Four Simple Drinks for Ringing in the New Year

Are you staying in this New Year's but still want to be festive and celebrate? I have four festive alcoholic drinks perfect for ringing in the New Year with style.

You may have noticed a lot of new holiday-themed cocktails popping up this year. So many of them require several fancy liqueurs that are not only expensive, but after one use they may just sit in your cabinets for months ignored. I'm all about simple drinks consisting of only a few ingredients and with liquor you may already have on hand or can easily pick up at local places such as the on Mishawum Road or on Main Street.

If you want something warm to drink, how about a Hot Toddy with Rum or a Peppermint Schnapps Hot Chocolate to warm you up in more ways than one?

Or if you are a traditionalist and want to pop open a bottle of champagne at the stroke of midnight, how about an easy-to-make Peach-Raspberry Sparkling Sangria?

Skipping the countdown altogether and hitting the hay early this year? Why not celebrate New Year's morning with a great homemade brunch accompanied by a very simple Cranberry Mimosa?

I guarantee you'll enjoy these easy simple drinks as you ring in the New Year*.

Hot Toddy with Rum

8 0z. (1 cup) of hot water

1 black tea bag

1 jigger (3 tbsp) of rum

a drizzle of honey

a cinnamon stick

a squeeze of orange juice (optional)

Add some honey to the bottom of your cup. Pour in the hot water and let the tea bag steep for 4-5 minutes then remove. Add the jigger of rum and stir with the cinnamon stick. Leave the stick in and drink while hot.

Peppermint Schnapps Hot Chocolate

1 pack of hot chocolate mix

8 oz. (1 cup) of hot water

1 jigger (3 tbsp) of Peppermint Schnapps

Add the chocolate mix, hot water and Peppermint Schnapps to a mug and stir. Drink while hot.

Peach-Raspberry Sparkling Sangria

1 bag of frozen peaches,  thawed

1 bag of frozen raspberries, thawed and drained

1 large bottle of champagne, chilled

4 tbsp of sugar 

Add the thawed peach slices and drained raspberries to the bottom of a pitcher and sprinkle sugar over the fruit. As soon as you pop open your bottle of champagne, pour into the pitcher and stir with a wooden spoon. Drink immediately.

Cranberry Mimosa

1/2 cranberry juice cocktail

1/2 champagne

Fill up a champagne flute half way with cranberry juice cocktail and the rest with champagne. You can garnish with a half-mooned orange slice if so desired. Drink immediately.

*Please remember to drink responsibly.