6 New Year's cocktails
Whether you're celebrating with 1,000 of your closest friends or snuggling by the fire, we've got a drink sure to help ring in 2012.
Photo: stuartpilbrow/Flickr
Arrivederci 2011, here we come 2012! Is there really a better way to ring in the New Year than with family, friends and loved ones? No matter what your plans, raise a glass to the year past and cheers to the year to come! I’ve got six very different cocktails for however you decide to spend the big evening.
Photo: Leslie Durso
Cranberry Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cranberry juice
- 1/2 cup lemonade
- 1 1/2 ounces vodka
- Sprig fresh mint to garnish
- 3-4 cranberries to garnish
Time estimates
Prep time: 1 minute
Total time: 3 minutes
Directions
- In a cocktail shaker, shake ice, cranberry juice, lemonade and vodka. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a sprig of mint and a few fresh cranberries.
Photo: Leslie Durso
Pink Sparkler
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces Veev Acai liquor
- 3 rasperries
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 4 ounces Champagne
- 1 fresh raspberry to garnish
Time estimates
Prep time: 1 minute
Total time: 3 minutes
Directions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the raspberries and sugar. Add the Veev and shake well.
- Strain into a champagne glass, add a raspberry and fill with champagne.
Photo: Leslie Durso
Classic Champagne Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 sugar cube
- splash bitters
- 6 ounces Champagne
Time estimates
Prep time: 1 minute
Total time: 3 minutes
Directions
- Place a sugar cube at the bottom of a champagne flute and add a splash of bitters. Let dissolve for a minute and slowly fill the rest of the glass of champagne.
Photo: Leslie Durso
Cucumber Dill Fizz
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces gin
- 2 inches of a cucumber, cubed
- 3 sprigs fresh dill
- 4-6 ounces tonic
- Spear of cucumber to garnish
- Sprig of dill to garnish
Time estimates
Prep time: 2 minutes
Total time: 4 minutes
Directions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the dill and cucumber together. Add the gin and some ice.
- Shake and strain over ice into a highball glass. Top with tonic water and garnish with a cucumber spear and a sprig of dill.
Photo: Leslie Durso
Spiked Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 2 quarts apple juice
- 1 orange peel
- 1 lemon peel
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 star anise
- 12 ounces brandy
Time estimates
Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes
Directions
- In a pot on medium low heat, combine all the ingredients except the brandy and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat and let the flavors combine for another few minutes.
- In a glass place 1 1/2 ounces brandy and fill the rest of the mug with cider. Stir and serve warm.
Photo: Leslie Durso
'Happy' Nog
Ingredients
- 1 pint Silk soy eggnog
- 6 ounces dark rum
- Dash pumpkin pie spice
Time estimates
Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes
Directions
- Heat the eggnog in a pot on low heat as to not burn it.
- In a mug pour 1 1/2 ounces dark rum and fill the rest of the way with eggnog. Sprinkle with a dash of pumpkin pie spice.
