New Year's Eve party drinks: a frozen champagne toast

The easiest New Year's Eve party drinks come from one two-bowl machine: frozen Peach Bellini made with champagne in one bowl for the midnight toast, and a margarita in the other for the rest of the night. New Year's Eve 2026 falls on Thursday, December 31, and New Year's Day is Friday, January 1, 2027, a federal holiday (OPM federal holidays).

This post is part of our holiday party theme guide, which covers the look, food, games, and printables for the whole season. Here we focus on the drinks for the countdown.

The frozen champagne toast

A frozen Bellini gives you bubbles without popping a cork for every guest at midnight. Our Peach Bellini mix makes about 75 drinks. For one batch you need:

• 1 bottle of our Peach Bellini mix (we bring it)
• 6 bottles of white champagne or prosecco (750 ml)
• ½ liter peach schnapps
• 1 liter rum or vodka
• Water to the 5 gallon mark

You buy the alcohol, and we bring the machine and the mix. The batch steps for every flavor are on our frozen drink recipes page.

Tip: pour the toast into clear plastic flutes or small cups, and set them out on a tray about five minutes before midnight so nobody misses the countdown waiting in line.

Bowl pairings for the countdown

A two-bowl machine pours two flavors at once, so pick one for the toast and one crowd pleaser:

• Gold and bubbles: Peach Bellini with Lemon Gold Margarita
• Classic party: Lime Margarita with Strawberry Margarita, and save the toast for a bottle of bubbly
• Dessert at midnight: Peach Bellini with Orange Dreamsicle or Vanilla slushie

Not sure which pair fits your crowd? Our two-bowl flavor pairings guide and the free flavor quiz can help you choose.

New Year's Eve party drinks for kids and designated drivers

Kids and guests who skip alcohol want a toast too. Turn one bowl into an alcohol-free slushie, such as Fruit Punch, Lemonade, or Vanilla, and everyone can raise a cup at midnight. With young kids, try an early countdown at 8 or 9 PM with a slushie toast before bedtime.

If grown-up and kid drinks share a machine, label each bowl so nobody grabs the wrong cup. Print free leaded and unleaded bowl labels, and see our mocktails and kids slushies guide for alcohol-free ideas.

How many mixes for a New Year's party?

Margarita mixes make about 75 drinks of 8 ounces, and most fruit slushie mixes make about 50. For up to 50 guests, plan on 1 to 3 mixes. For 50 to 100 guests, plan on 3 to 5. Over 100 guests, plan on 5 or more and a second machine. A long night with a midnight toast leans toward the high end, so run your guest count and hours through our drink and mix calculator.

Timing the night

• Book early. December books up fast, and online booking needs at least 2 days' notice. Check open dates on our booking page.
• Start the freeze early. The first freeze takes 2 to 3 hours, so fill and switch on the machine in the afternoon and it's ready well before guests arrive.
• Send the invite. Our free party invite maker lets you add the time, the flavors, and a note about the midnight toast.
• Plan the ride home. Set out water and food next to the machine, and line up rideshares or a designated driver before the ball drops. Our party safety guide has a simple checklist.

For games to fill the hours before midnight, see our party games ideas, and for every December date to know, see the Austin party calendar.

Ready to plan? Check dates and book online in minutes, or get a quick estimate first.