10 Chinese-inspired Cocktails to Clink this Lunar New Year

January 18, 2023 by Anna-Bet Stemmet

Chinese cocktails are enjoying a well-deserved moment in the spotlight right now, and we love the delicate, exotic flavors these mixed drinks bring to the party. Ideal for celebrating occasions like the Lunar New Year, it’s also perfect for casual get-togethers like DIY dumpling night or at-home screenings of movies like Full River Red (or Abominable). Every drink on this list is completely 好吃 (tasty), so take your pick and get ready to clink a drink to the Year of the Wood Dragon in 2024!

1. Green Dragon cocktail

A tantalising, topaz-hued Green Dragon cocktail

The Green Dragon cocktail is a captivating drink that combines the fresh flavours of mint, juniper, caraway and fennel. Add 60ml Bulldog Gin, 15ml crème de menthe, 10ml kummel caraway liqueur, 10ml lemon juice, a few dashes of peach bitters, and 10ml chilled water to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until frosty and fine-strain into a chilled glass to serve. You could also substitute kummel liqueur for aquavit, which also has a caraway-forward flavor.

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2. The Firecracker cocktail

If you like the idea of Chinese-inspired cocktails that lean into the festive fireworks theme, we’ve got the drink for you. The Firecracker is a feisty drink brimming with zesty flavor.

In a mixing glass, muddle two one-inch cubes of watermelon. Add 45ml Appleton Estate Rum, 15ml Grand Marnier, 15ml fresh lime juice, 15ml sugar syrup, and a pinch or two of cayenne pepper. Shake until well chilled and strain into a serving glass. Garnish with an optional lime wedge and serve.

3. Chit-Cha Toddy cocktail

If you are looking for a Chinese New Year cocktail that is tailor-made for frosty weather, you’ve got to give the Chit-Cha Toddy a try. Add 20ml Wild Turkey 101, 10ml Cynar Liqueur, 10ml ginger-infused sugar syrup, 10ml lemon juice, 10ml honey, and 100ml hot Oolong tea to a serving cup. Give it a stir, garnish with a lemon slice, and serve. Learn all about making infused syrups at home here.

More cosiness this way: The Oh-So-Soothing Hot Toddy Cocktail

4. Gunfire cocktail

If you will be pouring Chinese New Year cocktails for a crowd it’s best to choose a drink that’s simple to assemble. The warming Gunfire cocktail fits this bill to a T. Brew 90ml Chinese black tea. Warm a serving glass (we like to use a cup, so it’s easier to handle), add 30ml Appleton Estate rum, pour in the tea, give it a gentle stir, and serve. You could also add some star anise as a fragrant garnish.

Love tea? Try these! Easy Tea Cocktails for Chilled Celebrations

5. Lychee Martini cocktail

When pairing cocktails with Chinese food, many folks like to incorporate lychee as a flavor, and we understand why. Sweet, slightly floral, and a teensy bit acidic, the aromas of this tropical fruit perfectly complement the bold umami notes that typify many popular Chinese dishes. Try a Lychee Martini with your favourite Chinese food, and see what a wonderful pairing it makes. In Chinese culture, lychees also symbolise well-being, love, and romance—and who wouldn’t want some of that in their new year?

6. Asian Pear cocktail

The Asian Pear cocktail is equivalent to a delicate Chinese cocktail dress that has been crafted to fit to absolute perfection. It’s a delight from start to finish, and easy to whip up. Add 50ml Chinese baijiu, 10ml maraschino liqueur, 10ml pear liqueur, 60ml white pear juice, 20ml lime juice, 15ml agave syrup, and a few dashes of bitters to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well-chilled, decant into a frosted glass, and serve.

More pear inspo: Cheers to Fall with a Pear Martini

7. The Lion’s Tail cocktail

Chinese New Year parades typically feature a beguiling Lion Dance for good luck. Use this as your cue to serve a classic Lion’s Tail cocktail that harks back to the boisterous Prohibition era. Add 60 ml Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon, 10 ml allspice liqueur, 10 ml lime juice, 1 teaspoon sugar syrup, and two dashes of bitters to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled serving glass. Lightly express the oil from an orange twist over the top of the drink, and discard the twist before serving.

8. Orange Blossom cocktail

Oranges symbolise happiness and abundance and are popular food gifts during Chines New Year celebrations. That being said, traditional Chinese cocktails also often incorporate beautiful floral aromas, and this Orange Blossom cocktail is a wonderful choice if you’re in the mood for something that’s as easy to enjoy as it is to pour. See it as a bit of liquid luck.

While the combination of orange juice and gin is quite rare in a cocktail, the swirl of sweet vermouth is the perfect bridge that balances the acidity. We recommend Cinzano Rosso with its spicy botanicals and complex bittersweet twist for an extra special finish.

9. Sesame Old Fashioned cocktail

The traditional Old Fashioned is one of the most popular slow sippers around the globe, and the Sesame Old Fashioned takes this sought-after drink template into a beautifully nutty and aromatic direction.

Dry-toast a handful of sesame seeds in a warm pan, remove and add to 120ml of The Glen Grant whiskey. Infuse for an hour. Build 60ml of the sesame-infused whiskey, 10ml sugar syrup, and 4 dashes of bitters in a rocks glass over ice. Stir, serve, and enjoy.

10. Blood Orange Margarita cocktail

Chinese cocktails are often deeply-hued and quite dramatic, and the Blood Orange Margarita certainly plays in this space. Plus, red is considered to be very lucky! This juicy tequila-based cocktail is packed with all the bittersweet flavours you could wish for, making it the perfect aperitif to serve to a Chinese New Year crowd. It’s also a great cocktail for beginners – you literally just add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker, give it a good shake, and pour.

11. Chinese Fizz

Love a Ramos Fizz? Try this delightful spin on the fizzy classics for Chinese New Year 2024. To make one, combine 60ml Appleton Estate Rum, 10ml Grand Marnier, 10ml cherry liqueur, 15ml lemon juice, 15ml simple syrup, 10ml grenadine, 1 egg white, and a dash of bitters to a cocktail shaker without ice. Dry shake to combine, then add ice, shake until frosty, and double-strain into a glass filled with fresh ice.

12. Cherry Moon

Keen on something sweet to sip, that’s red for good luck? Try a Cherry Moon. To make one, fill a rocks glass with ice and add 45ml cherry vodka. Top it off with 100ml lemon-lime soda, and 15ml of grenadine. Garnish with a cherry, and serve.

Ganbei, friends! Let us know which Chinese New Year cocktail was your favorite, and remember to tag us in your Instagram pics. Love articles like these? Sign up for our newsletter, so we can send it straight to your inbox.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The annual date of the Chinese New Year, also called the Lunar New Year, is determined by the lunar calendar. The celebration falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. Chinese New Year 2024 will fall on Saturday, February 10th, 2024, starting a year of the Wood Dragon.

According to the Chinese calendar, 2024 is a year of the Wood Dragon, starting from February 10th, 2024 and ends on January 29th, 2025. People born in Dragon years usually possess natural courage, tenacity, and intelligence, often displaying enthusiasm and confidence.

Chinese food typically has strong umami flavors, which are beautifully juxtaposed by cocktails like the Blood Orange Margarita and Lychee Martini. Find a full list of Chinese cocktails on The Mixer UK.

Baijiu is a white spirit made by distilling sorghum, and other grains like rice and wheat. It is the most popular hard tack in China. However, mixed drink like the Chit-Chat Toddy and Gunfire cocktail are also widely enjoyed.