The Polar Expresso

Inspired by the wild ride of the Polar Express, “The Polar Expresso” is a festive espresso cocktail blending brandy, kirsch, chocolate, vanilla, and orange liqueur, shaken to a frothy finish and garnished like Santa’s golden bell for a spirited holiday boost.

(Recipe Below)

This jittery, wild train ride is what inspired our first cocktail, not to mention the necessary play-on-words. "The Polar Expresso" is an espresso cocktail with the essence of the much favored holiday chocolate, the cordial cherry. We spiked a shot of espresso with Brandy and Kirsch Liqueur from the Alps, sweetened it with vanilla simple syrup and balanced it all with the orange scented Liquor 43. Shake it like the train coming off the tracks to create a nice foam top like the stack on the train and garnish with a cherry dusted with gold luster dust to look like Santa's bell. This cocktail will get you "Rockin' on Top of the World" just like the Elf Singer (Steven Tyler) sang at the Elves' Christmas party.

Cocktail Recipes and Instruction Videos Created by Boozy Movies

1.5 oz (45mL) Brandy

.5 oz (15mL) Mount Rigi

.25 oz (7.5mL) Liquor 43

1.5 oz (45mL) Espresso

.5 oz (15mL) Vanilla Simple

Maraschino Cherry

Gold Luster Dust

In a shaker, combine 1.5 oz Brandy, .5 oz Mount Rigi, 1.5 oz Expresso and .5 oz Vanilla Simple Syrup. Add ice, a spring and more ice and shake vigorously until chilled. Double strain into a coupe. Garnish with a cordial cherry flourished with gold for a bell.

Vanilla Simple Syrup

4 oz (120mL) Water

.5 cup (200g) Organic Cane Sugar

.5 oz (15mL) White Mexican Vanilla

In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add sugar and remove from heat, stir until sugar is dissolved. Once dissolved, stir in vanilla. Cool to room temperature and pour into a syrup bottle.

Christian Brothers Brandy
Mount Rigi Kirsch Liqueur

40 proof/20% ABV
Distillerie Mount Rigi Ltd
Mellow and sweet, this liqueur tastes of sweet cherries and light citrus. This kirsch liqueur is made from cherries that have been mashed and fermented then distilled. Botanicals and herbs are added to steep in the distillate then filtered and water from the Swiss Alps and sweeteners are added to balance the flavor and alcohol content.
Licor 43
Espresso
Vanilla Simple Syrup

Vanilla Simple Syrup adds a recognizable tropical floral sweetness that is buttery, light and brings out the sweetness of other flavors. It can easily be made by adding White Mexican Vanilla into simple syrup.

All Aboard the Polar Express: A Magical Christmas Journey Served with Two Holiday Cocktails

On Christmas Eve, The Polar Express follows a skeptical boy from Grand Rapids, Michigan as he boards a magical train bound for the North Pole, guided by the no-nonsense Conductor and surrounded by an unforgettable cast of characters. The wild, otherworldly ride inspires “The Polar Expresso,” an espresso cocktail blending brandy, kirsch, vanilla, espresso, and festive flair worthy of Santa himself. Another iconic scene on the train leads to “We Got It,” a rich, warm cocoa cocktail that transforms the movie’s famous hot chocolate number into an indulgent adult treat. Both drinks celebrate the wonder, music, and momentum of the journey, balancing nostalgia with playful sophistication. Ultimately, the film—and the cocktails it inspires—remind us that belief, like the sound of a sleigh bell, can last a lifetime if we choose to listen.