But you want to do it right.  As Chris. Xander advertised in the Washington Evening Star shortly after the New Year in 1901, “‘You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear,’ and you can’t make a good Cocktail out of poor whisky.”  To help point you in the right direction, Mr. Xander offered his “Old Reserve” whisky for $1.25 a bottle, for sale at 909 7th Street.  (Side note: awesomely detailed history about Mr. Xander here.)

I can’t send you to Xander’s, which is now either a TD Bank, FedEx Office or a parking garage.  But in the same spirit, I can point you to a few places where you are likely to find a cocktail worthy of the occasion this New Year’s Eve:

Cocktail flight at barmini.  Start your night at barmini with a glass of Dom Perignon and a special New Year’s Eve cocktail flight.  Note that you will probably not be celebrating the New Year here at midnight.  The latest seating (10:15 p.m.) is already full, although you can try for the waitlist.  But it’s not a bad place to start the night as the cocktails here never disappoint.  Reservations are $175 per person and available here.  Seatings still available at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; 501 9th Street N.W.

Blind Pig: a New Year’s Eve Speakeasy at Barrel.  Barrel in Capitol Hill boasts a raft of original cocktails, including a featured barrel-aged cocktail from its “Lab.”  For New Year’s Eve, Barrel is offering an all-you-can-eat menu and various punches, cocktails, and wines to drink, including sparkling wine for the customary midnight toast.  Tickets are $120 here.  9 p.m. to 2 a.m.; 613 Pennsylvania Avenue S.E.

New Year’s Eve in the Spirits Library at Columbia Room.  Recently named the Best American Cocktail Bar, the Columbia Room is hosting a cocktail-and-Champagne party in its spirits library, along with small bites.  Note they are also hosting a class on Champagne cocktails the night before, offering an opportunity to brush up on your own N.Y.E. skillset in the event you will be hosting rather than going out on December 31, as well as to lay to rest that vexing dilemma whether cocktails or champagne are more fitting for the occasion (although at the moment the class is full; they do have a waitlist).  Tickets are $150 for New Year’s Eve and $100 for the class; information on both can be found here.  9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on New Year’s Eve and 3 to 4:45 p.m. on December 30; 124 Blagden Alley N.W.

Tasting for Two at Dram & Grain.  Dram & Grain at Jack Rose is offering a “special celebration for two” with a five-course cocktail tasting, with food pairings for each course.  First seating is from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the second is from 9:30 p.m. to last call.  The price is $125 per couple, and reservations are made by texting (202) 607-1572.  2007 18th Street N.W.

Finally, don’t forget about the ongoing Miracle on 7th Street pop-up bar in the Mockingbird Hill, Eat the Rich, and Southern Efficiency spaces, covered in the December cocktail events round-up post, which will have its last night on New Year’s Eve.  And if that reminds you that you haven’t finished your winter-holiday shopping, consider our cocktail-themed suggestions here.

The post New Year’s Eve Cocktail Events Round-Up appeared first on Capital Cocktails.

Miracle on 7th Street.   The annual winter-holiday-themed pop-up bar in the Mockingbird Hill, Eat the Rich, and Southern Efficiency spaces on 7th Street in Shaw is up and running again.  Come for the amazing decorations, stay for the cocktails that you won’t find on any other menu in town.  Also dress warmly and prepare to stand in line outside a very long time.  1839 7th Street N.W.; ongoing from November 24th through December 31st.

1930s-Inspired Repeal Day Fête at Jack Rose.  Prohibition ended on December 5, 1933.  Come celebrate the anniversary at Jack Rose’s sixth annual party honoring the day, this year featuring “Pappy Hour,” from 5:30 to 7 p.m., when the entire line of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon will be offered at discounted pricing; “bottomless bubbles” for $20; and Prohibition-era cocktails served up by Dram & Grain in the bar’s basement.  Burlesque performers will provide additional entertainment, and Jack Rose encourages guests to dress in Prohibition-era attire.  2007 18th Street N.W.; December 5 from 5 to 10 p.m.

Cocktail Class:  Brandy Cocktails at barmini.  barmini hosts cocktail-making classes on a monthly basis.  I’ve been to couple of these this year and have had a blast every time (for an example, see my Instagram post about the Chartreuse class here).  You will be greeted with a cocktail on your arrival.  Then you will mix three cocktails of your own with the careful and attentive instruction of the barmini team, with small snacks in between.  This month’s class is on brandy cocktails – perfect for December.  501 9th Street N.W.; December 6 at 5:30 p.m.

D.C. Champagne Week / Vintage Champagne Tasting at Columbia Room.  Started last year, D.C. Champagne Week is back for its second season from December 4-9.  Celebrate the week at a special event at the Columbia Room, which will uncork 1982 and 1990 vintages from “top champagne houses,” guided by Champagne Week co-founder Alison Marriott and paired with food by Columbia Room’s Johnny Spero.  Tickets are $450 per person.  124 Blagden Alley N.W.; December 8 at 6 p.m.

D.C. Craft Bartenders Guild’s Tenth Annual Repeal-Day Ball.  Celebrating Repeal during the week at a bar is one thing, but blowing it up on the weekend at a black-tie event at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium is quite another.  This is the Tenth year of this event, but the first year at this venue, which the Guild (@dccraftbarguild) has rightfully been boasting about on Instagram.  E.g.:

Built in the 1930’s, Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium is the perfect venue for #RepealDayBall2017 with its gorgeous gilded fixtures, granite stairways, marble floors, arched entrances & stunning auditorium. Plus, it was creatively conceived and built during the same time as the end of Prohibition. Matchmade in boozy heaven, amiright? #workofart

A post shared by DC Craft Bartenders Guild (@dccraftbarguild) on Nov 28, 2017 at 2:45pm PST

Tickets range from $90-140.  1301 Constitution Avenue N.W.; December 9 from 7:30 p.m. to midnight.

Have fun out there!

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