Throwing your own New Year's Eve party or ringing in 2024 with a quiet evening at home? Check out some cocktail and mocktail recipes provided by local restaurants and craft beverage producers to toast to the year ahead! Trying out some of these drinks is also a great way to support some local Albany County businesses. Cheers! 

Recipes from Nine Pin Cider

Fauxmosa

Celebrating with a New Year's brunch or just looking for a tasty mocktail to try? Grab some of Nine Pin's non-alcoholic sparkling cider and make this delicious mocktail mimosa to say goodbye to 2023. 

Ingredients:

• 1/2-ounce honey simple syrup
• 1 ounce orange juice
• 1 can Nine Pin non-alcoholic sparkling cider (sold in cans in the tasting room)
• cinnamon stick and/or orange to garnish

Recipe

1) Fill 12 oz glass with ice
2) Add the honey simple syrup to glass
3) Mix equal parts honey and water into a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the honey is dissolved. Cool completely before using.
4) Add orange juice
5) Mix honey simple and orange juice
6) Top with non-alcoholic sparkling cider
7) Garnish with a cinnamon stick and/or orange

Rosy Cheeks

Cheers to a rosy new year with this Nine Pin recipe combining flavors of rosemary and cranberry.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce gin (Nine Pin recommends Harvest Spirits Core Gin)
• 1/2-ounce rosemary simple syrup
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 5 sprigs of rosemary
• Nine Pin Cranberry (sold in bottles)
• Rosemary to garnish

Recipe

1) Fill 12 oz glass with ice
2) Add gin and rosemary simple syrup
3) Mix white sugar and ½ cup water into a small saucepan over medium heat. Add sprigs of rosemary. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Cool completely before using.
5) Top with Nine Pin Cranberry 
6) Garnish with rosemary

Chocolate Covered Cherry

This Nine Pin creation is simple to make with just three main ingredients but with its chocolate and fruity flavors it promises for a sweet way to say goodbye to 2023.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce Cooper's Daughter Cacao Maple Vodka
• 1/4-ounce grenadine
• Nine Pin Black Cherry (sold in cans)
• Cocktail cherry for garnish

Recipe

1) Fill 12 oz glass with ice
2) Add vodka and grenadine. Mix.
3) Top with Nine Pin Black Cherry
4) Garnish with a cocktail cherry

Recipe from The Hollow Bar + Kitchen

The Downtowner

Toast to the new year with this downtown Albany staple's twist on a classic Old Fashioned.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Old Forester bourbon
• .25-ounce Luxardo
• .5-ounce charred orange simple syrup
• walnut oil

Recipe

Served straight or over ice

1) Stir bourbon, Luxardo and syrup over ice
2) Strain drink into chilled glass
3) Top with walnut oil

Recipes from New Scotland Spirits

 

 

 

 

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The Blue Ribbon

For the best year yet, start your 2024 with a Blue Ribbon. This New Scotland Spirits beverage offers delicious flavors of blueberry, lemon and mint.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Helderberg Bourbon
• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
• 4-5 fresh mint leaves
• 1-ounce simple syrup (or blueberry syrup)
• 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Soda water (optional, for topping)

Recipe

1) Start by muddling the blueberries and mint leaves together in a cocktail shaker or a sturdy glass using a muddler or the back of a spoon. 
2) Add Helderberg Bourbon. Stir.
3) Add simple syrup and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stir.
4) Fill the shaker or glass with ice cubes. Close the shaker or give the contents of the glass a vigorous stir if using a glass.
5) Once everything is well mixed and chilled, strain the cocktail into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice cubes. 
6) Serve the drink immediately while it's still nice and cold.

Optional: Top the cocktail with a splash of soda water to give it a bit of effervescence. 
Optional: Garnish The Blue Ribbon with a sprig of fresh mint and a few extra blueberries on a cocktail pick

Helderberg Summer

Dreaming about summer during the chilly winter months ahead? Toast to the new year and the sunny days to come with New Scotland Spirits' Helderberg Summer combining flavors of cucumber and lime.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Helderberg Vodka
• ​4 to 6 fresh basil leaves
• 4 to 6 cucumber slices
• 1-ounce fresh lime juice
• 1-ounce simple syrup
• Club soda

Recipe

1) In a cocktail shaker, muddle the basil leaves and cucumber slices together to release their flavors using a muddler or the back of a spoon 
2) Add the Helderberg vodka, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup to the shaker
3) Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds to thoroughly mix the ingredients and chill the drink.
4) Strain the mixture into a tall glass filled with fresh ice cubes.
5) Top the glass with club soda, leaving some room at the top for garnish. Stir.
7) Garnish with a cucumber slice or basil leaf