Your New Year’s Eve party isn’t usually tied down to a traditional menu, is it? Well, all the better. That means you can customize it to your heart’s content. What we want to help you with, though, is the drinking part. Here are some New Year’s Eve drinks to get you started.
I first bought my cocktail shaker for a New Year’s party I threw plenty of years ago. I love mixing drinks, alcoholic or otherwise, and I love the variety of flavors, textures, and tastes that you can get from a few simple ingredients you mix up. And the good news is we have plenty of options for your party. They work even if you’re having a small gathering with friends, or a more sophisticated kind of get-together. We gave you all the options. From fruity to sweet, and from tangy to salty.
5 New Year’s Eve Drinks to make for your party
1. Slow Cooker Apple Cider
Does anything spell winter more than a hot and spicy cider? This one releases its flavors slowly, but surely, thanks to prepping it in the slow cooker. You just need some juice and a crockpot to make this slow cooker apple cider. The depth and layering of flavors come from cinnamon, cloves, and a great lemon and lime combo for that extra zing. This might be my favorite of the lot since I’m a huge cider fan and I love hot drinks during the holidays.
2. Prosecco Pear Punch
Treat your guests like royalty by mixing up this fabulous prosecco pear punch. Punch always makes me think of the wonderful The Nutcracker, and it evokes frilly dresses and a lovely waltz. But this is a great updated version, that’s fresh and just the right note of sweet thanks to the cranberry and pear juices. The well-known and beloved flavor of Prosecco makes the punch feel like a fizzy celebration. In your mouth and your glass!
3. Rum Lemonade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjfD5Ruz3eo
After a nasty flu during these holidays, I have come to appreciate foods that boost immunity even more than before. So, a lemonade will give you the vital vitamin C you need to keep strong and carry on. But since New Year’s Eve drinks need to have some alcohol in it, add some rum to your lime lemonade. Try to make as much as possible, because you might run out of it in no time. Lime, mint, and rum can be an addictive combo.
4. Watermelon Margaritas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCx6WD_xF1Y
The margarita is one of my favorite cocktails because of its exquisite saltiness. But lime isn’t the only component you can add to a margarita to make it feel fresh. How about you use some watermelon? We hope you have some frozen wedges in your freezer because this has all the potential to become a hit at your party. You can make this with the help of a blender. Serve with crushed ice and fresh mint!
5. Rum and Pineapple Cocktail
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kng66Muz7v4
A pattern is emerging from us. Yes, we do like rum a lot when it comes to alcohol, especially because it goes great with so many ingredients in cocktails! Pineapple is also a versatile fruit, and you can use both the juice and the pulp of the fruit in your holiday drinks. Mix it with white rum and bitter lemon, top it with a few berries and there you go: the perfect mix of sweet, sour, and punchiness. Here’s how to cut a pineapple to get the most of it.
BONUS for designated drivers:
Non-Alcoholic Watermelon Cocktail
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ong1JepfWL4
Designated drivers or people who choose not to drink shouldn’t suffer at parties because there are few options for them at the bar. So when you throw a New Year’s party with your friends, think about making a non-alcoholic cocktail like this watermelon one. It’s fresh, it’s breezy, nutritious, and easy to make! The watermelon blends seamlessly with the fresh mint and lime.
