Ringing in 2017 At Home... The Ultimate Guide

A new year means a fresh start and new opportunities, but tonight we celebrate! It's time to end 2016 with a big bang, and start 2017 with a soiree to remember. With a cocktail in hand and confetti in the air, cheers to this year ending and next year beginning! Here are a few of my favorite tips to make this New Year’s Eve party your best yet.  

Drinks: But First Champagne

Champagne is the classic new years drink, so why break with tradition? However, since it’s a new year why not put a new twist on a classic? Here are some recipes to keep the champagne flowing this New Year’s Eve.

Blitzen's Bubbles from Terranea Resort

Ingredients:

 .5 oz Benedictine

.5 oz pomegranate juice

4 oz sparkling wine

6 muddled raspberries

Raspberry/mint skewer for garnish

Instructions:

Muddle raspberries in shaker, add all ingredients but sparkling wine. Shake and double strain into a chilled flute. Top with sparkling wine and garnish.

 

French 75

Ingredients :

3 ounces gin

3 ounces fresh lemon juice

4 teaspoons superfine granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups ice cubes

1 cup chilled champagne

Lemon twists for garnish

Instructions

In a cocktail shaker, combine gin, lemon juice, sugar, and ice cubes and shake to chill. Strain cocktails into 2 champagne flutes and top off with champagne. Garnish glass with a lemon twist.

 

Decorative Touches

Clocks are a great addition to the party decor because it's all about the countdown.

Start off 2017 with some sparkle(rs!) -- distribute sparklers to your party guests around the two-minute countdown and light them at midnight. 

What are some traditions that you love to liven up your NYE festivities?