New Year’s Eve drinks: fizz, cocktails, midnight and the morning after

Champagne is traditional but not required. Crémant, Cava, English sparkling wine and good alcohol-free fizz can all deliver the ritual.

A bottle gives roughly six small glasses, so calculate the toast separately from drinks consumed earlier in the evening.

Choose recipes that batch cleanly and do not depend on individual egg-white shakes, elaborate garnishes or six ingredients per glass.

Add carbonation and fresh garnish at the end, and keep a clearly labelled alcohol-free batch alongside.

The best late-night drinks are often simpler: beer, water, coffee or one final small pour. There is little advantage in escalating strength because the clock changed.

Plan food and transport with as much care as the bottles.