If you’re anything like me and my family, you’re staying home this New Year’s Eve. We’ll find a good cartoon countdown video somewhere, put out lots of yummy desserts and chips and dip, and celebrate—just the four of us. That’s why I wanted to put together a list of 6 awesome homemade cocktails (and a couple of mocktails for the kids or those who abstain!)
These do not require a bartender’s license or expertise in mixology. If you have a shaker, great, but it isn’t required. A little elbow grease and some ice should do the trick. So, put on your party hats and grab a Cosmo before you jump into that conga line going around the coffee table!
Top 6 Homemade Cocktails!
#1: Bicicletta Spritz
Use up some of your lovely dry white wine with this delicate spritz recipe. Loved by ladies and gents alike!
Ingredients
- orange 1, cut into wheels
- dry white wine (a light Italian variety such as pinot grigio or gavi) 3 tbsp
- Campari 3 tbsp
- soda water
For each drink, fill a glass with ice and an orange wheel. Add the wine and Campari, stir, then top up with a splash of soda.
#2: Whiskey Sour
You won’t believe how simple a whiskey sour is to make as a homemade cocktail. You can shake the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, or just stir in a glass!
Ingredients
- Bourbon whiskey: as high-quality as possible (you can use any whiskey, but we prefer the flavor of bourbon)
- Lemon juice
- Maple syrup or simple syrup
- Garnish of orange peel and cocktail cherry
Make the whiskey sour mix for 8 people: Mix 1 cup lemon juice plus 3/4 cup pure maple syrup. Then to make a single drink, measure out 3 1/2 tablespoons of the mix with 4 tablespoons whiskey. Add ice and garnish.
#3: White Russian
With a White Russian, the cardinal rule is always the same: Pick a GOOD vodka!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce Kahlúa
- 1 splash heavy cream
All you need to do is add the first two ingredients to a glass over ice and then stir in the heavy cream. Don’t use milk—it’ll end up too watery. You’re going for decadent and fancy! Pro tip: Try mixing things up with a horchata cream for a particularly epic punch.
#4: Strawberry Orange Ginger Fizz
I promised y’all some mocktails, so here is a great one from A Calculated Whisk; it does take a little extra elbow grease but it’s a lovely family recipe for a small party. Decorate with colorful umbrellas and sprigs of fragrant rosemary.
For the Syrup (6-8 Drinks):
- 8 ounces strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 3 inches of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
- Three 3-inch strips of orange peel, removed with a vegetable peeler
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
- 1/4 cup water
- Pinch of sea salt
Drink Recipe:
- 2-3 tablespoons strawberry orange ginger syrup
- 6 ounces sparkling water and/or champagne
- 2 ice cubes
- Half an orange slice, half a hulled strawberry, and a sprig of mint, for serving
Don’t like strawberries or ginger? Try raspberries and lemon, or lime and blackberries! With this one, you can let your creativity shine.
#5: Frozen Peach Bellini Mocktail
This mocktail is even simpler, especially if you plan ahead and grab a bag of frozen peaches. If your kids are anything like mine, they will love helping out with the blender and tasting their “hard work.”
Ingredients:
- 2 ripe peaches, peeled, sliced, and frozen
- Sparkling Martinelli’s
- Agave syrup
- Juice of 1 lime
Instructions:
-
Place sliced peaches in the freezer for 1 hour.
-
Combine peaches, 1 cup sparkling apple juice, agave, and lime juice in a blender and blend until smooth.
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Pour into 2 glasses and add about 1/2 inch of additional sparkling apple juice.
#6: Cuba Libre
I had to include this one because it is my husband’s favorite cocktail of all time, and it really hits the spot after a long day when you’re ALSO trying to make it ’til midnight!! And yes, a good rum makes ALL the difference.
Ingredients:
- 1 lime
- 2 ounces dark or anejo rum
- Coca-Cola
Instructions:
- Squeeze a lime into a glass.
- Drop half the spent lime shell into the glass and muddle the oils into the lime juice.
- Add ice and rum. Top with cola and stir briefly.
Not a Fan of Homemade Cocktails?
Not a cocktail/liquor person? That is totally OK! You can also “Wine Down” with San Diego Moms Owner Niki Jones, who can help you select your favorite organic clean-crafted wines from Scout & Cellar.
Oh—and HAPPY NEW YEAR! XoXo
Photo by Ash Edmonds on Unsplash
