Nothing says "Happy New Year!" quite like a spirited and flavorful drink. Whether you’re looking for a classic option or something a little more modern, there are plenty of trendy drinks that you can whip up to add a touch of sophistication and excitement to the occasion. From fruity concoctions to creamy libations, here are some of the trendiest cocktails to help you celebrate the start of 2023 in style!
The Champagne Cocktail
Champagne is a NYE staple, and really good champagne calls for little else. However, this IBA official cocktail challenges that notion, promising to make just about any champagne taste substantially better with the addition of a few simple ingredients. Read on to learn how to make this simple drink that can spice up your New Year's Eve in under a minute.
- To start, place a sugar cube on a clean surface and coat it with a few dashes of angostura bitters. Take care not to oversaturate the cube.
- Gently lower the cube to the bottom of a champagne flute, and top with champagne.
- Garnish with a twist of lime. For a more fruity taste, add a splash of cognac.
Negroni Sbagliato Punch Bowl
No party for New Year’s is complete without a good bowl of punch. We’re sure you're bored of mixing rum with fruit juice year after year, which is exactly why we’ve concocted this recipe for you based on the world’s (second) favorite gin cocktail, featuring one of India’s best budget gins, Short Story Gin.
- Empty the whole bottle of Short Story into a pre-chilled punch bowl filled with ice, followed by a whole bottle of Campari.
- Add a cup each of sliced oranges, apples, and meyer lemons. Mix well, and top with a whole bottle of prosecco.
- Garnish with fresh cinnamon powder to serve.
Plum Cake, New York Sourdough
Still not over Christmas? Drown the blues in this delicious twist on the classic New York sour, while Mariah defrosts over the course of the year to come.
- Start by making mulled wine. In a large saucepan, combine a whole bottle of your favorite red wine with a stick of cinnamon, two pods of cardamom, two cloves, an eighth of a vanilla bean, and the zest of one orange. Simmer the wine on low for one hour. Set aside to cool.
- Make brown butter using one whole block of fresh butter. Once at room temperature, combine with 500 ml of your favorite bourbon using an electric whisk on the lowest speed.
- Place the mixture in a jar and set it on the counter for one hour, shaking it every 20 minutes.
- Place the jar in the freezer soon after, check on the mixture in an hour, and you should see the fat begin to solidify.
- Once the fat has completely separated and solidified, gently remove it using a spoon and strain the mixture through a coffee filter.
- To assemble, combine 60 ml of the brown butter-infused bourbon with 30 ml of simple syrup and 15 ml of unsweetened orange juice in a shaker filled with ice. Shake until well combined.
- Pour the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice, and top with 30 ml of the mulled wine.
- Garnish with a twist of orange and a small stick of cinnamon to serve.
Masala Lassi Rum Smash
An Indian New Year's Eve isn't complete without a Desi twist. This delicious cocktail of Segredo Aldeia white rum infused with masala lassi is sure to have you reaching for another halfway through the first.
- Make a syrup by heating equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan along with a twist of lime, a stick of cinnamon, a whole smashed ginger, and half a vanilla pod.
- Combine 60 ml of this syrup with the juice of half a meyer lemon and 100 ml of lassi in a blender. Pour the mixture into a coffee filter to clarify.
- To assemble, pour 60 ml of the white rum into a rocks glass filled with ice, followed by 60ml of the clarified syrup. Garnish with finely grated white chocolate to serve.
Indian 75
Yet another desi cocktail, this time a twist on the classic French 75. This iteration of the cocktail uses Sula Brut Tropicale in place of champagne and features the legendary homegrown Hapusa gin for the spirit.
- Combine 15 ml each of simple syrup and freshly squeezed lemon juice with 45 ml of Hapusa in a well-chilled champagne flute.
- Top with 90 ml of Sula Brut Tropicale and garnish with a twist of lime. Serve chilled.