20 New Year's Eve Cocktails That Are Perfect for Celebrating

By Kelly Vaughan
Updated June 01, 2020
Credit: KIRSTEN FRANCIS
Raise a toast midnight with one of these elevated spins on classic cocktails.
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Credit: KIRSTEN FRANCIS

It may be the last night on your calendar, but New Year's Eve is one of the most important parties of the year—and you simply can't ring in the new year without a cocktail in hand! Reach for your most festive party supplies, get to crafting a few special decorations, and break out the Champagne flutes. While traditional bubbly is simply delightful, it's not the only sip you and your guests can enjoy leading up to midnight. You have the entire evening to serve up our favorite cocktail recipes that feature tequila, vodka, and whiskey, as well as Champagne or other sparkling wines. An added bonus? These drinks all pair perfectly with delicious New Year's Eve appetizers and small bites as well as any formal menu you may have planned.

These New Year's Eve cocktail recipes are all stellar variations of classics that you've sipped throughout the year: Our trio of martinis involves zesty seasonal ingredients, as well as a few warming twists to a cosmopolitan, sangria, and a mojito. There are even a few options that incorporate smooth cream and tangy dairy, akin to a festive eggnog option, including our Brandy Alexander, made with coffee liqueur and brandy. All of these cocktail recipes are batch friendly, meaning you can make a few options to be poured all night long. 

Toasting happy endings and new beginnings are what New Year's Eve gatherings are all about. Sorbet Spritzers, the drink-meets-dessert idea that's seen here, captures that sentiment, and to say it's a cinch to prepare is an understatement. Pour dry sparkling white wine, such as Prosecco brut, over a scoop of fruity sorbet—we used Talenti Roman Raspberry, but Ciao Bella Sicilian Blood Orange and Lemon are delicious, too. As it melts, it will make your glass, your night, and possibly your whole next year just a little sweeter.

From sinfully sweet sips (like a Pink Grapefruit-White Cranberry Sparkling Punch) to pleasantly tart options (such as our Italian Corpse Reviver), these sips are guaranteed to be a hit with any guest. Follow along as we share our favorite New Year's Eve cocktails.

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Italian Corpse Reviver

Credit: Lennart Weibull
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Celebrate New Year's Eve all around the world with this Italian-inspired cocktail made with Strega liqueur, an herbal digestif. It's shaken with dry vermouth, fresh lemon juice, and Angostura bitters, then garnished with a vibrant bay leaf.

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Rosemary Gimlet

Credit: Justin Walker
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Try something new as you head into the new year. This classic gin-based cocktail has been upgraded for the holiday season with a sweet rosemary simple syrup and lemon juice instead of the usual lime.

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Pink Grapefruit-White Cranberry Sparkling Punch

Credit: Con Poulos
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Filled with seasonal ingredients and prepared for a large crowd, we can't think of a better big-batch cocktail for New Year's Eve than this one. It's sparkling, sweet, and totally spectacular.

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Mirto and Tonic

Credit: Lennart Weibull
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Take a trip to the Mediterranean from the comfort of your home with this two-ingredient New Year's Eve cocktail. Mirto is a deep red-hued, sweet, and herbal liqueur accented by tonic water.

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Cranberry Manhattan

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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Surprise your guests with a totally unexpected ingredient. Reprise your favorite cranberry sauce recipe in this whiskey cocktail, which is just the drink to ring in the new year.

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Cranberry Paloma

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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Cranberry sauce is also used for this tequila-based, New Year's Eve cocktail. Top it off with grapefruit soda for a fruity beverage.

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Cinnamon Sour Cocktail

Credit: Justin Walker
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Bourbon and red wine are a delightful duo in this New Year's Eve cocktail recipe. A simple syrup made with whole cinnamon sticks creates a festive kick in each sip.

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Bitter Bee Cocktail

Credit: Justin Walker
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Take a sip of this honey and cardamom-infused New Year's Eve cocktail and you'll be seeing fireworks.

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Pink Gin Martinis

Credit: Justin Walker
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This pretty-in-pink, elegant cocktail is perfect for New Year's Eve. Shake it up with gin, kirsch, black vermouth, and aromatic bitters, then garnish with a lemon twist and maraschino cherries.

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Cranberry Sparkler

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This refreshing nonalcoholic cocktail is made from blackberry purée, white cranberry juice, and sparkling water. To make the prep work even easier, you can use frozen berries to make the blackberry purée.

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Cranberry Cosmopolitan

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Homemade cranberry-and orange-infused vodka form the base of these deluxe cosmopolitans. The classic cosmo ingredients—cranberry juice, orange liqueur, and lime juice—complete the cocktail.

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Blood-Orange Champagne Cocktails

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Dress up an ordinary mimosa for a special occasion by using brilliant blood-orange juice.

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Sparkling Pear and Cranberry Cocktail

Credit: Kirsten Strecker
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Pear nectar gives buttery smoothness to Moscato d'Asti, a sweet, sparkling white wine. Each glass is garnished with a few dried cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.

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Pear and Cranberry Bellini

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Affordable Prosecco is used in place of Champagne in these pink Bellinis made with pear nectar and cranberry juice. These elegant drinks are equally suited to a cocktail party or a New Year's Day brunch.

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Kir Royales

Credit: DANA GALLAGHER
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Black-currant liqueur gives this Champagne cocktail its deep red hue.

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Pomegranate-Champagne Punch

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Pear nectar and orange liqueur are mixed with pomegranate juice and a bottle of Champagne to create this easy, elegant punch. In place of the Champagne, you may use Prosecco or Cava, or any other variety of sparkling white wine you wish.

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Champagne Fizz

Credit: Meredith Jenks
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Add the Champagne just before serving these drinks so your guests can enjoy its effect on the candied ginger.

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Ginger Sparkler

Credit: Dana Gallagher
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Fresh ginger lends subtle spiciness to this elegant cocktail made with sparkling wine and sugar.

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Sorbet and Champagne Cocktail

Credit: Charles Masters
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The classic Champagne cocktail is updated with sorbet in place of the traditional sugar cube and bitters. Use raspberry, passion fruit, lemon, or any sorbet flavor you prefer.

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By Kelly Vaughan