Taste tested: The best drinks for New Year’s Eve parties 2024

The best white wines

The Wine Atlas Rhoditis Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Greece 11.5%
Modern Greek wines have really caught on this year – here’s a refreshing one with a lemon sorbet tang, green apple and kiwi fruit. A blend of sauv blanc and a local Greek grape, it’s an excellent party white with pastry nibbles and seafood snacks. £7, available from Asda

La Mia Strada Falanghina 2023, Benevento, Italy 13%
A stylish label for an elegant Italian made near Naples from the local falanghina grape. It has a lovely white blossom aroma, cool peachiness and dry finish. Sophisticated for its price tag. £8.50, available from Co-op

Equilibriste Chenin Blanc 2023, Vin de France 11%
Relatively low alcohol, easy-going white on an attractive deal this month – what’s not to like? With a flavour of yellow apples and a dry but soft finish, it will please a crowd at a party and it’s fine to drink on its own without food. £8.99 (down to £6.99 from 4 Dec to 1 Jan), Waitrose

The best red wines

Les Jamelles Syrah 2022, Pays d’Oc, France 12.5%
With blackberries and cassis, a sprinkle of spice and a dab of liquorice, this is a ripe red that punches above its price point, as is so often the case with wines from the Languedoc. Eye-catching offer, too. £8.65 in stores (£7.65 until 4 Jan), £9.25 online, available from Co-op

Terra di Vita Organic Perricone 2023, Sicily, Italy 14%
Aromatic Sicilian red with good acidity, a core of tangy raspberry and enough structure to match food – I’d open it for charcuterie or sausage rolls at a party. It could be chilled lightly to emphasise its succulence. £9.99, available from Waitrose

Specially Selected Kooliburra Zweigelt-Shiraz 2023, South East Australia 13%
A new and unusual blend of an Austrian grape with better-known shiraz, made Down Under. Ripe but fresh, with juicy red cherry lifting richer mocha and cassis layers, it’s versatile with buffet spreads and cheeseboards. £9.99, available from Aldi

The best fizz

Cave de Lugny Crémant de Bourgogne NV, France 11.5%
I love this Burgundy bubbly, which is made exactly like champagne (and tastes a lot like it). Expect delicate layers of lemon and grapefruit, and a light biscuity note with lively froth. £15,  available from Tesco

Champagne Comte de Senneval Brut NV, France 12.5%
Lidl’s ‘house’ champagne this Christmas is impressive, with hints of raspberry yogurt, tea biscuits and light toast. Richer than some but dry on the finish, it’s very keenly priced. £13.99, available from Lidl

The best rosé wine

Paco Real Rosado 2023, Rioja, Spain 13%
Hurrah for a cerise-hued Spanish rosé with lots of flavour – think wild strawberries and red cherries with a dry finish. This can take on cold meats and buffet food, even spicy snacks like empanadas. £8, available from Marks & Spencer and Ocado

The Wine Atlas Île-de-Beauté 2023, France 11%
Pale salmon-pink wine from Corsica, shot through with red apple and pink grapefruit, with a hint of raspberry. More brightly fruity than some but not too strong – and a bargain to boot. £7, available from Asda

The best ready-to-drink cocktails

The Marksologist Sloe Gin Sour Cocktail 17.5%
This is a new addition to M&S’s Marksologist range and I love its intense sweetness and lemony lift, along with the distinctive bitter but juicy flavour of sloe berries. Suits a winter cocktail hour. £5 for 125ml, available from Marks & Spencer

Whitebox Vieux Carré Cocktail 30%
Strong and complex, this packs a punch in a small serve. Expect the wood spice of American rye whiskey and French brandy mingled with sweet vermouth, herbal Benedictine and bitters. Pour over ice and garnish with a twist of lemon. £4.95 for 100ml, available from Drinkmonger; £6.80, available from Whitebox Cocktails

The best soft drinks

Zonin Cuvée Zero, Italy 0.5%
A new booze-free Italian fizz that’s on the sweet side but has fresh acidity to lift it, with appealing natural notes of nectarine and citrus. Lots of busy bubbles and a crisp finish. £7.50, available from Ocado

Luscombe Mulled Winter Warmer, England 0%
This new take on mulled wine, but with no alcohol, is subtle and well thought out with fresh citrus, cherry juice and dashes of clove, cinnamon and nutmeg. Can be enjoyed cold or heated up gently. £27.40 for 6 x 740ml; £26.50 for 12 x 270ml, available from Luscombe

The best drinks for a big party

Bouvet Saphir Saumur Brut 2020, Loire Valley, France 12.5%
Bouvet produces consistently fab fizz from the Loire, and this magnum (two bottles) shouts “let’s party!” It’s made in the same way as champagne, from chenin blanc and chardonnay grapes, and has lively citrus, a mineral streak and light toastiness. £33 for 1.5 litre magnum (down to £24.75 as part of a mixed six from 19 Nov to 2 Dec; £28 from 3 to 31 Dec), available from Majestic

Lisboa Bonita Red Wine 2022, Portugal 13.5%
Mellow and easy-going, a soft, aromatic red with flavours of ripe plums and black cherries. There are three bottles in the box, which will go down well with a crowd. £21 for 2.25 litres, available from Marks & Spencer and Ocado

The best spirits and liqueurs

Cove Damson Liqueur, Devon, England 25%
Damsons make rich, purple liqueurs with concentrated juiciness; like sloe gin without the bitter twist. Here’s a fine example based on Devon potato vodka. Splash 40ml into a champagne flute and top up with cold fizz for an instant festive cocktail. £19 for 20cl; £34 for 50cl, available from Devon Cove

Glen Marnoch Rum Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky, Scotland 40%
This whisky won a gold at the International Wine & Spirit Competition. With its warming woodspice, hints of iodine and peat, and caramelised orange peel it must be one of the best bargain spirits of the season. £19.99, available from Aldi

The best mixers

Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Cucumber Tonic, England 0%
A palate-wakening tonic, clean and natural, the cucumber flavour really refreshing – especially during all the rich feasting. Fab with gin or vodka; jolly good on its own too, well chilled. £2.10 for 500ml, available from Sainsbury’s and Waitrose

Belvoir Farm Botanical Mixers Bitter Orange Soda, England 0%
It’s easy to enjoy this spritzy non-alc all on its own, such is the appeal of its herbal botanicals, juicy blood orange, tart rhubarb and light spritz. Or add it to a spirit base for an easy long drink – plain vodka suits it best. £2 for 500ml, available from Waitrose

How to save money on Christmas party drinks

If you’re stocking up for a party, look out for multi-buy offers, such as ‘25% off for six bottles or more’. Most of the major supermarkets sporadically lay these  on. They’re not usually advertised in advance so be ready to pounce when the multi-buy offer lands!

Should mulled wine always be red?

There’s been much debate about mulling white and rosé wines this season (and a couple of ready-made mulled whites are now on the shelves). Of course you can mull what you like, but I prefer the richness of a red as the base over the more acidic whites and pinks. Use a decent wine and warm gently with cloves (go steady here as they’re strong), cinnamon sticks, citrus slices and a little sugar to taste. Don’t boil the mulled wine; keep it under simmering point and add a slug of brandy or dark rum before serving in tumblers. The only other base I use is a good cider, not too fizzy, with apple slices instead of citrus and, if you’ve got it, a splash of calvados.

Browse our favourite festive cocktail recipes and recipe inspiration for New Year’s Eve.