While the big moment on New Year’s Eve usually calls for champagne, we found a few recipes worthy of your time and consideration to serve prior to the stroke of midnight.

Sugar and Spice
1 oz. Ketel One Citroen
1 oz. cranberry juice
½ oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
¾ oz. honey syrup
Drop of allspice dram liqueur

Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.

Forbidden Punch
24 oz Fords Gin (1 750ml bottle)
8 oz ruby red grapefruit juice
6 oz lime juice
6 oz agave nectar
2 oz absinthe
24 oz water
1 750 ml bottle champagne or sparkling wine
2 grapefruits, sliced into thin wheels for garnish
1 cinnamon stick, for grating
12 star anise pods

Combine all ingredients except sparkling wine in a large punch bowl. Add a large block of ice. Add sparkling wine and stir slightly. Garnish with grapefruit and star anise. Lightly grate cinnamon on top.

Ruffino Holiday Sparkler
3 oz. Ruffino Prosecco
3/4 oz. apple cider
3/4 oz. cranberry juice
1 tsp. maple syrup
Squeeze of 1 lemon wedge

Add ingredients directly to a mixing glass with ice and stir briefly. Strain into a chilled champagne flute that has been rimmed w/ cinnamon sugar. Garnish with a mint leaf floating on top.

Casa Santo Domingo
1 ounce Zacapa XO Rum
1/4 orange liqueur
6 dashes Angostura Bitters
3 dashes Peychaud Bitters
2 dashes Orange Bitters
Orange twist for garnish

Combine Zacapa Rum XO, orange liqueur, Angostura bitters, Peychaud bitters and orange bitters in cocktail shaker. Stir gently. Strain contents into cocktail glass.Garnish with orange twist.

Snap, Crackle, Drop
(Created by mixologist Salvatore Calabrese)
1 1/2 ounces Tequila Don Julio Reposado
7-8 dashes Angostura Bitters
>4-5 twists freshly ground cracked black pepper
Lime wedge

Stir Angostura Bitters and pepper on a saucer until it turns into a paste. Coat on side of a lime wedge with the paste and serve on the side of the drink. Pour Don Julio Reposado into shot glass.

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