New Year's Eve is one of the biggest celebrations of the year. Many people throw a big bash with friends to celebrate the occasion, and New Year's Eve is one of those times where cocktails complement the celebration. If you're throwing the soirée, you can make the event classier by serving a variety of drinks you could find at a swank martini bar, or a festive champagne bunch. These ideas will keep guests happy and keep you from having to bartend all night.
Passionate Mojito
The mojito is quite a drink on its own, but it's even better with a little dose of passion fruit thrown into the mix.
Ingredients
2 cups Rose's Passion Fruit Mojito Mix, available at grocery stores
1 cup white rum
Club soda
Ice
Mint leaves
Preparation Instructions
In a pitcher filled with ice, combine the mojito mix and rum.
Top each drink with a teaspoon of club soda and a few mint leaves.
Happy New Year
You can certainly tell which holiday this cocktail recipe was designed for just by its name. It combines three alcohols, including the New Year's staple: Champagne.
Ingredients
1/4 ounce brandy
3/4 ounce port wine
3/4 ounce orange juice
4 ounces Champagne
Preparation Instructions
In a shaker with ice, add the brandy, wine, and orange juice.
Shake and strain the drink into a Champagne flute.
Pour in Champagne to top off the drink.
Melon Ball Drop
Another aptly named New Year's Eve cocktail recipe, this drink recalls the famous ball drop in New York's Times Square. It's similar to the melon baller shot, but much bigger.
Ingredients
2 ounces Midori
1 ounce of any citrus vodka
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 ounce St. Germain
Honeydew or cantaloupe melon balls (optional garnish)
Preparation Instructions
Place the first four ingredients in a shaker with ice.
Strain the drink into a martini glass.
Add a honeydew ball as a garnish if you like.
Leap Year
Even when it isn't a leap year, you can enjoy this thick and fruity cocktail. It's not for anyone who typically likes light and fruity drinks, since there is a bit of a thickness to it. However, if you're a fan of citrus, you might find yourself asking for more.
In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine the first four ingredients.
Strain your drink into a martini glass.
Garnish it with a twist of lemon, if desired.
Flirtini
This girly cocktail is sure to be the hit of any New Year's Eve bash. It is both attractive and tasty, and it's sure to please your guests.
Ingredients
1 part vodka
6 parts Champagne
2 parts pineapple juice
1 part triple sec
Maraschino cherries (optional garnish)
Preparation Instructions
Combine all ingredients except cherries in a cocktail glass that has been well chilled.
Mix well.
Finish with a garnish of a maraschino cherry, if desired.
Champagne Punch
Don't be forced to serve drinks all night when you can be part of the fun. Whip up a batch of this punch, and let your guests serve themselves.
Ingredients
12 ounce can frozen fruit punch, thawed partially
10 ounces strawberries (can be frozen)
2/3 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
24 ounces ginger ale
1 quart Champagne
3 cups water
Ice
Sliced fresh citrus fruit
Preparation Instructions
Place fruit punch, water, strawberries, lemon juice, and orange juice in a large punch bowl.
Stir well to combine all ingredients.
Pour ginger ale and Champagne slowly into the bowl.
For a finishing touch, add a ring of ice to the punch and slices of fresh citrus.
Provide Additional Choices
Since New Year's Eve just isn't the same without a glass of bubbly, you should pick up a couple bottles of Champagne even if you don't need them as an ingredient for your cocktails. That way, you'll be prepared for a special toast at midnight! If you're inviting guests that don't drink, sparkling cider is a great option for toasting, though you should also have some additional non-alcoholic cocktail options available. It's smart to prepare your toasting drinks ahead of time so all you have to do is pass them out when the countdown starts.
