1. The Holiday- a little sweet, a little spicy, an easy to pour and delightful drink that goes down as easy as the rest of this movie. I will forever love Jude Law's character in this movie, but even he is second only to the leading man that is Kate Winslet’s Cotswolds cottage: wow is that Brit a stunner! Plus we’ve got Jack Black as a leading man in the sweetest romance with Kate Winslet? Yes please, pour me a  Hunter’s Widow and let’s get watching!

2. Best in Show- don’t tell my family that this isn’t a Christmas Movie. Somehow the tradition began to watch it on Christmas Eve, and it persists. If you haven't had the pleasure, get ready for the irreverent charm of these wonky characters converging at the Westminster Dog Show. A nice and boozy and mellow Smoked Apple Old Fashioned is what I like to imagine that my second favorite character, the nut variety reciting Southern gent Harlan Pepper (played by Christopher Guest) would drink in the hotel bar after his hound dog trots the Westminster ring. My favorite character is Parker Posy’s Meg Swan, a bracingly uptight yuppie and owner of the Weimeriner who loses her Buzzy Bee toy, but we know that all she drinks is very cold Grey Goose vodka martinis, or a stupidly expensive Pinot Noir, and those just aren’t very Christmas-y.

3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation- I feel as though the lively, buzzing vibes of an Espresso Martini perfectly fit the chaos that is this movie. The hijinx of the Grizwold family will live on forever in the constant quoting of my extended family, a favorite being “I don’t know what to say, except its Christmas and we’re all in misery.” Can you believe they let both sets of grandparents arrive TEN whole days early? That’s a whole lot of hosting! I reserve watching this one for wrapping presents late at night the week before Christmas, so the caffeine boost of the Nordic Coffee martini will get me through my pile before the credits run.

4. Love Actually-  this is another solo indulgence watch for me annually, usually late at night when everyone else has gone to bed. The ensemble cast features loosely connected stories of Brits’ romances at Christmas time, with some plots that are better than others. The best but saddest part of the movie, for me, is Emma Thompson’s performance as Karen, the mum of the Christmas nativity lobster, and wife to the yucky wandering eye of Alan Rickman’s character, Harry. I would go to war for Emma Thompson’s Karen, I really would. The sweet-sour pull between comforting comedy and the melancholy of Emma Thompson being1,000 times too good for Harry all point to a Whiskey Sour made with Herb Garden or Pumpkin Spice syrup.

5. Charlie Brown Christmas- this heartfelt, short and nostalgic movie is the classic choice when you wake up late on a weekend morning on Christmas break with no plans to rush around to, and perfect to pair with a Winter Citrus Mimosa. After I watch Charlie Brown teach all the pals what Christmas is all about I feel light and bubbly like the cocktail.

6. Elf- I’m always hoping for a white Christmas, and we rarely get one, but if we do I will be making Simple Goodness Syrup Snocones to watch this Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel flick. The cast is packed with stars and yes, it’s cheesy, but adult-humored enough (while not being scary for very young kids) that the kids and parents can enjoy it, so it’s a regular in our line up. Our favorite part of this movie is the snowball fight in Central Park that brings Buddy the Elf together with his brother against the mean kids, and the Snocones are perfectly positioned for that scene.

7. The Grinch- I like both versions and am not here to debate, though as a Millenial, Jim Carey’s Grinch will always be the version that comes to mind first. I imagine Cindy Lou Who drinking a creamy and layered pink Rhubarb Vanilla Bean soda with half half, and then unwrapping one of the candy lollipops in her hair buns and using it to stir her drink. The Grinch's dirty soda would definitly curdle, like his stinky grouchy greedy heart at the start of the film, so I imagine him drinking a Dirty Soda with Dr. Pepper and Berry Sage syrup, a squeeze of lime and half and half- curdled, but in the end, all around so much better than you expected.

8. Klaus- I’d make a stovetop batch of warm and cozy Apple Pie Gluhwein to cuddle up to this movie with the kids. If you haven’t watched it, I recommend a family viewing, as it’s one of the only recent animated movies that I find really captures a more thoughtful message behind Christmas, beyond the gimmes of naughty or nice, list of gifts and festive excitement. The animation of the Norwegian town is beautifully done, and will likely inspire dreams of owning a wooden cabin in a wintery landscape. Try not to hop on Redfin to scroll for one, and just enjoy the spiced wine and movie’s great message.

9. Home Alone- I was so happy when my kids were old enough to find joy in the elaborate pranks of McCaully Culkin instead of only being terrified of the Central park Robbers he’s trying to evade after being left behind from his family on Christmas. Here’s the thing about this movie- watching it makes me cold. I know there’s those iconic cans of coke on a tray the family passes around, or the mini bar at the Plaza from which I could take my cocktail inspiration from, but there is so much snow, ice, and physical pain in this movie that the obvious cocktail choice is a Hot Toddy (made with Rhubarb Vanilla Bean syrup, for me personally.) And, here’s another thing- Kevin’s mom, played iconically by Catherine O’Hara? She’s 36 in the movie. How I have reached the age of Kevin’s mother when I am only supposed to be 27 is a mystery that calls for whiskey.

10. Surviving Christmas/ The Family Stone- these movies both have ridiculously good casts, an early 2000’s point of view, and sarcastic and dysfunctional family plots with redemption and a romance by the movie’s conclusion. I find you can watch them pretty interchangeably. Obviously, they call for a Gimlet and I’d make it with Berry Sage Syrup: fun, fruity, but sophisticated in taste. Gin is a spirit that is a little bit intimidating or bracing for many, but this cocktail brings you into the world of gin in an entrancing way and then wraps it in a fun little bow.