As one year ends and 2025 is set to begin, these five cocktails can ring in a bubbly, bold toast to all the possibilities. Whether the next month skips the alcohol, shakes up a new beverage, or resolves to take a new path, it is time to raise a glass to the good, memorable, and rewarding past 365 days.
Cava and Cran
This year has seen many whiskey brands push the envelope with flavor, methods, and innovation. This Sagamore Rye cocktail takes the classic spirit in a new cocktail direction. Combining the tart cranberry, herbaceous rosemary, and bubbly cava makes for a vivacious sip. It will keep everyone perky till the ball drops.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Sagamore Rye
3 oz Sparkling Cava
.5 oz Lime Juice
.75 oz Spiced Cranberry Syrup
Combine ingredients then top with the cava.
Cuervo Nuevo
The spritz soared in popularity this year. From the classic Aperol Spritz to the Hugo Spritz, drinkers appreciated the bubbly, light flavor. This cocktail from Cuervo borrows some of that mindset. As the color sparkles in the light, the flavor offers a promise of new beginnings.
Ingredients
1 ½ oz Cuervo Tradicional Plata Tequila
½ oz Elderflower liqueur
2 oz Brut Champagne
2 oz Club soda
Garnish: Edible gold glitter
Glass: Coupe
Directions:
Run a lemon wedge along half of the outer rim of a coupe and roll in gold edible glitter. Then set it aside. Add all of the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir gently, and strain into the prepared coupe glass.
New Year’s, New Cheers
Another bubbly cocktail is waiting to be sipped. This option from Gray Whale Gin is a twist on a French 75. The pear juice, green grapes, and rosemary bring all the season’s flavors to the cocktail glass.
Ingredients:
3 parts Prosecco
1.5 parts Gray Whale Gin
1 part Pear juice
0.5 part Simple syrup
0.5 part Fresh lemon juice
Garnish: Green grapes and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions:
Set aside 2 green grapes for garnish. Combine remaining ingredients except for Josh Prosecco in cocktail shaker. Lightly muddle grapes, then shake vigorously. Double strain into champagne flute and top with Josh. Garnish with rosemary sprig skewered with grapes.
Cranberry Gin Fizz
While Celebrity Cruises has a wide array of cocktails served across its fleet, this holiday season showcased a specialty cocktail, the Cranberry Gin Fizz. Although the martini bar has a wide array of celebratory sips and the exclusive Rabbit Hole Bourbon offers a sophisticated pour, this Cranberry Gin Fizz is bright, refreshing and easy to have a second one before the clock strikes midnight.
Ingredients:
2 oz gin
1⁄2 oz thyme simple syrup
1 1⁄2 oz cranberry juice
Top up with club soda
Instructions
Fill a glass about halfway full of ice. Add the gin, thyme simple syrup and cranberry juice. Stir well.
Top with club soda and stir gently to mix together.
Garnish with sprigs of thyme and fresh cranberries. Enjoy!
Negroni Royale
Bringing together two classic cocktail, Rachael Ray’s Negroni Royale is a nuanced cocktail with a memorable flavor. It is a cocktail that will be remembered long after the ball drops.
Ingredients:
1½ ounces Staple Gin
1½ ounces Campari
¾ ounce red (sweet) vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Ice
1 small orange wedge
1 ounce prosecco, Champagne or sparkling wine
1 lemon twist, for garnish
Method:
Add first 4 ingredients to a rocks glass. Fill the glass with ice, then squeeze an orange wedge over top and drop into the glass. Stir to chill, top with prosecco and garnish with a lemon twist.
Whether the New Year toast comes early in the day or as the year comes to a close, raise a glass to new beginning and learning from the experiences that made the past year even more memorable.