Tag Archives: Celebrate In Style

Cocktails to Ring in the New Year

As the year draws to a close, here’s a curated line-up of versatile cocktails made for celebrations that stretch well past midnight. Thoughtfully crafted and full of character, these drinks go far beyond simply popping open a bottle, perfect for ringing in the New Year in style. 

The Oasis by Godawan Artisanal Single Malt 

A slow, contemplative cocktail that leans into ritual and terroir, The Oasis brings together Godawan 01 PX Sherry Cask and coffee-infused vermouth, rested gently in clay to absorb the earthiness of desert winds. Rich, aromatic, and quietly complex, it’s a grounded, meditative sip to ease into the New Year. 

Ingredients 

  • Godawan 01 Rich & Rounded – 50ml 
  • Coffee-infused sweet vermouth – 15ml 
  • Aromatic bitters – 2 dashes 

Method 

  • Combine all ingredients and rest the mixture in a clay pot for 6–8 hours.
  • Stir gently before serving. 

—–                                                  

Pistola Paloma by Maya Pistola Agavepura 

 Bright, effervescent, and effortlessly celebratory, the Pistola Paloma is made for New Year toasts that call for freshness over fuss. Built on Pistola Joven’s smooth yet vibrant agave character, this cocktail brings together zesty grapefruit, sharp lime, and a gentle sparkle—perfect for easing into the year ahead with a citrus-led kick. 

Ingredients: 

  • Pistola Joven – 60ml 
  • Grapefruit juice – 45ml 
  • Lime juice – 15ml 
  • Agave nectar – 15ml 
  • Saline – 5ml 

Method: 

  1. Fill a glass with ice. 
  2. Add Pistola Joven, grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave nectar, and saline. 

——

The Golden Hour by Monarch Legacy Edition x Bartisans 

Golden Hour is your go-to for effortless at-home cocktails this New Year. Created in collaboration by Bartisans and Monarch Legacy Edition, this non-alcoholic festive mixer features notes of rose, saffron, and cardamom, designed to pair seamlessly with Monarch’s pure grape brandy. Together, they create a simple and celebratory cocktail to enjoy as the New Year begins 

Ingredients: 

  • Monarch Legacy Edition Brandy – 60 ml 
  • Bartisans Golden Hour Mixer – 90 ml 
  • Ice 

Method: 

  • Add Monarch and Golden Hour mixer into a shaker or mixing glass with ice.
  • Shake or stir to chill and blend.
  • Strain into a glass over fresh ice.
  • Garnish with a light dusting of cinnamon or a dried rose petal.

——  

Vanilla Old Fashioned by MONIN 

 A smooth, refined twist on a classic. MONIN’s Vanilla Syrup adds a soft sweetness that complements the warmth of bourbon, creating an elegant slow-sipper ideal for ending the feast on a high note. 

 Ingredients: 

  • MONIN Vanilla Syrup – 10ml 
  • Bourbon whiskey – 60ml 
  • Bitters – a few drops 
  • Ice cubes 
  • Orange slice 

Method: 

  • Add vanilla syrup and bourbon to a glass.
  • Add bitters and ice, then stir gently.
  • Garnish with orange slice.

——

Golden Ember Sour by Tulleeho 

Built on bourbon, honey, and ginger, the Golden Ember Sour balances warmth with brightness. Lemon cuts through the richness, while the silky foam brings everything together, making it an easy, elegant choice for ringing in the New Year. 

Ingredients: 

  • Vodka – 50 ml 
  • Lychee juice (fresh or canned) – 30 ml 
  • Elderflower syrup – 10 ml 
  • Fresh lemon juice – 10 ml 
  • Rose water – 2 drops 

Method: 

  • Add bourbon, lemon juice, honey syrup, ginger syrup, and egg white to a cocktail shaker (no ice). 
  • Dry shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds to emulsify the egg white. 
  • Add ice to the shaker and shake hard for another 10-15 seconds. 
  • Fine strain into a chilled coupe glass. 
  • Dash the Angostura bitters on top of the foam. 
  • Garnish with an edible gold leaf or pinch of edible gold dust sprinkled on the foam or a dehydrated lemon wheel placed on the rim.

—— 

Frosted Lychee Martini by Tulleeho  

Designed for the moment the clock strikes twelve, the Frosted Lychee Martini is light, aromatic, and precise. Lychee and elderflower add gentle sweetness, balanced by lemon and a clean vodka base that keeps things fresh as the night moves forward. 

Ingredients: 

  • Vodka – 50 ml 
  • Lychee juice (fresh or canned) – 30 ml 
  • Elderflower syrup (such as St-Germain or homemade) – 10 ml 
  • Fresh lemon juice – 10 ml 
  • Rose water – 2 drops 

Method: 

  • Chill the martini glass in the freezer. 
  • Add vodka, lychee juice, elderflower syrup, lemon juice, and rose water to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. 
  • Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds until well-chilled. 
  • Fine strain into the chilled martini glass. 

Garnish with a fresh lychee stuffed with a raspberry on a cocktail pick, lightly frosted sugar rim, and optional mist of edible rose water. 

———— 

Savour Me Classic by Davana Vermouth Indica 

Ring in the New Year with this savoury cocktail that balances the herbal sweetness of Davana Rosso with a kick from chilli tincture. 

