Those who love to celebrate the welcome of the New Year know very well that no celebration is complete without great festive cocktails. The drinks which we consume on this day are not only limited to be used as drinks but instead they help to enhance the customs, environment and the overall feel. In the case of English learners, they will find discussing New Year’s Eve’s cocktails very interesting since they will have a wide range of vocabulary to touch on aspects like celebration, different tastes and even imagination while still considering various forms and structures of sentences as well as different forms of description.

The aspect of appearance comes first to mind when preparing eyecatching cocktails. Many are of the opinion that cocktail presentation and its decoration help in creating a celebratory environment. The eve of the New Year is often illuminated by a multitude of bright lights and is beautifully decorated with all kinds of shiny items including champagne, or sparkling wine, which adds sparkle to the whole event. It is no wonder, that effervescent drinks are considered a best fit for this day and New Year’s Eve celebrations. In fact the very presence of bubbles in sparkling wine signifies a sense of happiness and positive thoughts indicating a joyous and gratified year to look forward to.

An equally popular option is the “French 75” which consists of gin, champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. This cocktail is rather easy on the stomach and therefore ideal for a night out partying. The cocktail embodies the essence of New Year’s Eve because of its inclusion of bubbly and fizzy elements, while the mix of gin and lemon juice helps in biting the drink. Terms like “bubbly” , “refreshing” and “effervescent” both characterize this drink and the mood of excitement and joy the night brings.

When discussing cocktails, flavors associated with New year’s Eve or other celebrations must be considered. Depending on one’s preference New Year’s Eve cocktails can be alcoholic or even soda based that’s sweet, fruity, tangy or citrus flavored. People in this case prefer fruit flavored cocktails as they are sweet and provide aesthetics to the drink. Many people prefer orange, lemon, and grapefruit due to their color and refreshing taste.

‘Glue’ a drink by using edible ornaments and attaching it to different customs and making it a bit more imaginative. A small dash of spruced decoration is enough to take a drink off the shelf and into the hands of the connoisseurs. Adding in a sprig of rosemary or a lime wedge or even edible glitter to the drink decoratively embellishes the entire cocktail. It is even better to have the right glassware that will go well with the cocktail. The way one garnishes a cocktail can make or break the mood of the event, and with the right presentation the atmosphere can be set right from the start. Last but not least, phrases such as “elegant” , “festive” , or “eye-catching” go a long way in building up students’ descriptive vocabulary of food and drink and the surroundings experienced while consuming it.

As people gain the fast approaching new year, hot spirits begin to go hand in hand with champagne and fruit cocktails. These cocktails are more like comfort food that center around memories and a blend of emotions especially for the new year. Strong cocktails such as alcoholic chocolate and hot cider are perfect for people in colder areas who prefer drinking them indoors. These mixes build a transition from the night’s frizzy and tangy genres into something warmer while also providing comfort. The crispy flavors of apple, chocolate, and cinnamon highlight the essence of the night and are suited by the feel of these words, “spicy” , “warming” , and “decadent.” There is a misconception amongst the non- alcoholics that these essential components of the drink have no meaning and are important. The idea of mocktails and alcohol free cocktails has paved way for people to not worry about the alcohol and just enjoy their time. Alcohol free cocktails happen to taste just as good as alcohol cocktails and are even better for the people who refrain from consuming alcohol. They incorporate a variety of processes such as fruit juice, spices, and herbs which aim to add more details that supplement the intricacies of alcoholic drinks.

Mocktails such as a ‘Cranberry Fizz’ involve mixing cranberry juice with carbonated water or soda for the tart flavor and texture, with a touch of mint sprigs or entire cranberries for decoration. These are some of the words that learners use when articulating about the flavor ranges of these drinks: fizzy , monty and tangy . This is what the students start to grasp when they understand why there might be a need for non-alcoholic beverages as options. This broadens their vocabulary and equips them better to discuss this issue.

Regarding drink preparation, explanations on how to mix various ingredients, for example to create celebratory cocktails or mocktails, can be fruitful for students’ English language learning as well. For instance, ‘stir’ , ‘shake’ , ‘muddle’ and ‘strain’ are essential when talking about cocktails. Such words allow students to communicate about the drink preparation and follow a given recipe. These also need to be practiced so that learners do not have challenges explaining how such beverages are made. It could involve equally explaining the cocktail making process or preparing the beverages.

Another aspect, which has full implications in festive cocktails, is the learning of English through the context of discussing the traditions and customs that revolve about New Year’s Eve. The ovation of the New Year on the eve of new year in almost all cultures is marked with some major activities, one of them being the need to have a toast at midnight. That is why the saying “cheers” or “prost” is used. It is further important to comprehend why such banter is employed and what vocabulary is related to it, for it complements the celebration. This not only enriches the students’ comprehension of the event but also equips them with the vocabulary that enables them to talk about the customs of the countries that speak English.

Last but not the least, the new year’s eve cocktails enable learners to use adjectives and adverbs to describe the drink alongside the experience celebrating. ‘Festive’ , ‘Sparkling’ , ‘smooth’ and ‘creamy’ are among the terms that a drink conveys. Likewise, adverbs such ‘gently’ , ‘slowly’ , and ‘enthusiastically’ indicate how a cocktail may be taken or served. Learning how to describe the experiences of having a sip of a cocktail is helpful for the students as they will be able to speak more comprehensively in English be it in relation to having a drink, partying or sharing a moment with other people.