It's that time of the year again when families and friends gather to welcome the coming year with a wild or wholesome New Year's celebration. And no New Year's celebration would be complete without great company, great food and great booze to match. Here are the Top 5 New Year Cocktail Recipes that are super easy to make but sure to please everyone's palate.

Countdown Cocktail

Countdown cocktail's creator, Colleen Graham describes the drink as a simple, semi-sweet concoction with citrus and a bit of a bitter taste to it. The drink can also be compared to a Screwdriver which makes use of the same ingredients except the blood orange juice.

This drink calls for 2 ounces genever gin, 3 ounces blood orange juice and 2 dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters. Simply combine genever gin and blood orange juice in a glass filled with ice and stir. Add in the Angostura aromatic bitters and garnish with blood orange slice (optional).

Happy New Year

This Happy New Year drink consists of 4 ounces Champagne, ¼ ounce brandy, ¾ ounce ruby port and ¾ ounce orange juice. Use a cocktail shaker to combine brandy, ruby port and orange juice and shake well. Use a Champagne flute to strain the combo and top with Champagne.

Colleen Graham presents an easier way to make this Happy New Year drink by combining Champagne cocktail, some ruby port and a bit of orange juice.

Clean Slate

Winner of this month's New Year's Eve Cocktail Contest, the Clean Slate is a combo of several drinks and mixes:

1 1/2 ounces Ciroc Amaretto Vodka

1 ounce St. Germain

1 ounce Cherry Heering

1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice

1 ounce apple-cinnamon simple syrup

Champagne

Simply combine all the ingredients except for the Champagne using a cocktail shaker, shaking vigorously. The resulting mixture should then be double strained into a chilled wine glass with sugar rim and some edible gold flakes (optional).Top the whole drink with Champagne. View Cody Fredrickson's original recipe HERE.

Grandpa Harry's Holiday Punch

Submitted by Steve at All Recipes, this punch packs on flavor that is undeniably delish! To make 15 servings, simply combine one cup of sugar dissolved in 1 (750 milliliter) bottle Burgundy wine with 2 chilled (750 milliliter) bottles Champagne, 8 oucnes of brandy and one quart of club soda in a punch bowl.

Resolution Martini

And for everyone else who is planning to make a toast for their New Year's resolution, there is the Resolution Martini. Pour 3 ounces gin, 1 ounce apricot brandy and ½ oz fresh lemon juice into a cocktail shaker with ice. Stir the mixture well, strain into a chilled cocktail glass and get ready to make that toast!

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