Ingredients: 

  • Davana Rosso – 45ml 
  • Tomato water – 60ml 
  • Chilli tincture – 3-4 dashes 
  • Citric acid – to balance 

Method: 

  • In a mixing glass, add all the ingredients.
  • Stir and strain into a glass with block ice and garnish the drink with edible tomato leather

——  

Bee’s Knees by Vedant Newatia, Founder and Head Chef, Atelier V 

Bright, zesty, and effortlessly smooth—the Bee’s Knees is sunshine in a glass. A classic Prohibition-era cocktail that hits the sweet spot between citrusy freshness and botanical gin notes, mellowed by a touch of honey. One sip, and it’s pure golden hour magic. 

Ingredients: 

  • Dry gin – 60ml 
  • Honey syrup – 2tsp 
  • Fresh lemon juice – 30ml 
  • Fresh orange juice – 30ml 

Method: 

  • Stir the honey syrup with lemon and orange juices until fully dissolved.
  • Add gin and shake with ice until well chilled.
  • Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass
  • Finish with a twist of lemon or orange zest. 

Record-Breaking Sales of Liquor for New Year Celebrations Across the Country

  • Telangana tops
  • Karnataka does roaring business
  • Delhi does 400 crore business

Cheers to 2025! Tipplers across the country have given the liquor trade a good enough reason to be cheerful. Liquor sales have hit the roof, just in the two days as revelers rang in the new year. The southern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala have shown robust sales. According to estimates, Telangana has broken all records with liquor sales of over ₹800 crores on December 30 and 31, eight times the usual daily sales of around ₹100 crores.

The Telangana State Beverages Corporation Ltd (TSBCL) sources have told some media that last year the sales were around ₹700 crores on December 30 and 31 and this year the increase was phenomenal. Telangana registered liquor sales of about ₹402 crores on December 30 and ₹401 crores on New Year’s Eve night as revelers flocked to bars and restaurants; liquor stores and enjoyed at home drinking. There were hundreds of parties that rocked the city of Hyderabad which had the most sales, followed by surrounding districts of Ranga Reddy and Medchal.

Telangana has overtaken its previous record of liquor sales in the month of December. This year the government raked in a revenue of ₹3,523.16 crores, compared to ₹2,764 crores in December 2023. With Sankranti round the corner, excise officials expect the momentum to continue, though not on the same scale as year-end celebrations. The Telangana government has set a target of ₹45,000 crores from excise for 2024-25.

As per media reports, Uttar Pradesh came next in sales, having done a business of nearly ₹600 crores, breaking its previous record.

Karnataka rakes in nearly 1,000 crores in end December

Karnataka, more so Bengaluru which is known for its pub and cocktail culture, witnessed its highest single-day liquor sales of ₹409 crores on December 28 as residents and bars stocked spirits. The Karnataka State Beverages Corporation Limited (KSBCL) reportedly sold liquor worth ₹308 crore during New Year celebrations in the state against the target of ₹250 crores. At least 4.83 lakh boxes of Indian-made liquor (IML) were sold generating revenue of ₹250.25 crore. Around 2.92 lakh boxes of beer bottles were sold for ₹ 57.75 crore. In total 7,76,042 lakh boxes of liquor were sold.

December has been an exceptional month as during Christmas too there were good sales. On December 27, ₹408.58 crore liquor sale was registered. Around 6.22 lakhs of IML boxes and 4.04 lakh beer boxes were sold, generating business of ₹327.50 crore and ₹80.58 crore.

Andhra Pradesh sales hit a new high

Tipplers in Andhra Pradesh gulped down liquor worth nearly ₹300 crores on New Year’s Eve, double the amount of liquor sales during the previous year (₹147 crores). To encourage sale of liquor, the Andhra Pradesh government allowed the retail vends to be open until midnight, while bars were permitted to dispense liquor till 1 am.

The port city of Visakhapatnam registered sale of liquor worth ₹11 crore on December 31 alone with around ₹ 8.89 crores sales happening through 145 liquor outlets in Visakhapatnam district; ₹ 1.55 crores from 119 bars; ₹17 lakh sales from 12 star hotels; ₹8 lakh sales from six clubs and ₹ 7.5 lakh from four tourism hotels, according to the Superintendent of Excise, R. Prasad. Visakhapatnam average daily sales is ₹ 5 crores.

Delhi touches 400 crore sales

Delhi also saw liquor sales worth ₹400 crore, with hotels, bars and party events consuming the most alcohol, while Noida had sales touching ₹16 crores on December 31 and January 1, 2025, boosted by the extended hours of vending.

Kerala sees more sales during X’mas

In Kerala, it was Christmas season which saw Keralites guzzle more beer and liquor than during New Year’s Eve. On December 24-25, beer and liquor sales in Kerala was about ₹152 crores (₹94.72 on December 24 and ₹54.64 crores on Christmas day) while on New Year’s Eve it was ₹108 crores, nevertheless ₹13 crores more than the previous year.

The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC), the sole wholesaler of alcoholic drinks in the state, released these figures. It said that the sale of liquor and beer was about ₹19,088.68 crores in 2023-24, up from ₹18,510.98 crores in 2022-23. The profile of liquor consumers in Kerala reveals that around 32.9 lakh people out of the 3.34 crore population in the state consume liquor, which includes 29.8 lakh men and 3.1 lakh women. Around five lakh people consume liquor on a daily basis. Of this, as many as 83,851 people, including 1,043 women, are addicted to alcohol.