Lunar New Year 2026 - how to celebrate the Year of the Horse

Year of the Fire Horse themed drinks

Ready to turn up the heat and the spice for the Fire Horse? Or looking for ways to harness the horsepower? These cocktail ideas take their cue from the Lunar New Year's theme.

The Horse’s Neck cocktail 

Dating back to around 1890, a Horse’s Neck was first conceived as a simple, refreshing glass of ginger ale, garnished with a long, lemon peel. And with its apt name, the drink is a great addition to any menu this Lunar New Year, served as a mocktail or giving the classic recipe some giddy up with an infusion of bourbon or whisky. 

To make a Horse’s Neck, you’ll need: 

• 50ml bourbon (similarly, another whisky of your choice would work)

• 120ml ginger ale 

• 1-2 dashes of Angostura bitters 

• One long spiral of lemon peel (this is meant to resemble the horse’s neck that gives the drink its name)

To make: 

• Start with the lemon peel - using a knife or peeler, delicately cut a long, continuous peel from the rind. Balance one end of the peel over the rim of a highball glass and let it unfold down the glass before filling with ice

• Measure and pour in your whisky of choice and top with ginger ale

• Add a dash or two of bitters

• Stir very briefly to let the flavours mix.

If you want to serve a non-alcoholic version of the cocktail, simply leave out the bourbon and bitters.

More horse-themed cocktail inspiration

More aptly named ideas for drinks come from the classic Moscow Mule and all its variations. To give the classic cocktail a fiery makeover in keeping with the Fire Horse, this tequila twist will be a guaranteed standout.

Mexican Mule

You'll need:

• 60ml tequila (we love a Casamigos Reposado for this)

• 15ml fresh lime juice

• 10ml sugar syrup

• 90ml ginger beer

To make:

• Measure and pour your tequila, lime juice and sugar syrup into a copper mug (a tall glass will work if you don't have the traditional mule mug)

• After a gentle, brief stir, add a handful of ice cubes to your mug or glass

• Top with ginger beer.

Citrussy cocktails for Lunar New Year

For more cocktail ideas, you can experiment with typical flavours associated with Asia, and the Lunar New Year. For example, Mandarins and Oranges are often used as both décor and are represented widely across Lunar New Year celebrations because the fruits are meant to represent wealth and success.

Mandarin Gimlet

One of the quintessential gin drinks, one might think the Gimlet and Lunar New Year are a culture clash, but this simple recipe can be reimagined for the occasion (giving you a new cocktail for your regular roster at the same time).

While the traditional Gimlet is a simple mix of gin and lime cordial, the Mandarin Gimlet awakens the juniper with new notes of tart, tangy tastiness.

You'll need:

• 50ml gin

• 30ml Mandarin juice

• 10ml sugar syrup

• 1-2 dashes of aromatic bitters

To make: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake hard until the outside of the shaker is cold to the touch, and strain into a martini glass.

Yuzu Margarita

Yuzu is the East Asian citrus fruit that’s become something of a go-to ingredient in bars and cocktails around the world. With traces of lemon, mandarin, and grapefruit, mixologists and tastemakers have flocked to the flavour of yuzu to reimagine and recreate some favourite drinks - as is the case with the Yuzu Margarita, that brings the kick of tequila with the zing of Yuzu. Perfect this Lunar New Year.

You'll need:

• 30ml Casamigos Blanco tequila

• 30ml Yuzu juice

• 20ml Triple Sec

• 15ml fresh lime juice

• 10ml Agave syrup

To make:

Add all your ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake hard for about 30 seconds - the surface of the shaker should be cold to the touch. Strain into a coupe glass over fresh ice.

Top Tip: To complement the Yuzu and take more inspiration from the Asian flavours, consider adding a rim to the glass of Shichimi Togarashi, classic Japanese spice blend.

Yuzu Tom Collins

Yuzu isn’t just adding tart, tangy twists to drinks known for their bold flavours - it’s helping people rethink what we know about more subtle serves like the Tom Collins, opening new horizons of what you can experience with your favourite gin.

You'll need:

• 50ml Tanqueray London Dry gin

• 15ml Yuzu juice

• 10-20ml sugar syrup (use less if you prefer a sharper taste, more if you want a sweeter touch)

• 125ml soda water

To make:

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add your gin, Yuzu and sugar syrup. Shake hard, strain into a highball glass filled with ice and top with soda water.

Top tip: an easy way to make a more inclusive drinks menu is to swap out the gin in this recipe for an alcohol-free spirit, like Seedlip Spice 94 or Seedlip Garden 108.

Lunar New Year party food and decoration ideas

Traditional Chinese New Year dishes include: 

• Dumplings - shaped like ancient Chinese gold or silver ingots, these little parcels of flavour are thought to symbolise wealth and prosperity for the coming year

• Fish - serving fish is a popular Lunar New Year tradition, because the word for fish is said to sound like 'surplus', and in serving the dish, you bring in a year of good fortune

• Pineapple rolls are a Lunar New Year essential in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, with pineapple thought to bring good luck

• Nut cookies are also common snacks - from peanut cookies to walnut cookies an easy, snacky food for your guests.