New Year’s Eve is the best night of the year to create your own custom cocktail for a celebration. There are so many festive choices, and you can pick a spirit and provide a buffet bar of options to let guests customize their drinks. Whether you go with bubbly or not, this roundup of cocktail recipes will give you a solid foundation to improvise from for a celebratory start to the New Year.
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1. Gigi
Chowhound
Our recipe for this coquettish cocktail (created by Jackie Patterson at Le Colonial in San Francisco) contains three fancy French liquors: Lillet Blanc, St-Germain, and rosé champagne. You can substitute with unflavored vodka, but the Grey Goose La Poire has a really spectacular pear flavor that pairs beautifully with the elderflower taste of the St-Germain. Get our Gigi Cocktail recipe.
Chowhound
Kiwi, Prosecco, and peach liqueur make for a dazzling New Year’s Eve choice. Muddle the kiwi with some brown sugar if you want to add a bit more sweetness. And be sure to strain this cocktail to separate out the smashed kiwi pieces if you’re concerned about smooth sipping. Get our Kiwi Sparkler recipe.
The Kitchn
Aromatic bitters are the way to really differentiate this champagne cocktail from the rest. You can try out orange, grapefruit, or any type of bitters you already have on hand to dash onto a sugar cube that will meld beautifully with freshly poured champagne and a lemon twist. Get the Classic Champagne Cocktail recipe.
Bon Appétit
This tequila-based cocktail is a delightful hint of summer, brought to you by the rich blackberry color and flavor of crème de cassis. The thyme garnish adds a fancy touch, and although tequila is the main spirit, the drink still tastes very delicate with spicy ginger beer (or homemade ginger soda). Get the El Diablo Cocktail recipe.
Chowhound
A New Orleans favorite, the original Sazerac is altered here for a party-perfect treat to serve alongside appetizers. With rye, lemon, and bitters, you can turn a Jell-O shot into something more elegant. And with only a third of an ounce of alcohol per square, five or six of these equal a normal-sized cocktail. You don’t even have to pace yourself. Get our Sazerac Jelly Shots recipe.
6. Holiday Mule
Home Sweet Jones
If you can find a traditional copper mug to serve this holiday mule in, you’ll really have outdone yourself. Rosemary sprigs, orange slices, and sugared cranberries are some seasonally appropriate garnishes that look as good as they taste. This recipe calls for gin, but you can substitute vodka (or really any clear alcohol) to suit your taste. Get the Holiday Mule recipe.
Chowhound
The name alone is reason enough to make this cocktail for a fancy New Year’s Eve celebration. You can mix the spices and brandy together in a large batch beforehand so all you have to do during the party is pour and top with bubbly. Get our Holiday Sparkler Cocktail recipe.
Rob Easter/Forbes
This is another case where the name of the cocktail makes it hard to pass up for a New Year’s celebration. An interesting combination of mezcal, rye, and sweet and dry vermouth, this will appeal to fans of Manhattans and Boulevardiers. Get the Onward-Upward Cocktail recipe.
Serious Eats
Fit for royalty, the Prince Harry Cocktail is similar to a Dark ‘n’ Stormy, with a tangy kick from ginger beer. You can adjust the amount of ginger beer to dilute the cocktail, but don’t skimp on the fresh lime juice: It’s absolutely essential. Garnish with a lime twist and you’re ready for a royal start to 2015. Get the Prince Harry Cocktail recipe.
10. Sherry Splash
Chowhound
Our recipe for a Sherry Splash uses the somewhat unusual manzanilla sherry, which is a little bit salty and pairs well with the sweet St-Germain elderflower liqueur. Again, this recipe calls for gin but you can just as easily substitute vodka if you’re so inclined. Shake with ice and strain into a champagne coupe for extra panache. Get our Sherry Splash recipe.
Lemon Blossoms
Festive and not too sweet, this delicious pomegranate margarita is a beautiful ruby color. Fresh lime juice, tequila, triple sec, and a substantial amount of pomegranate juice are combined and shaken in batches; use a fancy flavored salt for contrast and you’ll be sure to wow even the most discerning guests. Get the Pomegranate Margarita recipe.
12. Old-Fashioned Gin Cocktail
Similar to the champagne cocktail, this is a simple recipe that will taste even better if you use your favorite gin. With variations for a “Fancy Gin Cocktail” (squeezing a thin-cut lemon peel over the rim of the glass) and an “Improved Gin Cocktail” (adding a teaspoon of Grand Marnier and some bitters), this recipe is easy to customize. Get the Old-Fashioned Gin Cocktail recipe.
13. Blue Blazer
Interesting Today
This drink is a real showstopper. It involves boiling water, blended Scotch whisky, powdered sugar, and fire. Exercise serious caution while pouring the flaming whisky from one tankard to the other; your guests will be superimpressed if everyone survives. Get the Blue Blazer recipe.
14. Rusty Nail
Drambuie and Scotch are an elegant combination for a nightcap. This is hardly a cocktail recipe, containing only two ingredients, but the honey, spices, and herb flavors in the Drambuie and the hint of sweetness round out the flavors of the whisky and make for some extremely smooth sips on the rocks. Get the Rusty Nail recipe.
15. Bourbon Sour
Chowhound
Our recipe for a properly made bourbon sour is vastly different from the normal store-bought sour mix. Fresh lemon juice makes it sour, but not in a fake or acidic, chemical way. With a frothy egg white, it’s a great way to kick off the New Year. Get our Bourbon Sour recipe.
If you’d rather go with something warmer, check out our Crock-Pot Cocktails You Can Make in Your Slow Cooker. Or for the easiest option, see if Saucey delivers in your area and you can have spirits, beer, wine, and more brought directly to your door. Now through January 2, 2019, get $10 off orders of $60 or more with code NYE2019. Select areas can also get free 30 minute delivery (with no order minimum requirement).
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