Sure, a glass of Champagne makes a festive toast, but we think these New Year's Eve cocktails are the ultimate libations for the last night of the year. Our collection of celebratory sips includes subtle spins on classics like the martini and the cosmo, as well as drinks that are lighter on the booze—to help you and your guests make it to midnight. There are cocktails you can batch ahead, because who wants to be shaking drinks one-by-one for a crowd on the biggest party night of the year? We've also snuck in some sweeter options for everyone who likes a dessert cocktail—including a not-to-be-missed recipe that pairs sparkling wine with sorbet.
Negroni Sbagliato
This drink-of-the-moment has it all. Made with just four ingredients, it's a pitcher drink to serve your crowd. There are bubbles, because prosecco stands in for the gin that anchors the classic Negroni. This also means it won't go right to your head and you can have more than one.
Pink Gin Martinis
This pretty-in-pink, elegant cocktail is perfect for New Year's Eve. Shake it up with gin, kirsch, black vermouth, and aromatic bitters, then garnish with a lemon twist and maraschino cherries.
Pink Grapefruit-White Cranberry Sparkling Punch
Filled with seasonal ingredients and prepared for a large crowd, we can't think of a better big-batch cocktail for New Year's Eve than this one. It's sparkling, sweet, and totally spectacular.
Cinnamon Sour Cocktail
Bourbon and red wine are a delightful duo and the base of this festive drink. A simple syrup made with whole cinnamon sticks creates a party-worthy sip.
Sparkling Pear and Cranberry Cocktail
Pear nectar gives buttery smoothness to Moscato d'Asti, a sweet, Italian sparkling white wine in this low-alcohol sip. Each glass is garnished with dried cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.
Pomegranate-Champagne Punch
Use prosecco, cava, Champagne, or your favorite sparkling white wine in this elegant low-alcohol punch. The wine is mixed with pear nectar, pomegranate juice, and orange liqueur.
Italian Corpse Reviver
Celebrate New Year's Eve with this powerful cocktail made with Strega liqueur, a herbal digestif. It's shaken with dry vermouth, fresh lemon juice, and Angostura bitters, then garnished with a vibrant bay leaf.
Rosemary Gimlet
Try something new as you head into a new year. We upgraded this classic gin-based cocktail for the holiday season with a sweet rosemary simple syrup and lemon juice instead of the usual lime.
Sorbet Spritzers
Looking for a drink that's easy to make yet special enough for New Year's Eve? This stellar drink-meets-dessert idea is a two-ingredient wonder. Pouring sparkling wine over a scoop of raspberry, blood orange, or lemon sorbet creates a low-alcohol yet festive libation.
Cranberry Manhattan
Surprise your guests with a totally unexpected ingredient that takes the Manhattan in a fruity yet sophisticated direction—cranberry sauce. This whiskey cocktail is just the drink to ring in a new year.
Mirto and Tonic
Here's another way to see the new year in with a dramatic red drink. Mirto is a two-ingredient sweet and herbal liqueur that's accented by tonic water.
Kir Royales
A dash of black-currant liqueur gives this classic Champagne cocktail its deep red hue.
Non-Alcoholic Cranberry Sparkler
This refreshing non-alcoholic cocktail is made from blackberry purée, white cranberry juice, and sparkling water. To make the prep even easier, you can use frozen berries for the blackberry purée.
Pomegranate Cosmopolitan
Pomegranate juice replaces the usual cranberry in this take on the cosmopolitan cocktail.
Blood-Orange Champagne Cocktails
When blood orange juice replaces the OJ, a mimosa is ready for a special occasion. Serving it in coupe glasses also helps to elevate this favorite.
Pear and Cranberry Bellini
Prosecco stands in for the usual Champagne in these pretty-in-pink Bellinis made with pear nectar and cranberry juice. These fruity yet elegant drinks are equally suited to a party or a New Year's Day brunch.
Bitter Bee Cocktail
Take a sip of this honey and cardamom-infused cocktail and you'll be seeing fireworks.
Champagne Fizz
Another festive cocktail, candied ginger adds a lively yet sweet touch to a glass of Champagne in this 3-ingredient cocktail.
Ginger Sparkler
Fresh ginger lends subtle spiciness to this elegant cocktail made with sparkling wine and sugar.
Amaro Spritz
For NYE revelers looking for a lighter libation on what can be a long night of drinking, we suggest this spritz. Tonic water, rather than prosecco, provides the bubbles, while an amaro, such as Campari or Aperol, provides glorious color.