions a tiki and Christmas themed setting. Professionally-developed cocktails like, Snowball Old-Fashioned – with rye, gingerbread, aromatic and wormwood bitters and orange essence, and Bad Santa – served hot with aged Jamaican rum, velvet falernum, mixed spice butter oat milk and nutmeg, are served amid kitschy over-the-top holiday décor and nostalgic energy.
Paying homage to American drinking culture, The Ordinarie harkens back to the 17th and 18th century tavern experience. A little history on the origin of the restaurant/pub’s name explains, “The Ordinarie utilizes the 1600s spelling to designate a tavern. The terms Ordinarie, Tavern and Inn remained synonymous throughout most of the eighteenth century; these institutions were licensed to provide entertainment “for all persons” including “strangers and their horses.”
The red-headed, Ireland born owner of The Ordinarie, Christy Caldwell told RLN how Miracle began with a bar called Mace [pronounced Macy]. Boehm and his partner, who are well known in the cocktail world, opened a bar in the east village of New York. It was during November when they finally acquired it and they thought there was no way they could open a bar right before Christmas. The building itself needed renovations before opening.
“[Boehm’s] mother suggested they just open a Christmas cocktail bar, as is … really decorate it over the top Christmacy and make Christmas cocktails,” Christy said.
“They did and it was a roaring success. The following year some of their bar owning friends wanted to do it as well and the next thing you know it became nationwide and eventually global.”
The following year Miracle expanded locations. And in 2016, it went worldwide with pop-ups in Greece, Montreal and Paris. Now the concept has expanded to all corners of the US. In 2019, Christy met one of Mace’s owners at Tales of the Cocktail, an annual cocktail convention in New Orleans.
“Next thing you know, I’m doing Long Beach’s version of Miracle Bar here at the Ordinarie.”
This is the third year and it’s well-loved. Christy said the first year was crazy.
“[It was] completely packed and people loved it,” he said. “It brought a part of Christmas to Long Beach. People were traveling here from San Diego, Los Angeles … people were searching for the mugs and different merchandise and drinking the cocktails.”
The global shipping problems he said have taken their toll on some of their merchandise which is arriving late. Miracle merchandise includes holiday mugs and shot glasses which you can see on the menus and at www.miraclepopup.com
Christy’s wife Jaime does all the kitschy decorating and all the cocktail recipes are part of The Miracle Pop Up and are the same in every location. California is home to about seven Miracle Pop-Ups, among them are San Francisco, Santa Rosa, San Diego, Temecula and Long Beach — the only location in Los Angeles this year. There are more than 100 sites across the US.
Asked what’s his favorite cocktail, Christy said, “I like the Yippie Ki Yay Mother F….r!”
RLN photographer, Arturo, had the pleasure of consuming Christy’s favorite “tiki cocktail” which he described below.
“A layered combination of smoked, buttery flavored Ube liqueur complemented by the sour-sweet of pineapple juice tempered by a sprinkling of powdered sugar decorated with mint leaves and a tiki umbrella. In honor of the debated 1988 Christmas movie, Die Hard, “Yippie Ki Yay, Mother Fucker!” a purple holiday cocktail is served chilled in a red Santa Pants mug.”
Christy says Miracle’s most popular cocktail is the “Christmapolitan” a mix of vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, lime, rosemary and absinthe mist — a must-try.
Reservations are recommended for a timed period. Walk-ins are accommodated at the bar and the patio. The Ordinarie serves up American Tavern fare which Christy noted is the history of hospitality in America. Before we finished, Christy offered a brief history of the cocktail’s origins.
“The cocktail is an American creation so there’s been a lot of famous American bartenders,” Christy said. “You can’t see it now [the room is covered in wild Christmas decor] but pictures of American chefs and bartenders over the years are adorned all over the walls.
“Cocktail is a style of drink. The cocktail itself was a bittered sling with spirits, bitters, sugar and water. Back in the day when you asked for a cocktail that’s what you would get. You asked for a sling, a sour, they all had different names. Now we just call everything cocktail.”
Christy added lore has it that “punch” with its five ingredients for different tastes was invented by the British in India — others maintain that the beverage originates from Eastern Asia. Mixing spirits with spices and fruits is common in that region of the world. Typical ingredients of an old-time punch were rum, water, lemons, sugar, and spice [or sour, strong, sweet, aromatic and bitter].
The jovial Christy cautioned all of these stories are just stories. For a seasonal treat, old-fashioned hospitality and a good yarn, take your kith and kin to The Ordinarie to experience the delight of Miracle cocktails.
Details: www.miraclepopup.com and www.theordinarie.com
