Many of us are putting the final preparations in place for celebrating New Year's Eve.
Whether you're planning to have a quiet night in, are heading out for a few pints with friends, or are even hosting your own party - you're going to need to grab a drink for that all-important cheers at midnight.
There are plenty of options including classics and ones you may not have thought of before, but which are all perfect for ringing in 2023. Plenty of these drinks can be made without alcohol, too.
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Here are seven of our favourite cocktail recipes perfect for New Year's Eve celebrations:
Bellini
Sometimes traditions are there for a reason. Nothing says New Year's Eve like a glass of champagne, and a classic bellini cocktail is a great way to begin your celebrations.
The below recipe makes enough for six glasses. This recipe can be made alcohol free using a prosecco substitute such as Nozeco.
Ingredients
- 500ml peach purée or peach nectar
- 1 bottle prosecco
Method
Put the peach puree in a Champagne flute up to about 1/3 full and slowly top up with Prosecco.
Christmas punch
Great to get the party started, this Christmas punch from BBC Good Food is the ideal cocktail for sharing, and one you can make ahead of time.
This recipe is enough to make 15 servings.
Ingredients
- a bunch of red grapes
- 750ml prosecco
- 1l cloudy apple juice
- ice
- 250ml sloe gin
- 50ml herbal liqueur (such as Jägermeister)
- 1 ball stem ginger , finely sliced plus 2 tbsp of the syrup
- 3-4 sprigs rosemary
- 1 clementine , finely sliced
Method
The day before you want to serve, put the grapes in the freezer for around 8-12 hrs or until frozen. Chill the prosecco and apple juice in the fridge.
When you're ready to serve, put the frozen grapes and a generous handful of ice in a large 2-3 litre punch bowl and pour all of the remaining ingredients on top. Stir gently to combine, then serve. Sits well for up to 3 hrs before putting the ice in.
Espresso martini
If you're worried about being able to stay up for the midnight countdown, an espresso martini is what you need to see you through.
This recipe from BBC Good Food serves two.
Ingredients
- ice
- 100ml vodka
- 50ml freshly brewed espresso coffee
- 50ml coffee liqueur
- 4 coffee beans (optional)
- 100g golden caster sugar (for the sugar syrup)
Method
Start by making the sugar syrup. Put the caster sugar in a small pan over a medium heat and pour in 50ml water. Stir, and bring to the boil.
- Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool. Put 2 martini glasses in the fridge to chill.
- Once the sugar syrup is cold, pour 1 tbsp into a cocktail shaker along with a handful of ice, the vodka, espresso and coffee liqueur. Shake until the outside of the cocktail shaker feels icy cold.
- Strain into the chilled glasses. Garnish each one with coffee beans if you like.
Festive cosmos
This twist on a classic cosmopolitan from Good Housekeeping serves four. It can be made alcohol free by taking out the vodka and orange liqeur, and using orange juice instead.
Ingredients
- 250ml vodka
- 250ml pomegranate-cranberry juice blend
- 60ml orange liqueur
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
- lime twists
Method
- Put the vodka, pomegranate juice, orange liqueur and lime juice in a large liquid measuring cup or pitcher.
- Add ice and stir for 30 seconds or until cold. Then strain into chilled martini glasses.
- Garnish with lime twists.
Negroni sbagliato
A classic negroni is the perfect way to start off the night, and if you fancy making things even fancier, try out this negroni sbagliato recipe from BBC Good Food.
Ingredients
- 25ml Campari
- 25ml sweet vermouth
- prosecco to top up
- ice
- orange slice to garnish
Method
In a highball glass pour the Campari and sweet vermouth, add cubed ice and gently add in the prosecco – pouring it down a bar or long spoon that's been placed in the glass will stop the bubbles roaming over the edge of the glass. Stir contents of the glass together, top up further and garnish with the orange slice.
Eggnog
Keep the festive spirit alive by serving up some eggnog at your New Year's Eve party. Make this one alcohol free by simply removing the brandy and adding more milk and cream.
This recipe is good for six to eight servings.
Ingredients
- 1 vanilla pod, split and seeds scraped out
- 4 eggs, separated
- 100ml sugar syrup
- 100ml double cream
- 500ml whole milk
- 100-150ml brandy
- ice
Method
- Put the vanilla seeds in a large bowl. Add the egg yolks and sugar syrup, and beat with an electric whisk until pale, about 2-3 mins. Add the cream, milk and brandy, and beat again until just combined. Strain into a punch bowl.
- Clean the beaters, then beat the egg whites in a clean bowl to soft peaks. Fold a third of the whipped egg whites into the milk and cream mixture in the punch bowl, then add the remaining whipped egg whites. Gently fold these in until the eggnog is fluffy and smooth. Chill until ready to serve. Will keep, covered in the fridge, for up to a day. Just before serving, add plenty of ice, then stir gently and ladle into tumblers.
Clementine martini
This sparkling, citrus cocktail is the perfect drink to serve at a celebration. This recipe makes around 10 servings.
Ingredients
- juice 6 clementines, plus 2 for serving
- 100ml vodka
- 100ml Cointreau
- 1 bottle prosecco, Cava or Champagne, well chilled
Method
Put some Martini glasses (or champagne flutes) into the freezer. Mix the clementine juice, vodka and Cointreau in a jug, then chill for 1 hr (or up to 1 day). Thinly slice the 2 clementines to use as a garnish.
- To serve, put a clementine slice into each frosty glass. Fill almost halfway with the chilled jug mixture, then open the bottle of fizz and top up the glasses.
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