The 5 Best Cocktails for New Year’s Eve

The classic for the big moment: gin, lemon and Champagne – named after a field gun and just as explosive. Served elegantly in a Champagne flute, it’s the stylish answer to the usual glass of bubbly at midnight.

A splash of crème de cassis topped with ice-cold Champagne – that’s all it takes. The Kir Royal is made in seconds, glows crimson in the glass and is perfect when lots of glasses need filling at once at the stroke of twelve.

Fruity, exotic and a real showstopper: passion fruit and vanilla in a coupe, with a little shot of Prosecco on the side. If you like, knock it back for the countdown – probably the most party-ready cocktail of recent years.

The perfect start to the evening: Campari and vermouth with Prosecco instead of gin. Bitter, bubbly, not too strong – so you still have plenty of stamina left for midnight. And, by the way, one of the hottest aperitifs around.

When the party starts to sag around eleven, this is its moment: vodka, coffee liqueur and fresh espresso with a velvety crema. It wakes up tired spirits and still leaves you wanting more – the unsung hero of every New Year’s Eve.