Food & Drinks

5 Cocktail recipes for your New Years Party

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Girlfriends toast with cocktails at a New Years Party, matching Keesje Avezaat's 5 cocktail recipes.
My ideal New Year's activity? Drinking cocktails with family and friends. What we almost always do: everyone makes their own cocktail and then we taste throughout the evening. How can I describe such an evening? Diverse, cozy, and... a bit hazy at the end. To continue this tradition outside my living room, I thought: I'll share my favorite cocktail recipes from the past years. This way, you'll have enough cocktail inspiration at once to ring in the new year festively. Here are my 5 favorite cocktail recipes.

First this: every cocktail gets better immediately

First, a few tips so that no recipe can go wrong. First up: ice is your best friend: the more ice, the less meltwater, and thus the smaller the chance of soggy cocktails. Tasting is key. Too sour? Add something sweet. Too sweet? A squeeze of lemon or lime works wonders. Also, have everything ready in advance, because New Year's Eve is NOT the time to be frantically searching for a bottle opener. Oh, and the last thing I want to share: drink water in between, believe me, your January 1st version of yourself will be genuinely grateful for it. 

Espresso martinis with coffee beans as decoration, with a shallow depth of field

1. Espresso Martini: To stay awake

Okay, it's time for the first cocktail: Espresso Martini. This is the cocktail that keeps you awake: perfect when you realize around 11:15 PM
that you still have a whole countdown moment to survive with energy as if you've just woken up.

What do you need?

  • 40 ml vodka
  • 20 ml coffee liqueur
  • 30 ml fresh espresso (or strong coffee, cooled)
  • ice cubes

Here's how to make it: 

Fill a shaker (or a well-sealed jar) generously with ice and then add the vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso. Shake vigorously until the shaker feels ice-cold — that's exactly what you want. Then pour the cocktail into a (martini) glass, with a foam layer, because that's part of it. Bestie tip: no martini glasses at home? A wine glass works just as well. No one is going to call the cocktail police.

Glass of Raspberry lime rickey cocktail garnished with fresh berries

2. Raspberry Gin Fizz

This looks like you put in a lot of effort, but it's secretly super easy to make. Tip: buy edible glitter and throw a bit into this drink: instant glamour.

What do you need?

  • 40 ml gin
  • a handful of raspberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 20 ml lemon juice
  • 10–15 ml honey or sugar syrup
  • sparkling water
  • ice cubes

Here's how to make it:

Mash the raspberries in your glass (or shaker) together with the honey or syrup, so the flavors are released well. Then add the gin, lemon juice, and ice, and stir or shake briefly. Pour the mixture into a glass with ice and top off with sparkling water. Garnish with extra raspberries or a slice of lemon — it looks instantly party-proof.

Homemade Limoncello spritz drink of liqueur, sparkling wine and lemon in cocktail glass

3. Limoncello Spritz (my ultimate fave)

I personally prefer to drink this all year round. My tip? Squeeze the lemon juice into the cocktail as well.

What do you need?

  • 50 ml limoncello
  • 100 ml prosecco
  • a splash of sparkling water
  • ice cubes
  • lemon peel or lemon slice

Here's how to make it:

Fill a large wine glass generously with ice and pour in the limoncello, followed by the prosecco (50-50). Top off with a small splash of sparkling water and stir gently once. Garnish with a slice of lemon for a fresh touch (and don't forget: for that extra flavor, squeeze a bit of juice into your glass). What can also be nice, if you want to make it a bit fancier: add a sprig of rosemary and your glass will smell wonderful — as if you're suddenly on an Italian terrace.

Spicy Margarita with tajin rim and jalapeño slice

4. Spicy Margarita

You have to love it, spicy in your cocktail: But for those who like a bit of kick on New Year's, this drink is perfect. Fresh, sharp, and just exciting enough. This is also the cocktail that wakes you up immediately if you've been lounging on the couch for too long.

What do you need?

  • 50 ml tequila
  • 20 ml cointreau (or triple sec)
  • 25 ml lime juice
  • 10 ml agave syrup (or sugar syrup)
  • 1–3 slices of red chili
  • salt (optional, for the rim)
  • ice cubes

Here's how to make it:

Rub (optional, but fun) a wedge of lime along the rim of your glass and dip it in sugar. Then add the tequila, cointreau, lime juice, syrup, and a pinch of pepper together with ice in a shaker. Shake vigorously and taste. Too spicy? Less pepper. Too sour? A bit more syrup. Pour the cocktail into your glass with ice and enjoy.

5. Cranberry Mimosa

This is your “we're starting slow” drink and is best enjoyed at the beginning of the evening. It's light, fresh, and really perfect as a welcome cocktail. Also nice if you're with a mix of people who don't all like strong drinks.What do you need?

  • prosecco
  • cranberry juice
  • orange peel or sprig of rosemary (optional)

Here's how to make it:

Pour a splash of cranberry juice into a champagne glass and gently fill it with prosecco, so the bubbles stay nice and intact. Garnish with a piece of orange peel or a sprig of rosemary for that festive touch. Pro tip: make sure both the juice and the prosecco are well chilled — this makes the cocktail extra crisp and dangerously drinkable (don't forget your after-cocktail glass of water not).

@_laurahome cranberry christmas morning mimosas! 🎄🥂✨ super easy but looks like you’ve put in a lot of effort 👏🏼 i’ve actually used cranberry and raspberry juice because it’s my favourite! then i’ve just added some fresh cranberries, orange segments and rosemary sprigs for garnish/flavour before topping with prosecco. swap the prosecco for lemonade or tonic water for an alcohol free alternative! save this for christmas morning! 🎄 #christmasdrinks #christmashack #mimosaicecubes #mimosa #cranberrymimosa ♬ Original sound – Vienna Visitas
Image: Liza Rudkevich