Looking for creative ways to enjoy Lunar New Year cocktails? You’ve come to the right place! Sipping on drinks carries a multitude of cultural significance in the rich tapestry of Chinese traditions. But, when it comes to celebrating the coming of a new year, sharing these traditional beverages is said to usher in good fortune and prosperity!
At Drinkable Gifts, we’re excited to blend tradition with innovation as we enter the Lunar New Year 2024. Join us on a delightful journey through a collection of our favorite Lunar New Year cocktails meticulously curated to infuse the festivities with flavor and joy.
The Cultural Significance of Chinese New Year Drinking Traditions
We’re not kidding; sharing a drink (or three) is an integral part of most Chinese holidays and celebrations. And, a fun but also controversial fact: China does not impose a strict drinking age! But before you rage, this doesn’t mean they’re letting kids go raucous. It simply means that every family member will partake in at least a sip of wine in celebration of the new year.
Beyond its pleasurable taste, there is a deeply rooted belief that alcohol holds protective qualities and will shield you from bad luck. Surprisingly, or perhaps fittingly, there is no specific type of alcohol designated for these festivities. Nianjiu, the traditional New Year’s drink, is not confined to a singular variety. Instead, each household embraces the liberty to craft its own unique concoction. This makes the act of sharing a drink during the Lunar New Year a profoundly personal and cherished tradition.
Basically, if you’re thinking about celebrating with Lunar New Year cocktails, you certainly have free reign to make it your own!
Our 5 Favorite Lunar New Year Cocktails
Okay, we’re ready to spill the tea or, rather, pour the cocktails! From delicious concoctions inspired by Chinese New Year parades to popular slow sippers, here is a list of our 5 favorite Lunar New Year cocktails:
Chit-Cha Toddy
Our first fave is a Chinese New Year cocktail tailormade for cold weather. While specific recipes may vary, a Chit-Cha Toddy typically features a comforting blend of ingredients. Common elements may include tea, honey, citrus, and a splash of spirits like whiskey or rum. The warm infusion creates a soothing and aromatic drink, perfect for sipping and celebrating the Lunar New Year with loved ones!
Recipe:
- 0.75 oz Whiskey,
- 0.25 oz of Cynar Liqueur, ginger simple syrup, lemon juice, and honey
- 3.5 oz hot Oolong tea
- Give it a stir, garnish with a lemon slice, and serve!
Lychee Martini
When it comes to pairing cocktails with Chinese cuisine, lychee takes the flavor game to a whole new level, and it’s easy to see why. Its tropical charm perfectly complements the boldness of many traditional Chinese dishes. Fun fact: in Chinese culture, lychees also symbolize love and romance, and who wouldn’t want to manifest some of that in the new year?
Recipe:
- 1.5 Oz SKYY vodka
- 1.5 Oz lychee liqueur or lychee syrup
- A dash of freshly squeezed lime juice per cocktail.
- To garnish, a pitted lychee or two per cocktail.
Instructions:
- Add the vodka, lychee liqueur (or syrup), and lime juice to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well
- Strain into a chilled Martini or coupe glass
- Garnish with a pitted lychee fruit or two on a cocktail garnish pin
How to Make Lychee Syrup:
- Add sugar and water to a saucepan and bring it to a slow boil over heat, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved
- Now add the lychees, reduce the heat, cover the saucepan, and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes
- Remove from heat and let it cool for 30 minutes. Strain the fruit from the syrup and decant it into a bottle with a tight lid.
- You can keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks!
Asian Pear
Consider the Asian Pear cocktail as the epitome of a finely tailored Chinese cocktail dress designed to hug every curve with absolute perfection. From its inception to the last sip, this cocktail is a pure delight and a breeze to whip up!
Recipe:
- Add 1.25 oz Chinese baijiu
- 0.25 oz Maraschino liqueur
- 0.25 oz pear liqueur,
- 2 oz white pear juice
- 0.75 oz lime juice
- 0.5 oz agave syrup
- A few dashes of bitters to a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake until well-chilled, decant into a frosted glass, and serve!
Sesame Old Fashioned
Embracing the timeless allure of the classic Old Fashioned, the Sesame Old Fashioned puts a uniquely nutty and aromatic spin on this globally beloved slow sipper.
Recipe:
- Dry-toast sesame seeds in a warm pan
- Remove from heat and add the seeds to 4 oz of your favorite whiskey.
- Infuse for an hour.
- Blend 2 oz of the sesame-infused whiskey, 0.5 oz of any syrup, and 4 dashes of bitters in a rocks glass over ice.
- Stir, serve, and enjoy!
Cherry Moon
Craving a touch of sweetness in a glass, with a side of good luck in a radiant red hue? Give the Cherry Moon a try! In the spirit of the Lunar New Year, which orbits around the lunar cycle, lunar references are practically a good luck charm. Making the cherry-red tint of this Lunar New Year cocktail an irresistible addition to the celebration.
Recipe:
- Fill a rock glass with ice
- 1.5 oz cherry-flavored vodka
- 3.5 oz lemon-lime soda
- 0.5 oz of grenadine
- Garnish with a cherry, and serve!
Make Lunar New Year Cocktails With Drinkable Gifts!
At Drinkable Gifts, we understand the power of shared moments over a well-crafted drink. That’s why we’re here to help you bring the Lunar New Year celebration to new heights. Whether you’re toasting with a Chit-Cha Toddy, savoring the complexity of a Sesame Old Fashioned, or reveling in the cherry-red charm of a Cherry Moon, we’ve got you covered!
Send spirits across the globe and ensure that the joy of crafting and sipping these delightful cocktails can be shared with family and friends, no matter the distance.
Thank you for exploring Lunar New Year cocktails!
- Learn about how to send a gift to someone in China.
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Alex is a hopeless romantic who was supposed to be born in Italy (her dream destination), but proud to be South African nonetheless. She lives by her heart, and, consequentially, leaves a little bit of herself in everything she writes. She wholeheartedly believes that mermaids (and fairies) exist and is deadly afraid of the age ’30’.