The new year is starting with a bang – here are some cocktails to take off the edge.
The new year is coming in hot – back to work policies, the LA fires, snowstorms and just having to work is killing the 2025 start buzz. Now drinking your problems away isn’t a good or healthy solution, but sometimes a nip of something does help. January is already known as a bit of depressing month due to the post-holiday blues, cold weather, shorter daylight hours, and the potential for increased financial stress after the holiday spree. Here are the best cocktails to get you through the week.
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Paloma
What better way to start the year with a semi healthy drink. The Paloma with tequila and juice is somewhat healthy. Good tequila is low calorie, low body impact coupled with a big dose of vitamin C helps make the dark days a little brighter.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 4 ounces Grapefruit soda, chilled, to top
- Pinch of salt
- Garnish: lime wheel
Create
- Add the tequila, lime juice, and pinch of salt to the glass, and fill with ice.
- Top with grapefruit soda, and stir briefly and gently to combine.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
The Spaghett
While beer drinking is down as people switch to California sober, it is still highly popular. Why now merge it with a favorite (Aperol Spritz and beer) for a refreshing and low alcohol treat? Try it, you will like it.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces light beer, such as Miller High Life
- 1 ounce Campari
Create
- Take a big sip of chilled beer, about 1 ounce
- Pour campari into beer bottle
- Enjoy
Cucumber Cleanse
While friends talk about Dry January, Damp January, winter arc, and more – you can brag you are doing a cleanse. The lemon and cayenne juice cleanse is popular, you are just adding a lpersonal twist so it fits into happy hour or a tailgate. For the ginger syrup add 4 oz peeled while making simply syrup ginger and let it steep for 30 minutes. Strain and use.
- 2 ounces Absolut vodka
- 3/4 ounce fresh cucumber juice
- 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 ounce ginger syrup
- 1/4 ounce honey
- 1 egg white
- Dash of ground cayenne
Create
- Add all ingredients into a shaker and dry-shake (without ice) until frothy
- Add ice and shake again until well-chilled
- Strain into a cocktail glass
- Garnish with a sprinkle of ground cayenne
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Dirty Shirley
Like the actress, the Shirley Temple cocktail was sweet, wholesome and popular. But why not have the adult version of the beverage to start the year out breaking the norms?
Ingredients
- 2 ozs gin
- 1/2 oz orange juice
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon grenadine
- Orange slice
Create
- Combine all ingredients in a shake with ice
- Shake vigorously
- Strain into martini glass
- Garnish orange slice