As the New Year comes to a close, many secretly wish to be the best host of the party. And nothing gets the bash buzzing quite like a well-stocked home bar and craft cocktails. All you need is to be armed with top mixology tools, a little artistic flair and simple cocktail recipes to turn up the heat. From smoking guns and infusion chambers that infuse the drinks with rich-smoky flavours, Japanese jiggers & spoons for precision, to advanced muddlers and shakers, there’s a lot to practise your hands on before you host the home party.
To begin with, we curate a list of easy-to-make, finest cocktails from experts for New Year’s that will keep guests circling the counter all evening. These craft pours require simple ingredients, minimal time and will add loads of fun to the final countdown. So be ready to shake, stir and sip your guests’ way into the year ahead.
Also Read: India Bartender Show 2026 is back
The Oasis by Godawan Artisanal Single Malt
Every cocktail is created with a unique story. Take, for instance, the Oasis. Its core is inspired by a desert sunset. Rich, aromatic and quietly intriguing, the cocktail has Godawan 01 PX Sherry Cask blended with coffee-infused vermouth, which sits in clay to soak up earthy notes. Take it a a taste of the earth, perfect for a grounding start to the New Year.
Recipe By: Akhilesh Sheoran, Indian Craft Advocacy, Godawan Artisanal Single Malt, Diageo India
Ingredients:
Godawan 01 Rich & Rounded – 50ml
Coffee-infused sweet vermouth – 15ml
Aromatic bitters – 2 dashes
Method:
- Step 1: Mix all ingredients and pour the concoction in a clay pot for 6–8 hours
- Step 2: Give it a gentle stir before serving and sip slowly
Pistola Paloma by Maya Pistola Agavepura
If you prefer to treat your guests with a bright and bubbly fruit punch, then Pistola Paloma doesn’t overthink the fun. It’s where Pistola Joven’s smooth agave base meets with the citrus notes of grapefruit, lime and just enough fizz to keep things lively. It’s best for those who love fruity notes that leave a refreshing aftertaste.
Recipe by: Jin Lasner, Senior Trade Ambassador, Maya Pistola Agavepura
Ingredients:
Pistola Joven – 60ml
Grapefruit juice – 45ml
Lime juice – 15ml
Agave nectar – 15ml
Saline – 5ml
Method:
- Fill a glass with ice
- Add all the ingredients and top it with grapefruit soda
- Mix it lightly and add a grapefruit wedge for garnish
Frosted Lychee Martini by Tulleeho
For those who do love to relish slightly sweet cocktails, the Frosted Lychee Martini is what you’d want in hand when the clock strikes twelve. It’s light, floral, fruity and smooth, balancing the saccharine notes of lychee with elderflower with a crisp vodka base. Totally crafted for midnight glamour.
Recipe By: Shubham Shukla, Project Manager, Tulleeho
Ingredients:
Vodka – 50ml
Lychee juice – 30ml
Elderflower syrup – 10ml
Fresh lemon juice – 10ml
Rose water – 2 drops
Method:
- Chill your glass of martini
- Add vodka, lychee juice, elderflower syrup, lemon juice, and rose water to a cocktail shaker filled with ice
- Shake for 10-15 seconds until it’s chilled
- Fine strain into the glass and add a lychee stuffed with raspberry for garnishing
- You can also use frosted sugar on the rim and a rose water mist to add a layer of drama
The Golden Hour by Monarch Legacy Edition x Bartisans
Easy, festive and fuss-free, the Golden Hour is the must-have at-home crowd-pleaser. Created by blending Bartisans and Monarch Legacy Edition, the pour is filled with rose, saffron and cardamom, which meld well with Monarch’s grape brandy. The result is a warm and celebratory cocktail that keeps winter chills at bay.
Ingredients:
Monarch Legacy Edition Brandy – 60ml
Bartisans Golden Hour Mixer – 90ml
Ice
Method:
- Add Monarch and Golden Hour mixer into a shaker
- Shake or stir both ingredients with ice
- Strain over fresh ice and garnish with cinnamon or a dried rose petal
Bee’s Knees by Vedant Newatia, Atelier V
Missing a botanical cocktail? Make Bee’s Knees — a classic, bright, citrusy and lightly sweet cocktail. where botanical gin meets honey and tangy notes of lemon and orange. One sip and you’re in the golden-hour moment, no matter the time of night it is.
Recipe By: Vedant Newatia, Founder and Head Chef, Atelier V
Ingredients:
Dry gin – 60ml
Honey syrup – 2 tsp
Fresh lemon juice – 30ml
Fresh orange juice – 30ml
Method:
- Mix the honey syrup with the lemon and orange juice, and mix well
- Add gin, and shake with ice
- Strain into a chilled glass.
- Finish with a twist of citrus zest
Vanilla Old Fashioned by MONIN
If you love the bostalgia-seeping rich notes of vanilla, then Vanilla Old Fashioned softens bourbon’s edge just enough to make it delightfully drinkable. It’s the perfect nightcap when the party’s winding down, but the conversations still hold on to the revelry.
Recipe By: Akshay Harishchandra Sail, Beverage Innovation Manager, MONIN
Ingredients:
MONIN Vanilla Syrup – 10ml
Bourbon whiskey – 60ml
Bitters – a few drops
Ice
Orange slice
Method:
- Stir syrup, bourbon and bitters over ice
- Garnish with an orange slice and sip like a pro
