A cocktail is a wonderful way to add to the merriment and good cheer of New Year’s celebrations. After the rush of last-minute Christmas shopping and entertaining, a well-made drink offers the perfect indulgence before the arrival of ‘Dry January’. From sparkling and tangy to fruity and spicy, here are some of our favourite party cocktails to welcome the start of the new year in style.
1. Lime Zest Vodka Sour
Among all the cocktail variations, sours have always been the favourite of our head sommelier, Fefe Kovacs, affectionately known as "the King of the Sours". Fefe describes their sweet and sour balance as the perfect yin and yang. Using our Lime Zest Vodka Liqueur, this cocktail delivers a bright, zesty kick.
Ingredients
- 50ml Hive Lime Zest Vodka Liqueur
- 25ml fresh lemon juice
- 25ml honey syrup
- 1 egg white
Instructions
- Chill the glass: Fill your serving glass with ice and set it aside to chill while you prepare the cocktail.
- Prepare the egg white: Crack the egg and carefully separate the egg white, making sure no yolk gets into the mixture. Place the egg white into one half of a cocktail shaker.
- Add the liquids: Pour in the Lime Zest Vodka Liqueur, lemon juice, and honey syrup.
- Dry shake: Without adding ice, close the shaker and shake vigorously for at least 15 seconds. This helps create a frothy texture.
- Shake with ice: Add a handful of ice to the shaker. Close it again and shake hard for another 15 seconds. This chills the cocktail and makes the foam silky.
- Strain and garnish: Empty the ice from your glass. Using a fine strainer, pour the cocktail into the chilled glass. Garnish with slices of dried lime and a sprig of rosemary.
2. Queen of the Castle
The Queen of the Castle is a cocktail for truly special occasions. Using a high-quality sparkling wine from Castlewood Vineyard, near Musbury Castle, paired with our strawberry vodka, this drink is smooth and creamy with a bright citrus freshness from the sparkling wine.
Ingredients
- 30ml Hive Strawberry Vodka
- 1 bottle NV Castlewood Sparkling Wine
- Fresh strawberries, cut into quarters
Instructions
- Prepare the glass: Use a champagne coupe or flute for this cocktail.
- Add the vodka: Measure 30ml of Hive Strawberry Vodka and pour it into the glass.
- Add the strawberries: Drop in a few pieces of quartered fresh strawberries.
- Top up with sparkling wine: Slowly pour the sparkling wine into the glass until it is nearly full. Pouring slowly helps preserve the bubbles and keeps the drink light and fresh.
- Serve immediately: Enjoy the cocktail straight away while it is still chilled and fizzy.
3. Homemade Limoncello
Limoncello is a classic after-dinner drink, and making it yourself can be even more delicious than the shop-bought version. It is also a perfect cocktail to prepare for a New Year’s Eve party.
Ingredients
- 50ml vodka
- 25ml fresh lemon juice
- 15ml honey syrup
- Lemon slice, for garnish
Instructions
- Chill the glass: Fill your serving glass with ice and set it aside while you prepare the cocktail.
- Combine the ingredients: In one half of a cocktail shaker, add the vodka, lemon juice, honey syrup, and a handful of ice.
- Shake well: Close the shaker securely and shake vigorously for about 20 seconds to chill and blend the ingredients thoroughly.
- Strain and garnish: Empty the ice from your serving glass. Using a fine strainer, pour the cocktail into the glass. Garnish with a fresh slice of lemon.
4. Margarita
The Margarita is one of the world’s best-loved and most iconic cocktails. First created in 1938 by Carlos Herrera for a customer who was allergic to almost every spirit except tequila, it has since become a timeless classic and a must-have at any party.
Ingredients
- 50ml tequila
- 25ml fresh lime juice
- 25ml triple sec
- 15ml agave syrup
- Pinch of sea salt
- A few grams of lime salt
- Thin slice of lime, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the glass: Take the thin slice of lime and run it around the rim of your serving glass to moisten it. Then gently dip or roll the rim in lime salt to create a salted edge. Set the glass aside.
- Add ingredients to the shaker: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the tequila, lime juice, triple sec, agave syrup, and a pinch of sea salt.
- Shake well: Secure the shaker lid and shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds to mix and chill the ingredients.
- Strain and garnish: Using a fine strainer, pour the cocktail into the prepared glass. Garnish with the thin slice of lime on the rim or inside the glass.
5. Straight Out of West Compton
Save the best for last ey? Our Straight Out of West Compton cocktail is the booziest on our cocktail menu - so prepare yourself. Inspired by the Bahama Mama, it is a tribute to the unforgettable times shared with our pals in West Compton, Amanda and Ashley. The flaming garnish adds a dramatic finish and never fails to impress.
Ingredients
- 20ml coffee liqueur
- 25ml dark rum
- 25ml coconut liqueur
- 35ml Passoã or another passion fruit liqueur
- 50ml orange juice
- 25ml pineapple juice
- 15ml grenadine
- 15ml overproof spirit such as Chartreuse (for garnish)
- Pinch of ground cinnamon (for garnish)
- Half a lime (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the shaker: Add the coffee liqueur, dark rum, coconut liqueur, passion fruit liqueur, orange juice, and pineapple juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well: Close the shaker securely and shake vigorously for about 20 seconds to chill and mix the ingredients.
- Strain into the glass: Fill a highball glass with ice. Strain the cocktail into the glass, leaving enough space at the top for garnish.
- Add the grenadine: Slowly pour the grenadine into the drink. It will sink to the bottom and create a layered effect.
- Prepare the flaming garnish: Squeeze the juice from half a lime using a squeezer. Turn the emptied lime half inside out and place it on top of the drink. Carefully pour the overproof spirit into the lime cup.
- Light and serve: Just before serving, carefully light the overproof spirit using a long match or lighter. Sprinkle a small pinch of ground cinnamon over the flame for a brief, sparkling effect. Extinguish the flame before drinking.
Now, you have a curated list of five exciting party cocktails to impress your guests this New Year’s Eve. We have combined timeless classics with inventive creations from our talented sommeliers.
Looking for more cocktail inspiration to wow your guests? Subscribe to our mailing list and receive our newsletter, featuring top recommendations along with tips and tricks to help you become a true cocktail connoisseur.
These original innovations can be found along with over 100 more creative cocktail recipes in our St Dunstan Collection and Club House Collection cocktail books, which are available to purchase on our online shop.
