Champagne is not the only thing people have been drinking on New Year’s Eve. When it comes to drinking traditions, there are multiple unique ways countries around the world toast the new year.

Scotland: The first guest after midnight brings the whisky

At most parties, you want to have the booze right at the beginning so you won’t have to wait until midnight to drink. However, the Scottish people believe that the “first footer”, the first person stepping into your house after midnight, decides the luck of the household for the coming year. That is why bringing gifts like whisky represents bringing good fortune to the house and the host. Bottles like Chivas Regal 25, Macallan 25YO, or a Glenmorangie will never be a wrong choice. If you are invited to a New Year’s Eve party in Scotland, always bring a whisky just in case you might arrive after midnight! 

Spain: Drop gold into the Cava

Of course, The Spanish have to celebrate with their local bubbly, cava. On New Year’s Eve, they put a gold object into a glass of cava and drink the whole glass down after a midnight toast and retrieve the object. The gold object is a symbol of good luck and wealth, and the idea is to drink the whole glass of Cava in one go and collect the golden object at the end like you are so lucky to have found a treasure.

Japan: Drinking Toso - the spiced sake cure for evil

In Japan, the tradition of drinking “toso,” a spiced, medicinal sake, is supposed to cleanse the body of the maladies of the previous year and bring good luck for the year to come. Toso is traditionally drunk first thing on New Year’s Day. It is served in a set of three stackable sake cups known as sakazuki and poured from a special lacquer teapot called tosoki. Starting from the smallest cup, each member of the household will take a sip while facing east in order of youngest to oldest. This is to symbolically pass on the energy and vivacity of youth to the older generation. Just in case you don't have the access to toso, Gekkeikan Sake is a great alternative. 

Russia: Burn the wishes and drink the ashes

Don’t we all have wishes for a prosperous, happy, healthy new year? Each culture wishes in different ways, but only in Russia do they drink to make wishes come true. In order to really internalize their hopeful wishes for the coming year, Russians write them down, burn the paper, pour the ashes into their Champagne, and chug it right at midnight. When they’re in your body, they can’t go anywhere.

Germany: Rum-filled doughnuts

No German New Year’s dinner would be complete without a long-standing Silvester traditional dessert — the Berliner Pfannkuchen. They celebrate the holiday with a doughnut filled with jelly or rum icing. In days past, Berliner Pfannkuchen was a rare, special treat reserved only for special occasions, and what could be more special than New Year’s Eve?

No matter what your drinking tradition is, you can always find the bottle you need from Matthews Liquor. From sake to soju, whisky, or cava, we have it all. Order online and get your alcohol delivered to your party within 1 hour! Also, subscribe to our newsletter to read more interesting articles about your favourite drink.