Nostalgia, Christmas magic and an excessive love of maple syrup all can be found in BuzzBallz’s latest release.
The new Elf Maple Syrup Sundae cocktail will remind fans of the scene in the classic movie, Elf, when Will Ferrell’s character Buddy the Elf pours maple syrup and and marshmallows into his spaghetti, except there’s no flavors of spaghetti or tomatoes.
“Nothing taps nostalgia harder than a classic holiday movie hero, and Buddy the Elf is the perfect inspiration,” says Jess Scheerhorn, vice president of BuzzBallz. “Our festive cocktail captures the sweet and whimsical spirit of Buddy the Elf, blending some of his favorite foods like maple syrup and marshmallows into a creamy cocktail that’s just as fun as it is delicious.”
Elf Maple Syrup Sundae flavor is tapping into current trends, as the movie itself has cultural staying power. Christmas-themed gatherings from Florida to Wisconsin host Buddy the Elf lookalikes. You can hire Buddy to come to your Christmas party, too. And Pintrest has a whole board dedicated to Elf-themed parties.
“Elf sits at the top of those core holiday memories for a lot of people,” Scheerhorn says.”The jokes, the one-liners, the syrup-on-everything energy… younger adults grew up with Buddy the Elf, and he still hits home.”
Also, Digital Trends considers Elf “still the best Christmas movie ever,” but USA Today and TimeOut Worldwide, rank Elf as the third best Christmas movie of all time.
The flavor also is on trend, beverage-wise, too. According to the 2025 Food and Beverage Trends Report from Prepared Foods, the beverage industry is experiencing a sweet wave of nostalgia, with more consumers seeking flavors that bring back childhood memories.
“People want flavors that remind them of childhood treats and cozy holiday memories, and that craving is driving real innovation and spending,” Scheerhorn says. “What better way to tap into that nostalgic sweet tooth than by celebrating Buddy’s favorite food groups?”
According to Psychology Today, research shows that holiday movies create powerful sentimental associations, tapping into feelings of joy and belonging. “This flavor embraces that nostalgia while delivering a playful, festive taste experience that’s basically holiday cheer in a BuzzBallz,” she says.
The new flavor is part of BuzzBallz’s 2025 seasonal lineup and comes in 187ml and 200ml sizes, which are available nationwide for a limited time while supplies last. Both sizes cost around $2.50 to $3.50 per ball, depending on the retail outlet.
“Elf Maple Syrup Sundae BuzzBallz brings that playful, dessert-style holiday nostalgia to life in a way people can actually taste,” she says. “It’s comfort, humor, and holiday magic all blended into one little round cocktail.”
Scheerhorn recommends adding Elf Maple Syrup Sundae BuzzBallz to the new, limited edition holiday shelf the brand has come out with: Ballz on the Wallz. The shelf actually has a built-in cooling chamber, LED lighting and a pull-out drawer for cooling packs.
The shelf will fit any flavor of a 200ml sized BuzzBallz ball, but Scheerhorn recommends stocking it with Elf Maple Syrup to be festive. The shelf is available for $25 at ReserveBar for a limited time. “Skip decking the halls with holly this season and hang your Ballz on the Wallz instead,” she says.