Champagne, Confetti, and Crime: Pairing Cocktails with Your New Year’s Murder Mystery

Ready to toast the New Year in style? If you’re hosting one of our thrilling WhoDunnit Dinners, adding themed cocktails to your New Year’s Eve party is a killer idea. Whether you’re the devious mastermind or just trying to survive the night, these drinks are sure to delight your guests and enhance the mystery.

We’ve concocted four drinks as memorable as your murder mystery suspects. Each recipe is easy to whip up, and with names as clever as the clues you’ll uncover, they’re guaranteed to keep the party going (and the alibis flowing). Cheers to a night of intrigue!

1. The Deadly Champagne Spritz

A glamorous classic with a sinister twist—perfect for the elegant socialite or the host who knows how to make an entrance.

You’ll need:

• 4 oz champagne
• 1 oz elderflower liqueur
• 1 oz soda water
• Lemon peel twist (for garnish)

Method:

1. Fill a champagne flute halfway with bubbly.
2. Add elderflower liqueur and soda water.
3. Stir gently and garnish with a lemon peel twist.
4. Whisper, “Cheers to a night you’ll never forget,” as you hand it to your unsuspecting guest.

2. The Sinister Old Fashioned

Dark and brooding, this drink fits the mysterious detective or the secretive suspect who’s hiding just a little too much.

You’ll need:

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1 sugar cube
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Orange peel (for garnish)

Method:

1. Muddle the sugar cube with bitters in a glass.
2. Add bourbon and stir until combined.
3. Fill the glass with a large ice cube and garnish with orange peel.
4. Serve to the broodiest guest and watch as they stare into their glass like it holds the answer to the murder.

3. The Poison Apple Punch

Sweet and deadly—just like the femme fatale. This crowd-pleaser is served in a punch bowl, so no one knows who spiked it… or why.

You’ll need:

• 2 cups apple cider
• 1 cup sparkling wine
• 1 cup ginger beer
• ½ cup spiced rum
• Apple slices and cinnamon sticks (for garnish)

Method:

1. Mix all liquid ingredients in a large punch bowl.
2. Add ice and garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks.
3. Let your guests serve themselves, and keep a knowing eye on the one who drinks the most.

4. The Midnight Smoke

A drink as mysterious as the clock strikes twelve—perfect for the character who loves to create drama.

You’ll need:

• 2 oz mezcal
• 1 oz lime juice
• ½ oz agave syrup
• Splash of soda water
• Lime wedge (for garnish)

Method:

1. Shake mezcal, lime juice, and agave syrup with ice in a cocktail shaker.
2. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
3. Add a splash of soda water and garnish with a lime wedge.
4. Add a pinch of dry ice for a smoky effect (optional but highly dramatic).

Pro Tip: Add a Mysterious Twist

To really set the scene, create drink tags with each cocktail’s name and a short description of which character archetype it pairs with. For example:

• The Deadly Champagne Spritz: For the glamorous starlet hiding a dark secret.
• The Midnight Smoke: For the enigmatic guest no one seems to know.

So, who’s ready to sip, solve, and sleuth their way into the New Year? Bottoms up, detectives, and may the best alibi win!

Now, let the countdown—and the investigation—begin!