On December 31st, don’t just sit there alone in your living room wearing sweatpants. Add some pomp to your New Year’s celebrations: Don your fanciest joggers and raise a glass to what was, possibly, one of the worst years on record. Here are seven New Year’s Eve cocktail kits that’ll help you forget the blur that was 2020.
Minami’s Chikara Cheers
“This cocktail nods to our strength for surviving 2020,” says Nick Meyer, Minami’s head bartender. “Yuzu symbolizes resilience as it can weather the harshness of winters and chikara means ‘strength.’” The drink’s low alcohol content and coconut water base mean that you’ll wake up feeling refreshed on New Year’s Day. Each kit comes with Tsukasa-Botan Yamayuzu Nashi Yuzushu (a yuzu sake), Fever Tree Soda and O.N.E. coconut water, as well as four dehydrated pineapple wheels for garnish. $65; available for pickup at Minami Toronto by direct order via phone 416-519-9182 or email info@minamitoronto.com
Project Gigglewater’s 2020 Sabbatical
You likely won’t be able to hop on a plane to somewhere warm for at least another few months, but you can assuage your sadness with a few sips of this potent tropical potion. This mix of Appleton VX Rum, lime, falernum and coconut water tastes like what walking on a beach feels like. $65; order online at projectgigglewater.com
Civil Liberties’ NYE Box
Lobby’s Rosebae
Grey Tiger’s Black Mirror Joyride
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Is it just us, or did the headlines this year seem like they were plucked from a Black Mirror script? Lean into the absurdity with this glibly christened drink from Grey Tiger, which marries Sombra Joven mezcal, rye, black cherry-infused baijiu and orange vermouth blend with some, appropriately, bitter coffee liqueur. $28; order online at greytiger.myshopify.com
Patois’ Rum Punch Cocktail
Feel like punching 2020 in the face? Well, this doesn’t exactly sate that urge. However, this rum-based tropical punch from Patois will sneak up on you. And, after a few too many, it’ll be lights out — for you. But hey, a deep dreamless sleep isn’t the worst way to say a final goodnight to 2020. $38; order online at patoistoronto.com
GreenPort’s High Tropics
For those who prefer a green buzz over a boozy one, Vivianne Wilson — Canada’s first and only black female owner-operator of a licensed retail cannabis store — has created a tropical, cannabis cocktail that’s sure to add some oomph to your evening. Her recipe for this potent potion calls for Everie’s Dragon Fruit Watermelon Sparkling Beverage, Aurora’s THC Citrus shot, some diced THC-laced, berry-flavoured gummies and ginger ale. Due to red tape, Wilson can’t sell this as a kit, but you can put your own bundle together at greenport.store.