Classic Cocktails For New Year's Eve | Martini, Rob Roy, Highball | NYE Cocktail Recipes

Classic cocktails and New Year's Eve go hand in hand for me (and champagne, of course). The association comes partly from a tradition my wife and I have of watching The Thin Man movies around the holidays. If you've not seen The Thin Man, you're missing out on classic style, intrigue, humor, and cocktails.

At a time when some bar programs have gone down a rabbit hole of experimentation and searching for the most obscure ingredients, I find myself longing for the simplicity of a well-made and well-balanced classic cocktail. One that doesn't require 10 different ingredients and one that I can quickly whip up in a large batch for a New Year's Eve party if I choose. I'm talking about a Martini, a Rob Roy, and a Highball.

In this video, I'm sharing my recipes for a Martini, Rob Roy, and Highball as well as my favorite gin, scotch, bitters, and vermouth for each of them. And also the proportions! I'm sure we're going to have a rousing discussion about the "proper" proportions for a classic martini in the comments. I will say that like men's style, it's very subjective. What I like might not be what you like! But it's definitely fun to discuss the pros and cons of various gins, vermouths, AND proportions.

Complete cocktail recipes and instructions for making them below.
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MARTINI 🍸
2 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin
1 oz. Dolin Dry Vermouth
Combine the gin and dry vermouth in a mixing glass. Stir with ice for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon peel, if desired.
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ROB ROY 🎩
2 oz. Chivas Regal Blended Scotch
.75 oz. Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
2 Dashes Regan's Orange Bitters
Combine the scotch, sweet vermouth, and bitters in a mixing glass. Stir with ice for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a maraschino cherry, if desired.
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TASTE OF CHRISTMAS 🍾
Seagram's 7 Whiskey
Ginger Ale
Place a large ice cube in an old-fashioned glass. Pour roughly 3 oz. of Seagram's 7 over the ice. Top with ginger ale. Stir and enjoy.