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Whether your New Year’s Eve plans involve staying dry or getting twisted, everyone deserves to raise a glass to celebrate the new year. Inspired by the back-to-back holidays and the cozy winter season, these festive vegan beverages will warm your soul and delight your tastebuds. All of the recipes can be modified to suit the mood—spike the mocktails with your favorite vegan libation, or soften-up the cocktails by using zero-proof spirits such as Seedlip, Spirits of Virtue, or Curious Elixirs. Put a bar cart on your wish list—you’ll want to make these beverages all season long.
An ode to stuffing stockings with oranges, this creamsicle-like cocktail is better than any citrus you’ll pull out of a sock.
1 ounce orange vodka 2 ounces Vanilla Schnapps 5 ounces tangerine Italian soda ¼ cup ice Coconut whipped cream, to garnish Shaved vegan chocolate, to garnish
In a shaker, add vodka, schnapps, and Italian soda and shake to combine. In a tall glass, ice and pour vodka mixture over ice. Top with coconut whipped cream and shaved vegan chocolate.
For the beer-based cocktail connoisseur, you can’t go wrong with an expertly prepared Black Velvet. Skip the ordinary champagne and serve up this bubbly beverage at your New Year’s Eve get-together.
3 ounces deep-flavored fruited beer, try Goose Island Parka Porter or Southern Tier Plum Stout 4 ounces Asti Spumante, or other vegan sweet sparkling wine
Into a flute, add beer and then pour in sparkling wine on top.
Instead of spiking your vegan PSL, try this homemade cocktail to warm up to the holiday spirit.
1½ ounces bourbon 1 ounce Aperol 2 ounces pumpkin-spiced apple cider ¼ ounce lemon juice 2 dashes ginger bitters 2 dashes chocolate bitters Cinnamon stick and orange slices, to garnish
In a shaker, add bourbon, Aperol, cider, lemon juice, and bitters, stir in ice, and serve in a rocks glass garnished with a cinnamon stick and orange slices.
A seasonal variation of the Golden Ivy, this red- and green-hued libation offers a Christmas (and Kwanza) twist to the standard cranberry drink.
1½ ounces Courvoisier ½ ounces Green Chartreuse 1 ounce cranberry juice ¼ cup ice Sprig of rosemary, to garnish
In a shaker, add Courvoisier, wine, Chartreuse, and juice and shake. Add ice, shake gently, and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.
Shake up the traditional Manhattan—this seasonal spin will warm you right up after an evening spent out on the ice of Rockefeller Center.
1 ounce Monkey Shoulder (or other low to no peat scotch) 1.5 ounces Pedro Ximenez Sherry ¼ cup ice 3 ounces citrus Hard Seltzer, try Truly Lime or Willie’s Superbrews Ginger Lemon Candy canes, to garnish
In a glass, add scotch, sherry, and ice, and stir. Into a martini glass, strain mixture and garnish with a candy cane.
Mix up this kid-friendly drink inspired by the wizarding world. Note: if you can’t find pumpkin juice, strain pumpkin purée through a nutmilk bag.
1¼ ounces apple cider 1¼ ounces pumpkin juice ½ ounce lemon juice ¼ cup ice 4 ounces ginger beer Cinnamon stick and orange wedge, to garnish
In a shaker, add cider and juices, and shake. In a tall glass, add ice and pour over cider mixture. Add ginger beer and garnish with a cinnamon stick and an orange wedge.
Unlike other holiday beverages, this fizzy drink will make you feel amazing the morning after.
3 ounces carrot juice 2 ounces orange juice ⅛ teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon ⅛ teaspoon ginger powder ¼ cup ice 3 ounces GT’s “Living In Gratitude” Kombucha
In a shaker, add juices, cinnamon, ginger powder, and ice, and shake. Into a tall glass, pour juice mixture. Add in kombucha on top.
A play on the classic cocktail of the same name, this layered drink isn’t too sweet despite all the fruity ingredients. Kids and adults alike will love the mild effervescence and fun colors of this trendy mocktail.
2 ounces organic grapefruit juice 4 ounces Izze pomegranate soda 2 ounces lavender shrub, try Bauman’s Lavender Tangerine Burnt lemon peel, to garnish
Into a coupe champagne glass, pour juice, soda, and lavender shrub. Garnish with burnt lemon peel.
We’ve heard winter pears and elderberries are staples up at the North Pole! Find elderberry syrup down south in natural food and alternative medicine stores.
1 teaspoon elderberry syrup 2 ounces pear juice 2 ounces ginger lemon tea Martinelli’s sparkling apple cider, to float Pear slices, to garnish
Into a glass, add syrup, juice, and tea, and stir well. Top with desired amount of cider and garnish with pear slices.
If you dream of drinking cranberry sauce, this will be your new favorite mocktail.
2 leaves of rosemary, plus a sprig for garnish 3 ounces cranberry juice ½ ounce simple syrup ¼ cup ice 2 ounces soda water
In a glass, add rosemary leaves, cranberry juice, and syrup and muddle. Add ice and gently shake. Into a coupe glass, strain mixture, top with soda water, and garnish with more rosemary.
Enjoy this coffee cake beverage hot or cold, but certainly alongside vegan biscotti—or actual coffee cake.
4 ounces coffee, caffeinated or decaf 2 ounces oat milk 4 drops mocha bitters 2 ounces Oat Yeah Oatmeal Cookie Creamer, steamed or frothed in a blender
In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients, then pour into a mug. Pop mug into the microwave for 1 minute for a hot drink. For a cold drink, refrigerate coffee before use.
For more vegan drinks, read: Vegan Citrus Holiday Punch Vegan Cream Liqueur The Perfect Vegan Amaretto Sour
Suzannah Gerber (Chef Suzi), Plant-Based Chef, cookbook authors, and executive chef of Haven Foods, is a food and medical industry consultant, and the author of Plant-Based Gourmet.
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