Cocktail & Other Recipes Occasion New Year's

The 30 Best New Year’s Eve Cocktails

Think coffee cocktails and festive fizzy drinks.

By
Audrey Morgan
Headshot of Audrey Morgan, smiling and facing forward, wearing black sweater on solid dark gray background
Audrey Morgan
Audrey Morgan is the associate editor at Liquor.com, where she writes and edits features, explainers, bottle reviews, bartender profiles, and more.
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Updated 12/26/23
Espresso Martini in ornate footed cocktail glass, with three espresso beans as garnish

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

A bottle of sparkling wine is always appropriate for New Year’s Eve, but a fun cocktail will make a party (or night in!) feel even more grand.

There are a few approaches you can take here: You can mix up a signature sparkling drink with that bottle of bubbly or make freezer Martinis or festive punches in advance. You can opt for sessionable low-ABV drinks or coffee cocktails to keep guests on their feet until the ball drops. You can also just make a round of Jell-O Shots and call it a night.

Here are 30 great cocktails for ringing in the New Year.

  • Kir Royale

    Kir Royale cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    You don’t need a grocery’s list of ingredients to mix up a special sparkling wine cocktail. This two-part drink combines dry Champagne with the black currant liqueur crème de cassis. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Porn Star Martini

    Porn Star Martini

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog 

    You’re celebrating, so why choose between a cocktail and Champagne? This over-the-top concoction of vanilla-flavored vodka, passion fruit liqueur, and passion fruit puree comes with a shot of sparkling wine on the side.

    Get the recipe.

  • Espresso Martini

    Espresso Martini in ornate footed cocktail glass, with three espresso beans as garnish

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This drink has extended plenty of evenings since the 1980s, when legendary bartender Dick Bradsell first mixed up the high-voltage combination of vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, and simple syrup. No espresso machine? You can swap in cold brew concentrate for a freshly pulled shot.

    Get the recipe.

  • French 75

    French 75 cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog 

    This citrusy sparkler tops a mix of gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with Champagne or any sparkling wine. If you’re not a gin drinker, you can easily experiment with the base spirit—some richer versions of the drink call for cognac.

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 5 of 30 below

  • Champagne Cocktail

    Champagne Cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    If you have a well-stocked home bar, chances are you have everything you need to make this sophisticated sparkling drink. Just top a sugar cube with Angostura bitters and Champagne (or any sparkling wine of your choice). 

    Get the recipe.

  • Dry Martini

    Dry Martini in a v-shaped martini glass with lemon twist, and a sidecar on extra Martini in chilled carafe in the background

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    It might be a new year, but we wouldn’t blame you if your drink order remains the same—especially if it’s this timeless gin-and-vermouth combination. This drier recipe is made in a 5:1 gin-to-vermouth ratio, but you can also try a more vermouth-heavy Wet Martini or 50/50 Martini.

    Get the recipe.

  • Manhattan

    Manhattan cocktail in a curved coupe glass, with maraschino cherry garnish on a metal cocktail skewer

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This classic combination of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters has remained one of the most popular cocktails in the world for well over a century. Though this recipe calls for rye whiskey, you can use bourbon if you prefer a slightly sweeter drink.

    Get the recipe.

  • Negroni Sbagliato

    Negroni Sbagliato

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    A classic Negroni is always a crowd-pleaser. But if you want guests to stay awake until midnight, we suggest this low-ABV and equally delicious version, which swaps in prosecco for gin alongside Campari and sweet vermouth. 

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 9 of 30 below

  • Bobby Heugel’s Freezer Martini

    Bobby Heugel's frozen martini, shown in a martini glass with frozen bottle of extra cocktail in background, next to bowl of olives, cornichons and capers

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This Martini can be made in advance—perfect for a party or for having ready-made drinks on hand. Bobby Heugel’s recipe is fairly classic, but he relies on a unique Tanqueray gin blend that includes a juniper-forward gin and a more citrusy expression.

    Get the recipe.

  • Raspberry Bellini

    Raspberry Bellini cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Bar pro Charlotte Voisey gives the brunch classic a special-occasion-worthy upgrade with raspberry vodka, homemade raspberry-peach puree, and your sparkling wine of choice. The result: an extra-pretty (and extra-tasty) drink.  

    Get the recipe.

  • Vesper

    Vesper Martini in a throwback coupe glass with lemon twist, on dark marble background

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Channel Bond-era elegance with 007’s favorite drink. Named for the fictional double agent Vesper Lynd, the classic Martini variation combines gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc.

    Get the recipe.

  • Boothby

    Boothby cocktail in ornate coupe glass with etched gold rim, garnished with maraschino cherry

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This pre-Prohibition cocktail from William Boothby is essentially a Manhattan (rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters) topped with Champagne. Try one for a livelier take on the classic.

