Toast to the Year of the Rabbit with these prosperous cocktails

As Lunar New Year prepares to welcome the Year of the Rabbit, many people are ready to raise a toast to prosperous cocktails. While this year is said to bring hope, calm, and prosperity, it could be time to celebrate all good fortune ahead.

During Lunar New Year celebrations, there are certain traditions that many people follow. While there are special food choices that are believed to usher in good fortune, a beverage pairing can be quite delightful.

For the Year of the Rabbit, Hennessy has partnered with Yan Pei-Ming to create a special bottle featuring his artwork, “The Great Race.” This stunning depiction features the rabbit and the 12 animals of the zodiac. The themes of this piece is togetherness in diversity.

As Yan Pei-Ming explained, “When you hold a bottle of cognac up to sunlight, its hues and transparency vary so much. I wanted to portray cognac — but it’s light that is really the color of this painting.” Through the broad brush strokes, there is a sense of vibrancy yet calmness. Imparting a sense of adventure through the togetherness, the beauty of the cognac is celebrated within the sentiments of the Year of the Rabbit.

In honor of the Year of the Rabbit, Hennessy has shared a special cocktail to toast to the Lunar New Year. Featuring Chinese five spice, the bold flavor is balanced with the zesty notes of citrus.

Here’s how to make a Red Jubilee Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 3 parts Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège
• 1 part Fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 part Simple syrup
• 1 Pinch Chinese five spice
• 5 Dashes Peychaud bitters
• 1 Star Anise & Cocktail Cherry

Recipe:

• Add all ingredients to a shaker tin.
• Shake until well chilled.
• Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.
• Garnish with a cocktail cherry & a star anise.

At the Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley, the Quattro Bar will be toasting the Year of the Rabbit with a special cocktail. In addition to the cocktail, the luxury hotel will offering a multitude of special events for the celebration.

As Adora Manalo, General Manager of the luxury hotel said, “The team at Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley and I send our warmest wishes to all those who will be celebrating the Lunar New Year this year on, January 22, 2023. Here in the Bay Area and around the world, people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent will welcome the Year of the Rabbit. In the Chinese culture, the rabbit is known to be the luckiest out of all the twelve animals. It symbolizes mercy, elegance, and beauty – attributes that I hope will continue to guide us as we work towards serving our guests and the community. To everyone celebrating the Lunar New Year, we wish you joy, good health and prosperity.”

The Lunar New Year Cocktail in the Quattro Bar features fig infused Hendricks, cranberry juice, St Germain, and truffle honey. In addition, the hotel will offer a special in-room offering from pastry chef Guillermo Soto Torres. The offering will include a themed red color Sugar Cookie Envelope, filled with chocolate gold coins, strawberry verbena macaron, and chocolate Bonbon.

While a great cocktail is a festive way to toast the Year of the Rabbit, Penfolds is offering a special Year of the Rabbit Cabernet Shiraz. The 2020 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz has been referred to as “Baby Grange.” The wine has a well-balanced combination of fruit and oak. It is a wine that is approachable for a wide range of palates and exemplifies the approach that Penfolds epitomizes.

Lastly, Kikori Whiskey has created a Year of the Rabbit cocktail. Featuring the Japanese whiskey that is made from 100% locally grown rice, the liquor celebrates Japanese culture and tradition. Here is a cocktail that will toast prosperity for the Lunar New Year.

Bunny Money

Ingredients

• 2 oz Kikori
• ½ oz apple juice
• ½ oz lemon juice
• ¼ oz carrot juice
• ¼ oz amaro averna
• 1 dash orange bitters

Method:

Fill a whiskey glass with ice cubes. Combine all of the ingredients into a shaker and shake vigorously; strain into the glass and garnish with an orange zest twist.

Are you celebrating the Year of the Rabbit with prosperous cocktails? What are your Lunar New Year traditions?