Two Cocktails for Krampusnacht
Bloodthirsty gingerbread, a jack-in-the-box with no gag reflex, murderous elves, and a cloven yuletide demon…
If you’re like me, this is exactly what visiting your extended family on Christmas was like as a child. Aunts and uncles lashing the children. Dear old grandpa carrying us around in his wicker basket.
Krampus (2015).
I feel such a deep, meaningful sense of nostalgia when…
Oh… wait… I’m so sorry. The movie?
Right. Let me try again.
The holidays are an interesting time for many. For some, it’s indicative of family, food, and a joyous holiday spirit. In “the old country,” it’s a time of archaic stories crafted to scare young children into behaving. One of which is what today’s cocktail and bad excuse for a history lesson will focus on: Krampus.
Krampus is a legend rooted in pre-Christian Alpine folklore, and has spawned festivals, movies, and macabre merriment the world over. For those of you who have not heard of this legend, Krampus is the counterpart to Santa Claus. He is known for capturing young children who have misbehaved and beating them with birch twigs. His form is somewhere between a goat and a demon, walking bipedally with large horns, a split tongue, and cloven hooves. He is typically depicted wearing something reminiscent of a Santa suit; if Santa had been lit on fire and allowed to burn for a substantial amount of time.
In 2015, Legendary Entertainment and Michael Dougherty took a swing at creating the quintessential film version of this legend—a modern horror comedy twist on a centuries-old tale. With a script rooted in sincerity, but a cast rooted in comedy, they created something that immediately became a cult classic (maybe only in my book, but my book is the only book that matters).
When I began thinking about a cocktail that could pair with this film, I felt it unfair to not lean on the centuries-old tale that gave the film life. For that reason, I decided to create two drinks: one to pair with the film, one to pair with the legend. Both are riffs on an old fashioned, but have entirely different flavor profiles. One, seasonal. One, bright and effervescent.
Let’s start with the film version.
Upon a rewatch, there were myriad flavor-driven inspirational moments. The grandmother’s creation of treats, Adam Scott’s choice of drink, and, let’s not forget, Krampus himself. I took all of these moments throughout the film and paired them into a seasonal cocktail, perfect for every holiday celebration (especially Krampusnacht). Without further ado:
A Tribute to Omi
1.5 oz Single Malt or Blended Scotch*
0.5 oz Peated Scotch*
0.5 oz Gingerbread Syrup**
4 Dashes of Chocolate Bitters***
Smoked with Birch Wood****
Garnished with a Torched Cinnamon Stick
In a mixing glass, add your Scotch, gingerbread syrup, and chocolate bitters. Stir until properly diluted. Pour into a rocks glass, preferably over a large ice cube, and grab your smoker (my personal smoker of choice is a Smoke Top). Smoke your cocktail with birch wood and allow it to sit undisturbed for a few moments. While the cocktail rests with the smoke, torch a cinnamon stick, remove the smoke top, and garnish with your torched cinnamon stick.
* Adam Scott enjoys a whisky neat prior to his extended (and chaotic) family’s arrival. He sips on a single malt Scotch. Specifically Talisker Whisky, a peated Scotch from the Isle of Skye. Now, that’s an $80 to $90 bottle of whisky if you can find it. Instead, I recommend finding a bottle of budget-friendly Highland or blended Scotch, perhaps a Monkey Shoulder. Split the base of that with a nicer peated Scotch, perhaps a Laphroaig or Ardbeg. That will give the nice peaty, smoky characteristics without overwhelming your palate or your bank account.
** Gingerbread men are featured heavily throughout the film, both as a treat and as a nemesis taken down by a good boy. To make the gingerbread syrup: Add all ingredients to a saucepan, bring to a simmer, place in a container, and allow to cool.
Gingerbread Syrup
½ Cup Water
½ Cup Brown Sugar
½ Cup Peeled Ginger Root
3 Cinnamon Sticks
¼ Teaspoon Ground Allspice
¼ Teaspoon Ground Clove
¼ Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
Zest of Half an Orange
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
*** The inclusion of chocolate bitters is a nod to the grandma saying, “heiße schokolade macht alles besser,” or “hot chocolate makes everything better.”
**** Krampus beats children with birch sticks. I had to get birch wood in there somehow.
The second cocktail is my tribute to the legend of Krampus, which originated in the Austrian Alps. This version of an old fashioned pays tribute to the important exports of the Alps, while having a few slight nods to dear old Krampus.
2. The Old Country
2 oz Apricot Brandy*
0.5 oz Grüner Veltliner, Birch Bark, Black Peppercorn Syrup**
4 Dashes of Orange Bitters
Garnished with a Sprinkle of Ground Charcoal***
In a mixing glass, add your brandy, Grüner Veltliner syrup, and orange bitters. Stir until properly diluted. Pour into a rocks glass, preferably over a large ice cube. Add a small sprinkling of ground charcoal over the surface of the cocktail.
* One of the largest spirit exports of Austria is fruited brandies.
** Grüner Veltliner is the singular largest wine export of Austria, specifically within the Alpine region. It is a crisp, dry white wine, perfect for a syrup. The birch inclusion is for the same reason as the last, but this time as an herbal tea version. This will impart a wonderful woody flavor to the cocktail. To make the syrup: Add all ingredients to a saucepan, bring to a simmer, place in a container, and allow to cool.
Grüner Veltliner, Birch, Black Peppercorn Syrup
½ Cup of Water
½ Cup of Grüner Veltliner
3 Tablespoons of Birch Bark Tea
1 Tablespoon of Black Peppercorns
*** Just like Santa, Krampus will come down chimneys. Instead of presents, he just does some light kidnapping.
Article written by Noah J. Welter
Noah J. Welter is a Pittsburgh-based bartender and film artist. His cocktail creations have been featured throughout the world in a multitude of bars and immersive events. Noah takes a distinctly unique approach to the creation of his cocktails by combining his love for film and cocktail culture, historically linking them together. To find more of his work, drink and otherwise, you can visit www.noahjwelter.com.
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