While punches and bottles of bubbly are great go-tos for New Year’s Eve gatherings, we don’t mind shaking things up with a thoughtful cocktail every once and a while. For a bold start to the new year, consider the Tom Cat, an updated version of the classic Tom Collins from Gunnar Karl Gíslason and Jody Eddy’s new book The Hygge Life, which celebrates the trendy Scandinavian term for finding happiness in the little things in life.
“One endearing quality of hygge is its embrace of nostalgia and tradition,” Eddy writes. “Vintage decor, clothing styles, and recipes are celebrated facets of a hygge lifestyle.”
Slightly sweeter than London Dry, but drier than Dutch, Old Tom gin was a popular spirit in the 18th century and forms a rich base for the cocktail. The addition of Mexican mezcal for smokiness, vermouth for sweetness, and bitters for complexity combine to make a powerful drink.
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The Tom Cat is sure to liven up your parties. To balance the booze, we’ve thought of a variety of crowd-pleasing hors d'oeuvre to snack on while you sip:
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