5 Cocktails to Serve at Your NYE Party

Cocktails before bubbly is twice as lovely.

It’s always fun to toast the New Year with a glass of champagne, but what about the preamble? Here are five festive cocktails to try from the city’s top bartenders (find more in our sister publication’s Recipe Finder).

The Slow SipperOaxaca Old Fashioned

Ingredients

1½ oz El Tesoro Reposado tequila½ oz Del Maguey San Luis Del Rio mezcal1 tsp agave nectar2 dashes angostura bitters1 orange twist, for garnish

Preparation

1. Stir all the ingredients over ice, then strain into a coupe.2. To garnish, flame the orange twist over the drink, then drop it in.

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The RefresherCatalan G&T

By Shaun Layton, Juniper Kitchen & Bar

Ingredients

1½ oz Defender Island gin1 bottle tonic (Fever-Tree Mediterranean)Thyme, for garnishGrapefruit, for garnish

Preparation

Mix cocktail over ice and garnish with a sprig of thyme and a slice of grapefruit.

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MORE: 8 Awesome Ways for Foodies to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Vancouver

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The Old-TimerRamos Gin Fizz

By Grant Sceney, Fairmont Pacific Rim

Ingredients

2 oz Tanqueray 10 gin¾ oz lemon/lime juice (combined)¾ oz simple syrup½ oz cream¾ egg white2 dashes orange flower waterSoda water

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients except soda water in a cocktail shaker (without ice)2. Shake to emulsify the egg white.3. Add ice and shake vigorously for an additional 2 minutes.4. Strain into a chilled Collins glass. Top with soda.

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The Lip SmackerHorseradish Sour Cocktail

By Josh Pape, Wildebeest

Ingredients

2 oz London Dry Gin1 oz lemon juice½ oz runny honeyDash egg white1 barspoon of creamed horseradish

Preparation

1. Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker.2. Shake well with lots of ice and fine strain into a chilled cocktail glass.3. Garnish with cracked pepper along one edge.

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The NightcapperTrue North

By Robyn Gray, Reflections: The Garden Terrace

Ingredients

20 ml Woodford bourbon20 ml Goslings rum20 ml BrancaMentaHot Chocolate

Preparation

1. Pour bourbon, rum and menthe into a special coffee mug. Mix well.2. Top with hot chocolate and whipped cream. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings.