Sips to Help Ring in the New Year

cheers

A brand new year is nearly here and you know what that means? The countdown to your New Year’s Eve party has begun. No matter where you plan to watch the ball drop, chances are you are going to do it with a drink in hand. Here are a few, easy and tasty drink suggestions for your New Year’s bash that are guaranteed to make it a rockin Eve.

A Twist on the Classic – If you’re going for a classic New Year’s Eve celebration with your guests dressed to the nines then it’s practically mandatory to have a little bubbly on hand in the form of your favorite champagne. If you want to add a fun and festive element to your bubbles, add a little flair in the form of fruit. Have a bowl of raspberries or pomegranate seeds next to the champagne glasses for guests to drop into their drinks. Not only will it add a hint of flavor, the bubbles will cause the fruit to have their own dance party in your glass. For those on a budget, Prosecco is a great choice.

Supercharged – Chances are you won’t need any help staying awake past midnight to ring in the New Year, but those who’ve spent the days after Christmas making up lost time for being in Santa’s “nice” category, may need some extra help staying awake. That’s why it may be a good idea to have a Red bull and Vodka on hand. The standard mix for this drink is 6 oz. of vodka per 1 can of Red Bull. Serve in a high ball glass and get ready to fly.

Old Fashioned – Why not sing along to Auld Lang Syne with an Old Fashioned in your hand? This time-tested classic has been a staple in the American drinking repertoire for more than a century. To recreate it at your New Year’s gathering you’ll need the following: sugar cubes, Angostura bitters, club soda, bourbon and thin strips of lemon peel.  Start with a rock glass and add one cube of sugar with a few dashes of the bitters and a tablespoon of club soda. Muddle into a paste and stir in 2 oz of Burbon. Add ice and pretty it up with the lemon peel and you’ve got a distinguished New Year’s drink.

Get Buzzed – Coffee buzzed that is. We just couldn’t resist throwing in this yummy sounding martini from Delish.com. The espresso in this vodka-espresso concoction will really keep you rocking throughout the night and the Kahlua will make you not want to put it down. Here’s what you’ll need: 1 oz of premium vodka or tequila, depending on preference, 1 oz of cold espresso, .5 oz of Tia Maria and .5 oz of Kahlua. Place all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake and strain into a martini glass and let the fun begin.

Cheers to a safe and happy New Year’s Eve celebration!

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/donhomer/