The Drinks You Need for the Ultimate New Year's Eve Party

With the right line-up of alcoholic beverages you can turn any hum-drum New Year's Eve get-together into a great party. To start, forget the cheap beer. Save that for your late night run to the convenient store after everything else has disappeared, because at that point you and your guests probably won't notice just how bad it is. While your guests are still sober, you'll want to serve something a little more sophisticated.

Here are our choices for the top alcoholic beverages to have on hand for your New Year's Eve party, sorted by category:

Rum:

You can never have enough rum on hand; it mixes great with Coke and an assortment of other beverages. Our favorites are Mount Gay Rum and Oronoco Rum.

Mount Gay Rum:
It's James Bonds' newest drink of choice; he even ordered it over his trademark martini in Casino Royale. Of course that's not reason enough to snatch up a bottle of the world's oldest rum. Produced in Barbados, Mount Gay Rum is made with pure cane sugar, giving it a sweeter taste than most other rums. Mix it with Coca-Cola and some ice for the ultimate rum and coke.

Oronoco Rum:

Produced in Brazil, Oronoco Rum comes in an intricately designed bottle that is sure to inspire a few "oohs and ahhs". The contents of the bottle are just as impressive. This white rum is sweet to the taste, and can only be described by one word: "Delicious." Mix it with pineapple juice and coconut cream for a mouth-watering pina colada, or keep it simple and mix it with ice and coke. Your guests will leave wondering where they can get a bottle for themselves.

Vodka:

No party is complete without vodka. It's great for martinis and mixed drinks like screwdrivers and the ever-popular modern favorite, Red Bull & vodka. Our top pick is Ketel One vodka.

Ketel One Vodka:

In recent years Ketel One, a vodka from Holland, has become quite popular in the United States. Once you've had some yourself, you'll understand why. It's super smooth and nearly tasteless, and goes down easy. It's the perfect vodka for shots. Some say it's not recommended for mixing, but I beg to differ - it tastes great mixed with orange juice and ice, or Red Bull and ice.

Whiskey:

A classic saloon drink, you'll want to be sure to have at least one bottle of fine whiskey on hand. The word whiskey dates all the way back to 1405, and you won't be surprised that it originated in Ireland.

Crown Royal:

Crown Royal is a an old stand-by for people who love whiskey. There are a number of ways to enjoy the Canadian made product including on neat, on the rocks, or with a soda such a ginger ale. There are many competitors in the market, but this one has stood the test of time because of its smooth taste and flavor. For connoseuirs, Crown Royal Special Reserve and Crown Royal XR are special blends that have been aged for the best taste and come at a premium price that is worth the price if you love the popular brand name.

Gin:

A favorite drink for centuries, gin was the basis of the original martini. Do a quick search on Google, and you'll pull up literally hundreds of different drink recipes. If you're tried gin before and thought you didn't like it, you may just need to try a different recipe for a drink mix more suited to your tastes. It has been said that the quality of the drink you mix gin with is just as important as the gin itself. Two distinct gins that we recommend are Bluecoat American Dry Gin and Henderick's Gin.

Bluecoat American Dry Gin:

When you think of gin, English favorites like Beefeater and Gordon's likely come to mind. But Bluecoat is unique in that it is an American-made gin. It's 100% American, right down to its very historically relevant name. "Bluecoat" refered to American soldiers in the Revolutionary War, while a redcoat fought for England. Bluecoat gin is distilled in a custom-built, hand-hammered copper pot using organic juniper berries and a proprietary blend of organic American citrus peels and other organic botanicals.

Hendrick's Gin:

Hendrick's gin is from across the pond, but rather than being produced in England, this one is out of Scotland. It's a unique small batch gin hand crafted with an unexpected infusion of cucumber and rose petals. Hendrick's makes for great martinis, and instead of garnishing it with a lime, opt for a slice of cucumber instead - you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Tequila:

A favorite party drink, your New Year's Eve bash wouldn't be complete without one quality tequila. For this special ocassion we recommend the 1800 Tequila Essential Artists Limited Edition tequila.

1800 Tequila Essential Artists Limited Edition:

1800 Essential Artists has commissioned the fine works of 8 hot urban artists throughout the country to design keepsake bottles. The renderings are magnificent that are colorful and really standout. Only 1800 of each bottle has been made in the collection, so they truly are "limited edition." While many tequila shots might make you want to cry, this one goes down smooth and is loved by many. Have a shot with salt and lime, or mix it up for your favorite margarita.

Absinthe:

The once-favorite drink of 18th and early 19th century poets and writers, Absinthe has finally been legalized in the United States. Now you can legally try out this mystical green drink, and see what all the fuss was about. We recommend La Fea Absinthe.

La Fee Absinthe:

Packaged with a specialized absinthe spoon, your first taste of La Fee Absinthe is an experience you won't soon forget. Make sure you have some cold water, ice, and sugar cubes on hand and follow the on bottle instructions to create the perfectly potent drink.

Champagne:

New Year's Eve isn't complete without at least one bottle of champagne (we recommend getting a few). Our top choice in the champagne category this year is none other than Champagne Cattier, which has just made its entry into the American market having been available overseas for decades.

Champagne Cattier:

With five distinct varieties to choose from, you may just want to pick up a bottle of each and try them all. Choose from Red Kiss, Blue Saphir, Blanc de Noirs, Brut Antique, and Limited Edition Clos du Moudlin. Variants of Champagne Cattier are made in the prestigious territory of Montagne in Reims, France on 31 hectares of vineyards primarily classified as "Premier Cru", a highly regarded classification within the champagne category. Start the year off in style, and impress even the most discerning of champagne connossiuers by picking up a bottle (or two... or three...) of Champagne Cattier this New Year's Eve.

Other Considerations:

Along with great booze, you need some good accessories.

Ice:

Think lots and lots of ice. You can't make a lot of mixed drinks without it, so don't skimp - otherwise you might have to leave mid-party to pick up more at the gas station. And while you're at it, consider a nice ice bucket or two with some tongs for a classier touch.

Glasses & Shots:

For beer, styrofoam cups will suffice, but for this kind of party you'll want to invest in some better glassware. If you're having a large gathering, it would probably be easiest to head to the party store and pick up a large quantity of plastic wine glasses, champagne flutes, small tumblers, and shot glasses. If you're having an intimate gathering, you might want to set out the fancy glassware and shots.

Lime & Salt:

Make sure you have a few limes on hand. You also must make sure you have some salt on hand, especially if you're serving tequila. They can be used for decorative purposes, or in the case of tequila, its customary to serve a shot with salt and a slice of lime.

Juice & Red Bull:

You'll want to make sure you at least pick up these three juices: orange juice, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice. Red Bull is also nice to mix with vodka for an energizing boost.

Cocktail Mixers:

Mixers are a must if you want to give your guests a variety of drink options options. We recommend the MIXERZ brand of cocktail mixes because of their quality and ease of use. There are several varities available, including Bloody Marys, Apple Sours, and more. All you have to do is follow the instructions on the bottle, pour, mix, and enjoy. They taste delicious and are a great way to spruce up your favorite alcoholic beverages.