I love New Years Eve! It’s such a good reason to get overdressed and drink cocktails. It’s also a reminder that each year we can start out fresh, set new goals, and gives us an excuse to kiss someone at midnight. Generally we all wake up with a hangover and may or may not regret that midnight kiss, BUT it’s a new year!

The best part of New Years Eve, besides dressing up, is the cocktail! This year I wanted to do a spin on some of the classics. Being an Italian girl, I love Sgroppino. It has all of my favorite things... prosecco, lemon sorbet, vodka, and mint! The Classic Champagne Cocktail isn't something you hear much about anymore, but the bitters along with the sweetness of the champagne, and the brightness of the fresh orange rind make this drink really balanced and flavorful that I think it's time for a comeback! Then, of course, the Moscow Mule. I like the classic way the drink is made, but I wanted to make my own homemade ginger beer to add instead of store-bought. It's not mandatory, but it's very easy and definitely worth it. These drinks are a perfect theme for a New Years Eve party because there will be something that everyone likes. You can also download the beautiful drink menu and stirrers that were designed by Jamie Lynne Creative! (links below)

Sgropinno

Fill your glass about 3/4 full of prosecco, add a shot of vodka, a couple leaves of mint, and stir. Then add in a scoop of lemon sorbet.

Classic Champagne Cocktail

Place a sugar cube in your glass, add a few dashes of bitters, fill the glass with champagne, and add a slice of orange rind.

Moscow Mule

Homemade Ginger Beer: Start by making the ginger syrup. Place 1/2 cup sugar (I like tubinado sugar) and 1/2 cup water in a sauce pan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves in the water. Stir in 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger and 1/4 teaspoon cardamom. Simmer for 25 minutes stirring occasionally, and then let it cool completely. Once cooled, add two tablespoons of the ginger syrup to 1/2 cup cold soda water. If you don't have cardamom you can try cinnamon and/or peppercorns.

Using a copper mug, place in a handful of ice, 2 shots of vodka, a generous squeeze of lime juice along with the slice of lime, and a few springs of fresh mint. Then, top it off with the 1/2 cup of fresh ginger beer! If you don't have copper mugs you can simply use a lowball/regular short glass.