In the season of merry making, the ways of celebrating are as many and as varied as possible, but familiar traditions and stories connect all of us at this time, influencing our celebrations and holding a special place in our hearts. One such story and tradition is The Nutcracker. Whether it’s a tradition to see the ballet with family and friends or if you only know the songs from hearing them played on Christmas playlists, we’re all familiar enough with the story of The Nutcracker.
Or are we, truly?
Our familiarity with The Nutcracker comes from the famous ballet adaptation–but an adaptation is all it was.
In this Liquor Literacy, we’ll explore the history of the surprisingly dark story behind the ballet, all while celebrating the story with a rather fun and festive cocktail.
The Drink
Today’s drink is a quick, festive cocktail that comes without much of a history of its own. It’s modern, simple, delicious, and aptly named The Nutcracker. Creamy white and topped with whipped cream, this cocktail is perfect to whip up for a party (though we aren’t really having those this year, are we?).
The Nutcracker and The Mouse King—Where It All Began
The Nutcracker Ballet, composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, was initially of little success when first produced in 1892, though Tchaikovsky’s score was revered. Though others tried their hand at reworking the ballet in the decades following, The Nutcracker Ballet only saw major success when George Balanchine staged his reworked version in 1954, becoming a Christmas favorite across the United States in the early 1960s. However, lost within the immense success of this festive favorite is its own origin story.
The Nutcracker we know and love today is not entirely true to the original short story written by E.T.A. Hoffmann, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Hoffmann was a 19th century German lawyer, judge, composer, artist, music critic, and writer. A Romantic author who blended fantastical elements with realism, Hoffmann was a pioneer of the fantasy genre. As a gothic horror writer, he enjoyed mixing the macabre with realism as well and was an influence on writers such as Dickens, Baudelaire, Dostoevsky, and Poe. His story, “Das Fraulein von Scuderi” is often called the first detective story and directly influenced Poe’s story, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” With darker, twisted tales as his signature, it should come as no surprise that The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is no different.
Originally included in a collection of children’s stories by various authors in 1816, there’s no doubt that Hoffmann intended the story to be read and enjoyed by children. However, its appropriateness for children was debated when The Nutcracker and the Mouse King was published in Hoffmann’s own 1819 collection Die Serapionsbrüder (The Serapion Brethren), not just because of the edge the story had, but because of its complexity. Though he certainly meant for children to enjoy it, Hoffmann didn’t keep his story simple and two dimensional for their sake. It was a layered story, with narrative tricks and allusions that allowed the children’s story (that was comprehensible to children) to appeal to adults as well. Also unique in terms of being a children’s story was that it lacked a moral lesson or instruction. It was a strange tale with some bite—classic Hoffmann, but a story that wasn’t as popular as we might assume it was.
Alexandre Dumas, author The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Muskateers among many other stories, translated The Nutcracker and The Mouse King into French in 1844, increasing its popularity. While nearly identical in plot, Dumas’s retelling softened the edge of Hoffmann’s original story. It is Dumas’s version, entitled The Story of a Nutcracker, that Tchaikovsky’s ballet is based on. While the ballet later changed the protagonist’s—a little girl—name to Clara, Dumas stuck with the original name of Marie. He did, however, change Marie’s family name to Silberhaus which means “silver house,” whereas the original family name was Stahlbaum, meaning “steel tree.” Hoffmann’s Stahlbaum family was strict, focused on rules and order, and did not approve of Marie’s fanciful “dreams” about the nutcracker and the mouse king that she shared with them. The Silberhauses, however, were a sweeter family to little Marie (or Clara). The whole plot, with its fanciful happenings in the land of the Mouse King, was made a little softer around the edges, losing some of the deceitful trickeries of Hoffmann’s version. Even the ending was made sweet by Dumas and the resulting ballet, leaving the depth and meaning of Hoffmann’s original behind.
It’s unfortunate that Hoffmann, who was so influential as both a writer and music critic, has been mostly forgotten within the history of his own story. Dumas seems to be the name referenced and credited any time the ballet is mentioned—understandably so since it was Dumas’s sweeter version that directly inspired the ballet adaptation. Despite this, I find it sad that the original tale itself has been forgotten along with Hoffmann. Before researching the history of The Nutcracker, I’d never heard his name, despite his numerous stories and the impact he had on fantasy, gothic horror, and within the Romantic movement.
More akin to the tales of the Brothers Grimm, Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and The Mouse King is certainly something I’m more drawn to, as I’m sure is the case for many other readers, too.
The Recipe
This cocktail recipe clearly takes its inspiration from the more widely known and celebrated version of The Nutcracker, Dumas’s and the ballet’s sweeter version. With a nutty, sweet flavor and a creamy white, whipped cream-covered presentation, this drink looks perfectly festive for winter.
This recipe originally appeared on SweetPhi.
6 ounces of almond milk
4 ounces of Frangelico liqueur
2 ounces of cake-flavored vodka
1 cup of ice cubes
Whipped cream
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
Note: I was surprised that I couldn’t find cake-flavored vodka anywhere. I substituted with whipped cream-flavored vodka, which I think will still match the flavors of this cocktail perfectly. Vanilla could also work well, if it’s all you can find.
Directions
Add almond milk, Frangelico, vodka, and ice to cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously. Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg.
I love recipes this simple. Cheers to Hoffmann and The Nutcracker and The Mouse King!
Pairs Well With
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
by E.T.A. Hoffmann
Of course this festive cocktail could only be paired with the story that inspired it, E.T.A. Hoffmann’s original story. The cocktail has a slight edge from the vodka, just as Hoffmann’s sweet children’s story has something of a darker edge to it. A perfect accompaniment to this tale.
The Nutcracker
by Alexandre Dumas
If you’re also interested in reading Dumas’s version of The Nutcracker, this is a beautiful edition that’s sure to be lovely.
Final Thoughts
The Nutcracker cocktail was absolutely delicious. The vodka is warming and balances the rich, nutty sweetness of the almond milk and Frangelico wonderfully. The whipped cream vodka worked perfectly, as far as I can tell, and the whipped cream atop the glass added that last hint of sweetness that made the cocktail perfection. It was a hit with my taste testers—one of their favorites I’ve ever made. It was even suggested that The Nutcracker drink become a part of our Christmas day festivities—quite the sign of approval and enjoyment.
Researching The Nutcracker and the Mouse King provided me with a fascinating trip into the history and writings of E.T.A. Hoffmann, for which I am thankful. I am certain I’ll be adding some of his work to my shelves soon enough.
Are you a fan of The Nutcracker? Have you read Hoffmann’s original version? Let me know what you thought in the comments!
Thanks for reading,
Madison