January 29 marks the start of the Year of the Snake. While Lunar New Year celebrations are full of food, gatherings, and traditions, these spirited sippers are a lovely way to toast to new beginnings.
Also known as the Spring festival, Lunar New Year celebrations often focus on new beginnings, ushering in good luck for the year ahead. From gifts of red envelopes to food meant to bring prosperity, there are many symbolic items on the table.
2025 is the start of the Year of the Snake. This Chinese zodiac sign is said to represent wisdom and transformation. While some people might hope to shed the past and embrace a brighter tomorrow, each person must choose to find the positive in the tumultuous world.
In an effort to shed some of that bad energy, a festive libation can help make the past transgressions fade from mind. While no one is suggesting over imbibing, a festive cocktail can be a way to unwind during all the celebrations.
Shake up these Lunar New Year cocktails for a Year of the Snake celebration
The Firecracker
A common component of any Lunar New Year celebration, fireworks emblazed the sky with color. This particular cocktail features grapefruit as its primary flavor. Not only does the color captivate the eye, the zesty flavor offers a tasty start to the new year.
Ingredients
1½ oz Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey
1 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
½ oz Martini Riserva
½ oz Simple Syrup
1 dash of Orange Bitters
Method
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake until chilled and fine strain in a Rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a grapefruit slice.
Peach Blossom Bliss
Tea cocktails have seen a spike in popularity. Beyond the canned variety, tea offers a sweet, yet refreshing flavor to a cocktail. This particular beverage is both juicy and tart.
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz BACARDÍ Spiced
1 1/2 oz lemonade
1 1/2 oz peach tea
1 Lemon wedge
1 mint sprig
Method
Fill a highball glass with cubed ice. Pour in the BACARDÍ Spiced Rum, followed by the lemonade and peach tea. Give it all a gentle stir. Garnish with a lemon wedge and mint sprig.
Celestial Citrus
While the margarita is often the more common cocktail associated with tequila, this bright, slightly sweet sipper feels like floating in the clouds. That touch of elderflower makes for a lovely contrast to the tart lime.
Ingredients
1 oz ST‑GERMAIN
1 1/2 oz PATRÓN Silver tequila
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
Lime wedge for garnish
Method
Combine the St‑Germain, tequila and fresh lime juice into a shaker. Add ice into the shaker and shake vigorously until it is nicely chilled. Strain over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.
The Lucky Lychee
While the Lychee might be the star of the glass, the combination of cognac, lychee, strawberry, and champagne offers the most enticing aroma. With effervescent bubbles, this cocktail is a lively choice for any celebration.
Ingredients
2 oz D'USSÉ XO Cognac
1 Lychee
1 Fresh Strawberry
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
2 Dashes Rhubarb Bitters
Top Ace of Spades Champagne
Method
Muddle lychee, strawberry and simple syrup in a shaker. Add D'USSÉ, rhubarb bitters and ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Top with champagne.
Sapphire Spritz
The sapphire is the gemstone associated with the Year of the Snake. While that stone is said to be lucky, this gin cocktail is a bubbly spritz that will keep the good fortune flowing.
Ingredients
1.5 oz Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru
0.75 oz Lemon Juice
0.75 oz Simple Syrup
2 oz Champagne
Garnish with a lemon twist
Method
Add the Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker. Shake, strain, and top with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.
Golden Prosperity
While many people hope that riches flow into their lives, this particular Lunar New Year cocktail is sweet yet robust. The combination of honey and Scotch whisky entices with complexity.
Ingredients
2 oz Aberfeldy 12 Single Malt Scotch whisky
1 bar spoon of local honey
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2 dashes orange bitters
Method
Add the honey syrup, bitters and Aberfeldy 12 Years Old to a mixing glass, add ice and stir to dilute. Pour into a rocks glass. Add some cubed ice. Cut and twist an orange zest expressing the oils over the drink and discard.
Serpent's Charm
While desserts can often be the final bit of the evening, this chocolate and cherry libation brings a little extra sweetness to the glass. It casts a spell and no one will be able to resist it.
Ingredients
1.5 oz Dewar's 12 Year Scotch Whisky
0.75 oz Martini & Rossi Rubino
0.75 oz Martini & Rossi Bitter
1 oz cherry juice
2 dashes chocolate bitters
Method
Add all ingredients to mixing glass and stir with ice until chilled. Add melted chocolate to base of glass and add cherry and mint as garnish.
Lunar Roast Fizz
Coffee cocktails continue to “brew” their popularity. This rum and coffee cocktail feels a little tropical but it will keep the celebration going all night long.
Ingredients
1.5 oz Santa Teresa 1796 Arabica Coffee Cask Rum
0.5 oz Cold Brew
0.25 oz Orgeat
Top with Soda Water
Method
Build in Collins glass with ice, then gently stir until combined. Garnish with an orange twist.
Ready to celebrate the Year of the Snake with these Lunar New Year cocktails? These beverages bring the charm and toast to a transformative year ahead.