Ring in the New Year with these easy and delicious cocktails!

New Year’s Eve is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by crafting tasty cocktails with premium spirits?

Whether you’re hosting a small gathering with friends or toasting the midnight hour with that special someone, our cocktail recipes and mixology tips will help you elevate your summer New Year’s celebrations to a whole new level.

The importance of quality spirits

Before we dive into the recipes, let’s talk about the cornerstone of any great cocktail – the spirits. Using high-quality spirits can make a world of difference in the taste and overall experience of your drinks. Opt for premium-quality vodka, gin, or whiskey for better results.

Classic New Year’s cocktails

Whether you’re hosting a gathering or chilling by the pool, do it in style with a cocktail in hand!

1. Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 sugar cube
• Angostura bitters
• Champagne
• Lemon twist

Instructions:

1. Place the sugar cube in a champagne flute
2. Add a few dashes of Angostura bitters
3. Top up with chilled champagne
4. Garnish with a lemon twist

2. Negroni

Ingredients:

• 30ml gin
• 30ml Campari
• 30ml sweet vermouth
• Orange slice or twist

Instructions:

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice
2. Pour in gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth
3. Stir well and strain into a glass
4. Garnish with an orange slice or twist

3. Aperol Spritz

Ingredients:

• 90ml Aperol
• 90ml Prosecco
• 30ml soda water
• Orange slice
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Fill a wine glass with ice
2. Pour in Aperol, add prosecco, and top with soda water
3. Give it a gentle stir
4. Garnish with an orange slice and enjoy!

4. Mojito

Ingredients:

• 60ml white rum
• 30ml fresh lime juice
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 6-8 fresh mint leaves
• Soda water
• Lime wedge
• Ice

Instructions:

1. In a glass, muddle the mint leaves and sugar
2. Add fresh lime juice and white rum
3. Fill the glass with ice
4. Top up with a dash of soda water and gently stir
5. Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint

5. Pisco Sour

Ingredients:

• 60ml Pisco
• 20ml oz fresh lemon juice
• 30ml oz simple syrup
• 1 egg white
• Angostura bitters
• Ice

Instructions:

1. In a shaker, combine Pisco, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white
2. Dry shake (shake without ice) vigorously for 20 seconds
3. Add ice to the shaker and shake again for 15 seconds
4. Strain mixture into a chilled glass
5. Add a few drops of Angostura bitters on top for a decorative touch and enjoy!

6. Lychee Martini

Ingredients:

• 60ml vodka
• 30ml lychee liqueur
• 30ml lychee syrup (from canned lychees)
• 15ml fresh lemon juice
• Canned lychee for garnish
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
2. Add vodka, lychee liqueur, lychee syrup, and fresh lemon juice to the shaker
3. Shake vigorously until well-chilled
4. Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass
5. Garnish with a whole lychee on a cocktail pick

Mixology tips for success

Use fresh ingredients

Try to choose real, fresh fruit juices and garnishes to infuse your drinks with vibrant, authentic flavours. The crispness of just-squeezed citrus and the natural sweetness of ripe fruits will elevate your cocktails to a whole new level of deliciousness.

Embrace balanced flavours

Achieving the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and bitter elements is the key to crafting cocktails that are both delightful and harmonious on the palate. 

Sweetness adds richness, sourness brings zing, and bitterness provides depth.

Experiment with different proportions until you find the sweet spot that suits your taste buds.

Get the right tools

Transform your home bar into a mixologist’s haven by investing in essential tools like a cocktail shaker, jigger (the fancy dual-ended measuring cup!) and strainer.

These companions ensure precise measurements and effortless mixing, allowing you to create cocktails with the finesse of a seasoned bartender.

Let your imagination flow

Unleash your inner cocktail artist and embrace the spirit of experimentation. 

Don’t be afraid to push the boundaries of traditional recipes and try new flavour combinations.

Whether it’s infusing your own spirits with unique ingredients, incorporating fresh herbs from your garden, or adding unexpected twists to classic cocktails, the possibilities are endless.

Don’t forget to have fun! 

Crafting cocktails at home is not just about following recipes; it’s about letting your creativity flourish and surprising your taste buds with innovative, homemade concoctions.

It doesn’t have to be perfect, so mix and match, savour new flavours, and don’t worry if you make some errors along the way.