Ringing in 2024

SURE TO IMPRESS: Pretty champagne cocktails, complete with dried rose petals. Pictures by Babiche Martens, via NZ Herald, Eat Well

Scrambling to find some ideas for New Year’s Eve drinks? Look no further. Here are a few delicious cocktail recipes to try out on family and friends (and yourself, of course!) . . .

Here’s to the end of a pretty crazy year! Cocktails are a great way to wow guests and impress loved ones — fancy glasses and equally fancy garnishes are just some of the ways to glam up those celebratory drinks. Included in this line-up are a few non-alcoholic cocktails. It’s time to celebrate!

CHILLED MOJITO

INGREDIENTS

8 mint leaves, roughly torn

½ lime, cut into four wedges

2 Tbsp sugar syrup, see below

45ml rum, white

125ml soda water

SUGAR SYRUP

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

Method

1. To make the sugar syrup: simmer sugar and one cup water for 5-10 minutes until slightly syrupy. Cool, store in a jar in the fridge.

2. To make the cocktail: place the mint and one lime wedge into a glass and crush using a muddler to release the oils and juice.

3. Add two more wedges and the syrup, then crush again. Fill the glass with ice.

4. Pour the rum over the ice and top with soda. Serves 1.

— Recipe by Angela Casley

via NZ Herald

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL

INGREDIENTS

2 tsp caster sugar

1 cup watermelon* (chunks, seeds removed)

2 tsp salt

1 Tbsp tequila

1 lime, (juice of, plus another for slicing)

1 bottle champagne

Dried rose petals, to decorate (optional)

Method

1. Mix the sugar and salt together on a saucer. Dip your finger into water then run it around the rim of the glass.

2. Dip into the saucer so the entire rim is coated. Put aside and repeat with the second glass.

3. Puree the watermelon with the tequila and lime, then add bubbly to taste.

4. Pour into glasses and float a couple of rose petals on top. Cut thin slices of lime to decorate the glasses. Serves 2.

*Note: if you can’t get your hands on a watermelon in time for New Year’s Eve, another melon should work fine in this recipe.

— Recipe by Amanda Laird

via NZ Herald

DARK ‘N' SPICY

INGREDIENTS

60ml Lyre’s Spiced Cane Spirit (or any equivalent brand on the market will do!)

15ml lime juice

7.5ml premium vanilla syrup

90ml premium bottled ginger beer

Method

1. Add the ingredients in a highball glass.

2. Fill it with ice, stir and garnish with a lime wheel.

— Recipe via Newshub

AMALFI SPRITZ

INGREDIENTS

60ml Lyre’s Italian Spritz (or any equivalent brand on the market will do!)

60ml alcohol-free sparkling wine

30ml soda water

Method

1. Add the ingredients to a large or stemless wine glass, stir, fill with fresh cubed ice and garnish with an orange wheel.

— Recipe via Newshub

COSNOPOLITAN

INGREDIENTS

60ml Seedlip Grove 42

30ml organic cranberry juice

15ml lime juice

15ml sugar syrup (combine equal  parts warm water and sugar, stir to dissolve and let cool)

Method

1. Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Shake and strain into a coupe glass and garnish with an orange peel.

— Recipe via Newshub