15 Romolo is celebrating their Basque roots with a "Sherry Christmas" beverage menu, filled with sherry-spiked everything. Bartender Ian Adams says, "We all secretly love sherry and wanted to find a way to make it approachable... It's not just something that crazy Spanish grandmothers drink." Try an Elf on the Shelf (fino sherry, meletti ammaro, benedictine, blended scotch, bitters), which drinks like a Manhattan: full bodied, rich, semi-sweet with a touch of bitterness.

If shots are your idea of festive, over in Pac heights you should get a Santa's DUI at Lion Pub. Bartenders shake up Fireball whiskey, sour apple schnapps, and cranberry for a spicy, tart, and ever-so-sweet shooter.

Kate Bolton combines Rittenhouse rye, apple, chestnut, her own winter spice blend, lemon and egg white. It shakes up to a spicy, cidery, frothy finished product.

Try the made-to-order eggnog at Bar Agricole, shaken with Strauss cream and County Line Harvest eggs, Marian Farms brandy, El Dorado rum, and finished with fresh grated nutmeg. They're also serving Glühwein, a German mulled red wine punch served warm with brandy and spices.

Bartender Gabe Lowe suggests the Bad Seed (applejack, Mezcal, grenadine, lemon) which tastes like a smokey apple pie. Or, go for the Chocolate Bourbon Flip (which isn't on the menu): Bourbon, Meletti Cioccolato ("an amazing chocolate liqueur made with unsweetened dutch cocoa"), and whole egg are shaken till it's rich and "frothy as hell," and served up with a grated nutmeg dusting.

Bols Genever, apple brandy, lemon, nutmeg-infused honey syrup, are shaken with a whole egg and grated cinnamon on top. Nothing like sipping this guy atop Union Square, just get there before 9 p.m. when the riff raff starts.

Get the cayenne hot chocolate served with churros and dulce de leche on the side for dipping. Casa Noble Reposado gives it a south of the border boozy twist, or order it virgin.

Bar 888 in the Intercontinental has a hard nog, and a "Grinch Punch," but try the Daily Press: Bulleit, fresh apple cider, a cinnamon stick and coffee beans, served on the rocks. It normally goes for $12 or so, but you can score one for $8.88 during happy hour, which lasts until 8 p.m., weekdays.

Run to Reed & Greenough for a rum flip: honey infused rum, scotch, cream, egg, and simple syrup, shaken and served frothy topped in cinnamon.

Top of the Mark has several appropriately coined special cocktails right now, like the Twelve Drummers Martini (Godiva liqueur, vodka and peppermint schnapps), the 11 Pipers Piping Martini (scotch, Grand Marnier, honey, and a cinnamon stick, served hot), or 9 Ladies (Dancing) Martini (vanilla vodka, Frangelico, butterscotch schnapps, ginger beer, and dark rum). Drink one up with the city view.

Check out the Twelve Cocktails of Christmas in Berkeley at Five. Served all Decmember long, their list of 12 festive beverages range from items like the Pear Tree (pear vodka, ginger syrup, calamansi juice, lemon) to the aptly dubbed Three French Hen-nessey (Hennessey, crème de cassis, lemon).