Drink Suggestions for Your New Year's Eve

The new year is fast approaching, and folks all over the globe will be celebrating. Here in Somerset County, we want to help you find the right drinks for your New Year’s Eve celebration.

Mike DiFabrizio, owner of The Wine Rack in The Hills, said that flavored vodkas are very popular this year — including Smirnoff's Fluff, which is marshmallow flavored. Jalapeno-flavored vodka and any drinks flavored with pomegranate also have been requested by customers, he said.

Of course champagnes always are in demand, he said. Veuve Clicquot is a time-honored favorite at $42.99, DiFabrizio said. The reasonably priced Italian sparkling wine, Prosecco, is a big seller at $9.99. he said.

Gary’s Wine and Marketplace, which boasts a location in Bernardsville among its three stores, sees an influx of customers around the holidays, all of whom are looking for the perfect complement to a holiday meal or social gathering. The store has options for people of all budgets, so nobody has to be left out of the holiday fun.

Sue Guerra, a wine expert and a representative for Gary’s, told Patch that any consumers who are looking for a place to start cannot go wrong with an Italian wine, such as the 2006 Azelia Barolo, which Gary’s is currently offering for $29.99.

“Italian wine is a perennial favorite because, with very few exceptions, they are extremely food friendly and you can get great Italian wines in all price points,” Guerra said. “People are doing a lot of home entertaining these days rather than dining out, and Italian wines are great to have on the table. “There are plenty of choices too—whites, reds, fortified and dessert (wines).”

Likewise, Guerra told Patch that sparkling wines—typically reserved for New Year’s Eve—should not be forgotten as an alternative to champagne that is also easy on the wallet. Gary’s is currently carrying Gruet Blanc de Noirs, a sparkling wine from New Mexico that made this year’s Wine Spectator Top 100 wines of the year list for just $11.99.

“It sounds counter-intuitive, but sparkling wines are always overlooked except for on New Year’s Eve,” said Guerra. “Yet, they are so incredibly food-friendly and available in so many styles, from bone dry to sweet, that they can pair with everything from potato chips to dessert.”

The options don’t just stop there. Gary’s carries plenty of liquor options for your holiday plans. Scotch lovers may enjoy the Laphroaig Triple Wood for $69.99, while whiskey drinkers may appreciate a single-barrel Tennessee whiskey from Jack Daniel's called “Gentleman ‘G.’” The whiskey is made exclusively for Gary’s and costs $39.99.

For those looking to try something new, they might want to take a look at a new line of tequila’s from KAH. The tequila comes in three different hand-painted skull bottles—Blanco, Reposado and Anejo—and they are all priced at $59.99. Vodka enthusiasts can get in on the fun, too, with Organic Tru Lemon Vodka, on sale at Gary’s for $14.99.

“Our flavored vodka favorite is the Organic Tru Lemon Vodka,” Guerra said.

What about something for the beer drinkers you know? According to Guerra, Gary’s has some exclusive options for them, as well.

“We have been featuring a Gary’s Mixed Craft Beer six-pack every month that has been a huge hit,” Guerra said. “This month’s six-pack is all seasonal beers from different brewers for $8.99. Two very cool stouts that we have are the Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, (which costs) $7.49 for a four-pack and the Buffalo Bill’s Blueberry Oatmeal Stout, which is $9.99 for a six-pack.”