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Select Language

English

info@sapoori.com

+49 176 329 796 82

Select Language

English

Autor

Julia Trotzki

Veröffentlicht am

Dec 26, 2025

Zuletzt aktualisiert am

Dec 26, 2025, 10:00 AM

Interesting facts

When taste transforms the year – New Year's drinks between farewell and new beginnings

The last evening: More than a countdown

New Year's Eve is not a date.
It is a breath between two worlds –
a moment when time briefly pauses, as if it wants to listen itself.

The air smells of vanilla and cold night,
of citrus and hope.
In the glasses, the last light shimmers that the days have left behind.
And somewhere between laughter, music, and a brief silence,
it flickers – this small, invisible boundary between 'was' and 'will be'.

Many count seconds.
But those who truly feel the moment,
count scents and memories.
Mandarin and smoke. Rosemary and salt.
Cinnamon on warm skin.
They are the flavors of the year that pass by once again,
like a film of scents and feelings.

Every drink tells a piece of history.
Of people who have stayed,
and of those whom you let go.
Of summer evenings in Mallorca,
when the gin tasted of sun and almond.
Of a trip to Mexico,
where lime, chili, and smoke told an entire country.
Of nights in Frankfurt,
where conversations lasted longer than planned
and the drink saved the silence.

The last drink is not a farewell.
It is memory, anticipation, and experiment at the same time.
A liquid 'thank you' for what was,
and a 'show me what you can do' for what is to come.

For taste is movement – it never stands still.
It flows with us into the new, carries the old in its aroma,
and lets us feel that every end is just a different form of beginning.

Perhaps therein lies the magic of this night:
not in the fireworks,
but in the glass in your hand –
where a drop of courage, a pinch of memory,
and a touch of anticipation quietly open the new year.

When Memory Becomes Inspiration

Taste never stands still.
What you drink today may already be the beginning of something new tomorrow.
Perhaps therein lies the magic of a good drink:
It can continue the story you lived last year – or the one you wish for.

It’s not just about traveling.
It’s about what has moved you –
about moments you want to keep,
and about small adventures that have changed you.

Perhaps there was an evening in Spain,
where you lost yourself in the rhythm of Flamenco –
a sip of Hierbas that still reminds you
of what life feels like when you dance it.

Or a walk through the forest,
where the scent of earth and wood reminded you
how good it feels to breathe again –
a smoky-woody note in the glass that holds just that.

Perhaps there was India,
where turmeric seemed to be the sun itself –
warm, golden, full of strength.
Or a moment when you needed nothing more
than silence and a glass with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon,
because that tastes exactly like comfort.

All of this you can mix, feel, rethink.
Experiences become flavors.
Flavors become memories.
And so each drink carries a little piece of your year within it –
whether it brings you back or pulls you forward.

For taste is more than enjoyment.
It is movement, emotion, memory, and curiosity all at once.
It shows you that everything you have experienced –
and everything that is yet to come –
can continue to live on in a single glass.

Flavor Requires Courage: 5 Drinks with Step-by-Step

1) The Liquid Sunrise

Mandarin • Turmeric • Lime – warm golden, slightly "Departure in a Glass"

Glass: Tumbler (cold) or heat-resistant glass (warm)
Ingredients (1 drink):

6 cl freshly squeezed mandarin juice (alternatively orange)
2 cl lemon juice (fresh)
1 cl agave syrup (to taste 0.5–1.5 cl)
1 knife tip of turmeric (freshly grated or powder)
optional 4 cl white rum (or 2 cl rum + 2 cl soda for "lighter")
Ice (for cold)

How to do it – cold:

Fill shaker with ice.
Add mandarin, lemon, agave, turmeric, and optional rum.
Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds.
Double strain (fine strainer!) into tumbler over fresh ice.
Crush mandarin zest over the drinks to release the oil, then add to the glass.

How to do it – warm:

Gently heat juices + agave + turmeric to 60–70 °C (do not boil).
Pour into heat-resistant glass, optionally stir in 2–4 cl rum.

Zero-/Low-Carb: without rum; sweetness with 0.5–1 cl xylitol syrup instead of agave.
Pro Tip: Turmeric stains – use a fine strainer and protect your surface.

2) Hierbas Reborn

Mallorca in mind: Hierbas • Grapefruit • Rosemary • Sea salt – bitter-fresh, elegant

Glass: Highball
Ingredients (1 drink):

4 cl hierbas (dulce/seco)
6 cl grapefruit juice (fresh)
1 cl lime juice
1 cl sugar syrup (1:1), optional depending on grapefruit bitterness
1 mini pinch of sea salt
100 ml soda (cold)
Ice

How to do it:

Fill highball with ice.
Add hierbas, grapefruit, lime, syrup + mini pinch of salt to the glass.
Stir for 10–12 seconds.
Top with cold soda, lift gently once.
Rub rosemary sprig briefly, add; squeeze grapefruit zest over.

