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Best NYE cocktail recipes to bring in 2025

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No New Year’s Eve is complete without a few good drinks to hand. So to give 2024 a seriously good sendoff, you should make sure they’re up to the task right? Put that champagne away – this year we’re ringing in the New Year Ballantine’s style.

Here’s our rundown of the best NYE cocktail recipes – each easy to make and delicious to drink. Not a boring glass in sight.

Atholl Brose

Want to impress guests even more after you’ve cooked up a storm? Don’t end after dessert – get the cocktail shaker out instead for an after dinner drink that’ll really up your hosting game. 

The Atholl Brose cocktail is a simple yet sumptuous creamy mix of Ballantine’s 12 Year Old, honey and scotch liqueur. It’s sweet and merry, just like the vibe of a New Year’s Eve soiree. 

Whisky on the Rocks

Nothing says New Year’s Eve like an extra special cocktail. And nothing says extra special like a luxurious whisky on the rocks. Perfect for sipping in the early hours of 2024.

We use the pinnacle of our range; Ballantine’s 30 Year Old. It’s a rich, sweet blend of rare powerful whiskies that’ll start your New Year off right.

Speyside Spritz

Our twist on the classic French 75 recipe is designed for celebrations. 

Pop open a bottle of champagne and blend the bubbles with Ballantine’s 7 American Barrel for a super smooth, luxurious serve that’s made for NYE sipping.

Bobby Bru

Hail in Hogmanay with an Irn Bru serve that celebrates Scotland. It’s what we call the Bobby Bru Whisky Sour – the most Scottish cocktail we can think of.

The renowned orange coloured soda just works so well with the smooth flavours of Ballantine’s. With a frothy egg white top for extra smoothness.

White Orchid

Feeling fanciful? This vanilla whisky cocktail adds a sweetness to Ballantine’s 21 Year Old, bringing out the bottle’s natural notes of apple and liquorice. It’s simple to make but not simple on the palate. 

Top yours with a frozen orchid flower and you’re all set for bringing in the New Year in style.

Spritz My Way

If you can’t do New Year without a little fizz then give this whisky prosecco cocktail a whirl. It’s a light fruity drink with a glug of Ballantine’s Finest that’ll bring a memorable moment to your midnight countdown. 

Mix it with a splash of soda water and a herbal liqueur – topped with rosemary and orange to infuse those festive flavours.

Sandbox Sip

New Year is all about trying new things. So why not give a new cocktail a go? Sandbox Sip is one of our latest creations made with our out of this world limited edition bottle of Ballantine’s Finest X Borderlands

Take your scotch and sweet vermouth and give it a shake with orange juice and cherry liqueur. It’s punchy and packed with party vibes – perfect for NYE.

Cold Brew Kick

Need a coffee to get through the night? Rather than popping the kettle on, have a stash of cold brew coffee in the fridge for a caffeine-fuelled cocktail your guests will be grateful for.

Ready to get shaking? Check out this cold brew cocktail recipe; the perfect wake up call for a 1am sing song.

Sazerac Twist

A New Year’s Eve cocktail deserves to be grand. And we think this scotch with a twist does the job. 

A classic Sazerac combines whisky with sugar, bitters and absinthe. We’ve simply added a citrus twist on this classic cocktail recipe to highlight the bold, spicy notes of Ballantine’s 17 Year Old. It’s a fantastic serve.

Penicillin

In need of something exceptional? Prescribe yourself (and your pals) a Penicillin. This spicy scotch drink only came to fame in the 21st century but is now a top contender for the world’s most loved whisky cocktails.

The Penicillin cocktail packs a punch with classic flavours of honey, ginger and lemon, gently shaken with blended whisky. The secret is a float of peaty scotch that adds a layer of smokiness.

Scots Coffee

Pour a round of this espresso whisky cocktail made with sweet cream soda to fill up the dancefloor. It’s wonderfully easy and an all round crowd pleaser. 

This is one for the adventurous Highball seeker. There’s no Espresso Martini’s around here… we like our coffee cocktails with whisky and an added spritz.

ballantines bobby burns whisky cocktail

Bobby Burns

We love a spin on a classic drink. But sometimes, you can’t beat an OG recipe. The Bobby Burns cocktail is one of those old timers you’ll go back to again and again. And we love it for an end of year do.

Blended scotch, sweet vermouth and herbal liqueur make up this dram, a top accompaniment to a round of Auld Lang Syne.

Apple Pop

If you want to whizz up a round of fresh, light drinks in no time then this whisky apple cocktail is one to save in your notes. It’s sweet and simple but packs a serious flavour punch. That’s why we call it Apple Pop.

Take your Ballantine’s Finest and top it up with apple juice, soda water and a sprig of mint for extra bonus points.

Hot Honey Sour

Hot honey has been all the rage recently, so it makes sense for a honey sour with a chilli kick to be a highlight at the end of the year. 

Garnish this Hot Honey Sour with a chilli slice for extra spice. Guaranteed to keep you going past midnight.

Hugo

A Hugo cocktail is simple to make but oozes sophistication-ideal when you want to enjoy your New Year’s Eve celebrations but still want to be a top tier host. 

Lemon, St Germain and cucumber slices make it incredibly refreshing. While whisky brings sweetness and Prosecco adds a subtle fizz to make it extra special.

Frozen Hugo Spritz

Introducing the Hugo’s cooler cousin. A Frozen Hugo Spritz will definitely keep you chilled when you’re dancing the final hours of the year away. 

This simple recipe uses all the same ingredients but blends them with ice to create an adults-only slushie.

Paperplane

Zesty orange, herbal scents, honey aromas, crisp red apple and delicate vanilla. This recipe’s got it all.

In the Paperplane cocktail, whisky and Aperol cocktail combine to help you glide into the New Year nicely. Just make sure there’s enough for everyone.

Chip & Dip

Found yourself with a serious case of the midnight munchies? Try our Boozy Chocolate Milkshake with a side of salty French fries for dunking. 

It might sound weird. But trust us, it’s the perfect blend of sweet and savoury. And what more of a memorable way to kick off the year.

Ray of Sunshine

No one said New Year’s drinks couldn’t be fruity. This one’s for the crowd who are counting down to summer.

Toast to a bright year ahead with a mango and pineapple cocktail that uses the sweet, exotic flavours of Ballantine’s Sunshine, our new tropical spirit drink.

If you’re looking for more NYE cocktail ideas then check out our library of whisky drink recipes. You can put a spin on them (like our variations on the whisky sour), follow them to the T – the choice is yours.

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