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 13 of 30 below

  • Colletti Royale

    Colletti Royale pink bubbly spritz cocktail served in wine glass with blood orange wheel, shot on marble surface against gray background

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    The Margarita is pretty perfect as it is, but few things can’t be improved by the addition of Champagne—especially rosé Champagne. For this fizzy riff, our 2023 Liquor Legend Julie Reiner tops a mixture of reposado tequila, Cointreau, St-Germain, blood orange and lime juices, and orange bitters with rosé sparkling wine. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Taylor Precedent

    Taylor Precedent

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This Champagne Cocktail riff from bar pro Meaghan Dorman calls for crémant, a more affordable alternative to Champagne. Dorman adds the sparkling wine to a flavorful mixture of apple brandy, sweet vermouth, cinnamon syrup, and bitters. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Tequila Espresso Martini

    Tequila Espresso Martini served in Nick and Nora glass with thick foam, garnished with three espresso beans and shot against tan background

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This recipe comes from Karla Flores-Mercado, the owner of Bar Flores in Los Angeles, who says “the earthiness and saltiness of [tequila] blend really well with everything that you think of in an Espresso Martini, like coffee and chocolate.” Her version includes blanco tequila, coffee liqueur, cold brew concentrate, rich honey syrup, and a small amount of amaro.

    Get the recipe.

  • Cold-Brew Negroni

    Cold-Brew Negroni

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Liven up the classic Negroni format by infusing Campari with coffee grounds, as bar pro Pam Wiznitzer does. Combine with gin and sweet vermouth for a simple yet bold riff on the classic.

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 17 of 30 below

  • Champagne Holiday Punch

    Champagne Holiday Punch

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    You can’t go wrong with Champagne. But this flavorful punch from San Diego bar pro Erick Castro is an even more festive option. He combines the drink’s namesake bubbly with genever, Cointreau, soda water, lemon juice, simple syrup, and Old Fashioned bitters. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Jell-O Shot

    Jello Shots

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    You could take your drinks seriously on New Year’s Eve, or you could make a round of Jell-O Shots. No one will complain, especially if you use a high-quality spirit. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Pimm’s Fizz

    Pimm's Fizz

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    There’s more to Pimm’s No.1 than the Pimm’s Cup. Try this fizzy and frothy example, which combines the liqueur with lime juice, grenadine, ginger syrup, egg white, and soda water.

    Get the recipe.

  • Death by Morning

    Death by Morning cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This bracing and minty coffee cocktail riffs on both the Espresso Martini and the Death in the Afternoon, a Champagne-and-absinthe concoction. Bartender Dzu Nguyen combines anise-flavored absinthe, Branca Menta, coffee liqueur, espresso or cold brew concentrate, demerara sugar, and Angostura bitters.

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 21 of 30 below

  • Oaxacan Punch

    Oaxacan Punch

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Mix up this smoky, spicy, and herbaceous punch from Tad Carducci for mezcal lovers. The drink combines Mexico’s most beloved spirit with Averna amaro, grapefruit and lemon juices, agave nectar, and ginger beer.

    Get the recipe.

  • Espress Ya’Self

    Espress Ya’Self cocktail

    Liquor.com / Todd Coleman

    New York City bartender Anthony A. Baker swaps vodka for a split base of tequila and mezcal in this Espresso Martini variation. He also substitutes cold brew coffee for espresso and cold brew liqueur for Kahlúa, then adds vanilla extract and two types of bitters.

    Get the recipe.

  • West 75th

    West 75th

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Think beyond Champagne and pick up a bottle of lambrusco. This French 75 twist tops Calvados, lemon juice, raspberry syrup, and orange bitters with the lightly sparkling Italian red wine. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Lights Out Punch

    Lights Out Punch

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Don’t worry—this fruit-forward spiced punch will keep the lights on well into the night. Bar pro Joaquín Simó combines reposado tequila, tea-infused vermouth, apple and lemon juices, demerara syrup, two types of bitters, and soda water. 

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 25 of 30 below

  • Oaxacan Tail

    Oaxacan Tail cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This smoky and spirit-forward drink combines Foro amaro, mezcal, blanco tequila, cold brew coffee, and chocolate mole bitters. Make a batch to kick-start your night. 

    Get the recipe.

  • 25th Hour

    25th Hour cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    The last party of the year calls for an extra-special drink. This elegant and spirit-forward cocktail combines Islay scotch, late-bottled vintage port, Nonino amaro, maraschino liqueur, and Angostura bitters. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Miss Elena

    Miss Elena cocktail

    Liquor.com / Todd Coleman

    Fuel your evening with this elegant Espresso Martini twist from New York City bartender Beau Bradley. He combines vodka, Mr Black coffee liqueur, Nonino amaro, pedro ximénez sherry, and simple syrup.

    Get the recipe.

  • Sparkling Rose

    Sparkling Rose cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Watch the ball drop in style. This pretty pink drink calls for blanco tequila, watermelon and lemon juices, simple syrup, and rosé sparkling wine. 

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 29 of 30 below

  • Boat House Punch

    Boat House Punch

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog 

    This punch from Reiner will go down easily any time of year, but sparkling rosé’s effervescence makes it perfect for a New Year’s Eve bash. She adds the wine to a bright and bittersweet mix of Aperol, St-Germain, a lemon oleo saccharum, and multiple citrus juices.

    Get the recipe.

  • Figurati

    Figurati cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    The name of this Italian sparkler translates to “don’t worry about it.” The easygoing aperitif is as simple to prepare as stirring lambrusco, Cappelletti aperitivo, and Peychaud’s bitters right in the flute. 

    Get the recipe.