As the year comes to a close, there’s no better way to welcome the new year than by creating memorable moments from the comfort of your own home.
For us, New Year’s Eve is a time to stay in and celebrate with a nice meal and some games. We don’t generally like to go out because it is amateur hour and impossible to get a cab.
Games:
Here are a few games that may be new to you that we really enjoy:
- Dutch Blitz (expansion pack if you have more than 4 players)
- Azul
- Quirkle
Lemon Rosemary Cocktails/Mocktails
Ring in a bright and fresh start to your new year with lemon rosemary cocktails/mocktails. The Lemon Rosemary Syrup recipe below is versatile and can be used in a number of cocktails and mocktails.
A) Lemon Rosemary Syrup
Use this recipe as the base ingredient for the following cocktails:
- 10 lemons
- 2 cups sugar
- 8-10 sprigs of rosemary
- Zest the lemons and set aside with the rosemary.
- Juice the lemons.
- Add the juice to the sugar in a sauce pan (it should be about 2 cups of juice, but if not just adjust the sugar to be about the same amount as the juice).
- Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for about 30 mins.
- Add the zest and rosemary and simmer for another 5-8mins.
- Remove from the heat and let cool.
- Use a fine mesh strainer to remove the zest and rosemary from the syrup.
B) Rosemary’s Lemon Tonic
- 1.5 oz gin
- .75 oz Lemon Rosemary Syrup
- 4.5 oz tonic water
- Lemon slices and rosemary sprigs to garnish
- Add gin and syrup to ice in a glass and stir vigorously.
- Top with the tonic and gently stir for a few turns to incorporate.
- Garnish with a lemon slice and a sprig of rosemary.
C) Tiny Golden Bubbles
- 5 oz sparkling wine
- .5 oz Lemon Rosemary Syrup
Serve in a wine glass or coupe with a sprig of rosemary.
D) Sober Lemon (Mocktail)
- 5 oz sparkling water or tonic
- 1 oz Lemon Rosemary Syrup
Serve over ice with a lemon slice and a sprig of rosemary.
- Bubbles: NYE is the holiday for bubbles! I suggest serving your celebratory bubbles garnished with pomegranate seeds, which float up and down like a lava lamp. You can also add some Chambord or another liqueur to turn your bubbles into an easy sparkling wine cocktail.
- Spritz: A classic Aperol Spritz is always a great option (1.5 oz Aperol, 2 oz Prosecco, splash of soda), but you can also mix it up by switching out the Aperol for a bitter like Campari or an amaro.
- Aged Spirits: New Year’s is a great time to pull out the good stuff. Aged spirits take longer and cost more to make, and you will taste the difference. Pick up a nice bottle of 18+ year Scotch or Bourbon.
- Batch Cocktails: If you are hosting a crowd, make a batch of blood and sands or negronis. These cocktails both use equal parts for each ingredient, so they are really easy to mix into a large batch without having to use a jigger to measure.
- Mocktail Option: It is always a good idea to offer a fun, non-alcohol option for guests who aren’t drinking and for in-between adult beverages. NYE calls for bubbles, and there are lots of fun carbonated drinks. Grab a variety of flavors of Fever-Tree or other carbonated waters, and provide a buffet of fun garnishes and syrups – berries, pomegranate seeds, citrus wheels, rosemary sprigs, mint, etc.
Easy Party Food
Here are a few NYE party food ideas that are sure to fuel your celebration.
A) Mascarpone Dates
These decadent little bites are incredibly easy, while also being decadent and luxurious. Something similar was served at Komi, a tasting menu restaurant that closed during the pandemic. Recipe here
B) Caviar Spread
Nothing could be fancier or easier than a celebratory caviar spread. This is the perfect food for NYE – it epitomizes special occasions and pairs beautifully with sparkling wine. Serve with creme fresh and sturdy potato chips for the perfect bite. If you are still celebrating Hannakuh, serve caviar with your crispy latkes. Recipe here
C) Crab Dip
Kick off your health resolution with this high-protein dip that pairs beautifully with fresh veggies (and potato chips). Recipe here
D) Cheese and Charcuterie Boards
Cheese and meat plates are always a good option and provide a pallet for fun festive flair – add a clean pair of NYE glasses or a noise maker to your board to dress it up for the occasion or cut out the year “2025” in cheddar cheese slices.
- Cheese: You will want a variety of textures and flavors. Pick a creamy (la tur, camembert, triple cream, brie, Jasper Hill Farm Harbison, etc.), a hard aged cheese (Ossau Iraty, aged cheddar, high quality parmesan, aged gouda), and a wild card (blue cheese, cambozola, truffled cheese, pepper infused, etc.).
- Meats: Pick one to two meats to round out the board. If you do more than one, mix it up with a hard salami and a more tender meat like a prosciutto.
- Accouterment: Cheese and meats on their own are too rich – you need something sweet, salty, and briny to cut through the rich fat. Sweet – honey, jam, candied nuts, chocolate, figs, dates, fruit, sugared cranberries, dried strawberries, etc. Salty – nuts, pretzels, crackers, etc. Briny – olives, pickles, pickled veggies, peppers, pickled beans, Lupini (delicious Portuguese pickled beans that are now available across the US), etc.
- Inspiration: There are some gorgeous boards out there on social media. Get some great ideas from the likes of Ain’t-Too-Proud-To-Meg and Murray’s Cheese.
Disclaimer: For my day job I’m a lawyer representing distilled spirits producers. The opinions I express are my own and not that of my employer. Drink Responsibly
