Festive party season is officially underway, and whisky brand Tri Carragh has used artificial intelligence (AI) to predict what our favourite christmas movie characters would drink with their Christmas dinner¹. Using AI, the whisky experts created images of ten of the most iconic characters enjoying their festive cocktails, complete with home recipes for each².
Taking ten popular Christmas movie characters, the Scotch whisky specialists tasked AI with predicting the holiday-themed beverage each character will likely wash their Turkey dinner down with based on their personality. The Christmas movie characters and their chosen tipples are:
- Ebeneezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol) – Hot Toddy
- Buddy the Elf (Elf)- Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
- Kevin McCallister (Home Alone) – Virgin Eggnog
- The Grinch (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) – Grinch Punch
- Jack Skellington (The Nightmare Before Christmas) – Black Vodka Martini
- George Bailey (It’s a Wonderful Life) – Mulled Wine
- John McClane (Die Hard) – Whisky Sour
- Kris Kringle (Miracle on 43rd Street) – Brandy Alexander
- The Conductor (The Polar Express) – Hot Buttered Rum
- Billy Mack (Love Actually)- Champagne Cocktail
Tri Carragh’s new research reveals that Ebeneezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol would drink a Hot Toddy, as this warm and soothing drink aligns with Scrooge’s transformation from cold-hearted to warm-hearted. Ingredients include 50ml whisky, 2 teaspoons honey, 25ml lemon juice, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 slide of lemon, and boiling water.
Matching his cheerful and childlike personality, Buddy the Elf would opt for a Peppermint White Hot Chocolate. Simply heat 500ml of whole milk and 200g of white chocolate in a saucepan until melted, stirring in ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract and adding whipped cream and crushed candy canes for garnish.
With a 408% spike in searches for ‘Christmas drink ideas’³, it’s evident people are gearing up for the festive season, with 41% of consumers seeking lower alcohol or alcohol-free alternatives for their festive drinks⁴.
In the first Home Alone movie, Kevin McCallister was eight years old. Being too young for an alcoholic beverage, AI told Tri Carragh that Virgin Eggnog would be the best fit and match the warmth felt by watching what some coin as the greatest Christmas movie of all time. To create this drink at home, you’ll require 4 large eggs, 60g granulated sugar, 480ml whole milk, 240ml heavy cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg.
Official ‘Christmas movie’ or not, John McClane from Die Hard is a character who just wants to get home to celebrate the festive season with his loved ones. His cocktail of choice would be a Whisky Sour, as this represents his strength and resilience. In a shaker, combine 60ml whisky, 30ml fresh lemon juice, and 15ml simple syrup with ice – shake well and strain into a glass with a cherry and lemon slice.
Other Christmas characters analysed include The Grinch (How the Grinch Stole Christmas), Jack Skellington (The Nightmare Before Christmas), George Bailey (It’s a Wonderful Life), Kris Kringle (Miracle on 43rd Street), The Conductor (The Polar Express), and Billy Mack (Love Actually).
Whisky expert Ryan McCafferty says: “Christmas is all about warmth, joy, and togetherness, and we wanted to add a dash of cinematic charm to it. It’s incredible how AI could create these matches, giving everyone a wide range of festive-inspired drinks. Whether you’re a Scrooge or a Buddy the Elf, there’s a tipple for every taste, and we hope these recipes bring some extra festive cheer to your celebrations!”
To see the full list of recipes for each Christmas movie tipple, please visit: https://www.tricarragh.com/christmas-movie-tipples/