We can’t be the only ones excitedly waiting for the new year, right? Although the drink of choice for New Year’s Eve is usually Champagne, why not mix it up by serving your guests some amazing cocktails? Well, we have some cocktails they’re sure to love. The best part is you don’t have to be a certified mixologist to make any of these.
Before you start thinking about your resolution for the new year, get your holiday party in order. It doesn’t matter if it’s just you and your partner or a whole group of friends; we want you to dazzle that midnight toast. Here are seven delicious cocktails for New Year’s Eve that we can’t wait for you to cheers with.
Golden Champagne cocktail
What you’ll need
- 3/4 ounce of scotch
- 3 small splashes of bitters
- 1 sugar cube
- Prosecco
How to make it
Splash the bitters onto the sugar cube and drop it into the glass. Pour the scotch in and gently stir for a second. Top up the glass with prosecco.
Prosecco is a New Year’s must-have. It might sound weird to top scotch with prosecco, but stay with us. The combination will smell great and taste even better. Plus, the sugar cube makes a great touch and looks so chic in the glass. Why settle for plain Champagne to ring in the new year?
Martinis at midnight
What you’ll need
- 1/2 ounce of coffee liquor
- 1-1/2 ounces of espresso vodka
- 1/4 ounce of cinnamon syrup
- Lemon zest twist for garnish
How to make it
Put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and pour into your glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
If you’re like us, staying up until midnight these days is a struggle. So here’s a martini with a caffeinated twist. This cocktail will perk you up and help you see the ball drop. Martinis are the perfect sophisticated drink that will keep the party classy.
Holiday margarita
What you’ll need
- 1/2 ounce of cranberry juice
- 1/2 ounce of lime juice
- 1/2 ounce of orange liquor
- 1/2 ounce of cinnamon simple syrup
- 2 ounces of tequila
- Cinnamon sticks and orange slices for garnish
How to make it
Toss all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into your glass, with or without ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, orange slice, or both.
Anything with cinnamon has a holiday spirit to it. And who would turn down a margarita? The combination of cinnamon and orange with tequila makes this drink perfect for you to serve at your New Year’s party. As a bonus, it’s easy to make, and you probably already have most of the ingredients around the house from the holidays.
The new year sparkles
What you’ll need
- Raspberries
- 1-1/2 ounces of pomegranate (or cranberry) juice
- 1 ounce of berry (of your choice) vodka
- Champagne
How to make it
Pour the chilled juice and vodka into a Champagne flute. Top up the glass with Champagne. For the finishing touch, a skewer of raspberries can go in at the end. If this sounds like it will be too sweet, opt for sugar-free juice.
This cocktail will bring a touch of elegance to your Champagne. With its eye-catching color, it will look great in your guests’ hands, and the taste is equally bright. Plus, any drink that ends with a snack is a winner in our book.
Midnight fun cocktail
What you’ll need
- 3/4 ounce of orange juice
- 3/4 ounce of ruby port wine
- 1-1/2 ounces of brandy
- 4 ounces of Champagne
How to make it
Pour everything but the Champagne into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and pour into your flute. Top up your glass with Champagne.
The flavors of this cocktail are irresistible. The orange juice mixing with the port and brandy brings a fun and fruity combination that is brightened by the Champagne. Though you need a few extra ingredients for this one, the fact that they all just go so well together means you can’t really go wrong. Take it up a level by adding a fruit garnish.
Ring in the new year
What you’ll need
- 1/2 ounce of lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce of simple syrup
- 1 ounce of gin
- 3 ounces of Champagne
- Lemon twist for garnish
How to make it
Put syrup, juice, and gin with ice into a cocktail shaker. Shake well and pour into a Champagne flute. Top up with Champagne. Finish the look with a lemon twist.
Called the French 75, this cocktail is like a mimosa but with a bit of an extra kick. If you prefer cognac over gin, you can use that instead. Either way, it tastes great, but it’s the festive look that will have your guests asking for a second (or third) glass.
Beer and Champagne cocktail
What you’ll need
- 4 ounces of chilled stout beer
- 4 ounces of chilled Champagne
How to make it
Pour the Champagne into the flute first. Then, top the Champagne with the stout. Since there’s no ice involved, the hardest part is to make sure that both are suitably chilled.
If you want the easiest cocktail to make, this is it. Not everyone wants to toast with Champagne on New Year’s. This cocktail will at least give the beer drinkers a bit of what they love while still allowing everyone to cheers with Champagne at midnight. If you aren’t a major fan of stout, you can slide the ounces in favor of the Champagne.
Of course, unless you’re having a full-on party for the whole neighborhood, you’ll have to choose which of these tasty cocktails to serve at your get-together. Wherever your tastes lie, one of these unique alternatives is sure to make your midnight toast a little classier. Your guests will love the extra festive touch, and you’ll enjoy trying something new. So instead of reaching for just the prosecco, go with one of these best cocktails to ring in the new year.
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