Avoid the crowds and see in the new year with your own cocktail party. Here are a few musts to serve up to your friends.

Black martini

Per person:
100ml vodka or gin
20ml Chambord raspberry liqueur
10ml Blue Curacao
Ice
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake briskly and pour into Martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lime or orange.

White Russian

For each person:
30ml vodka
30ml Kahlua or Tia Maria
150ml milk (or 100ml milk and 50ml cream)
Ice
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake well and pour into old-fashioned or highball glasses. Alternatively, place ice in glass, pout other ingredients over and stir. Add straw and serve.

Bellini

For each person:
30ml peach puree or peach schnapps
Sparkling wine (try Bridgewater Mill) or Champagne (the Italians use prosecco)
Pour peach puree into Champagne flute. Top with sparkling wine and serve.

White Peach Bellini

Gourmet Traveller contributor Alexx Swainston shows you how to make a white peach bellini in this exclusive video.