Zero Option: 2 cl non-alcoholic herbal aperitif + 2 cl white grape juice instead of hierbas.
Pro Tip: Salt should not be tasted – it only elevates the aromas.

3) Into the Woods

Walk in the woods in a glass: Wood • Smoke • Apple – calm, deep, cozy

Glass: Tumbler, large ice cube
Ingredients (1 drink):

4 cl rye whiskey or aged rum (Zero: 4 cl alcohol-free "Dark Spirit")
2 cl clear apple juice (or mild apple cider)
1.5 cl wood syrup* (see below)
2 dashes aromatic bitters (Zero: alcohol-free bitters)
optional: smoke (smoker/cloche)

How to do it:

Fill mixing glass with ice, add all ingredients.
Stir for 20–25 seconds.
Strain over large ice cube into tumbler.
Optional: briefly set under a smoke cloche.
Briefly flame a cinnamon stick or small pine sprig, use as garnish.

Wood Syrup (quick):

200 ml water + 200 g sugar + 1 tsp vanilla paste + 1 tsp cedar wood shavings (food-grade).
Simmer gently for 5–7 minutes, strain, cool.
Alternative: 100 ml maple syrup + 2–3 drops of smoked salt solution (very sparingly!).

4) The Change (Color Shift)

Blue → Purple: Butterfly Pea • Lemon • Mint – "Change in a Glass"

Glass: Coupe or clear highball
Ingredients (1 drink):

6 cl butterfly pea tea (see infusion)
2 cl sugar syrup (1:1)
4–6 mint leaves
2 cl lemon juice (separate!)
optional 4 cl gin
Ice (for shaking)

Infusion: 250 ml hot water + 1 tbsp butterfly pea flowers, steep for 5–7 minutes, strain, cool.

How to do it:

Fill shaker with ice, 6 cl infusion + 2 cl syrup + mint (gently press) + optional gin.
Shake for 8–10 seconds, strain into glass.
Only at the table let 2 cl lemon juice flow in → color changes to purple.
Garnish with a mint sprig/lemon zest.

Zero: without gin – works wonderfully.
Pro Tip: Only "clap" the mint, do not tear → no bitterness.

5) White Velvet (Thermomix®) – creamy, warm & quick

Vanilla • Orange • Cinnamon – with or without alcohol

Device: Thermomix® TM6/TM5
Ingredients (4 glasses):

500 ml milk or barista oat drink
1 tbsp vanilla paste
2 tbsp agave syrup or honey (Low-Carb: xylitol to taste)
Zest and juice of 1 organic orange
1 pinch of cinnamon
optional: 80 ml rum or orange liqueur

How to do it:

Add everything to the mixing bowl.
Heat for 8 minutes / 80 °C / speed 2.
Foam for 20 seconds / speed 5.
Fill into preheated glasses, top with orange zest & cinnamon powder.

Zero/Low-Carb: without alcohol; sweetness via xylitol or 1–2 dates (blend in).
Pro Tip: For extra silkiness, add 30 ml cream or coconut milk → foam for 1 minute longer.

Decorations that "pop" (simple & elegant)

Dehydrated Citrus Wheels: 2–3 mm slices, 50–60 °C convection, 3–4 hours.
Herb Ice: Ice cube tray with water + 1 small leaf (rosemary, thyme, mint).
Gold Sugar Rim: Mix 2 tbsp sugar + ½ tsp cinnamon + edible gold dust; moisten glass rim with lemon, dip.
Fragrance instead of Kitsch: Squeeze zest over the glass; briefly flame rosemary → aroma cloud.

Mini Food Pairing (light & filling)

Mediterranean Almonds (roasted, sea salt, rosemary)
Orange-Olive Tapenade on crostini
Goat Cheese Toast with honey & thyme

Shopping List (for 8–10 drinks, mixed)

Citrus (mandarin, lemon, grapefruit) · Mint · Rosemary · Vanilla paste · Cinnamon · Agave syrup/xylitol · Hierbas · Rum/whiskey/gin (optional) · clear apple juice · Soda · Butterfly pea flowers · Sugar (for syrup/rims) · (optional) cedar wood shavings food-grade

Tools

Shaker + fine sieve · Mixing glass + bar spoon · Jigger (measuring cup) · Zester · large ice cube tray · (optional) smoker/cloche · Thermomix® (for White Velvet)

Batch Tips (party suitable)

Sunrise (cold): Juices + agave + turmeric prepared in a carafe, shake each drink at service.
Hierbas Reborn: Chill base, finish in the glass with ice & soda.
Into the Woods: Prepare mixing jug, strain over large cubes, smoke as desired.
The Change: Cool infusion in a bottle; pour lemon juice from a mini pitcher at the table → wow moment.
White Velvet: Double the quantity in the Thermomix®; keep warm at 70 °C.

FAQ (for end consumers)

No hierbas? ➜ Herbal liqueur (e.g., mastiha/anise) + 1–2 drops of anise essence, adjust sugar minimally.
No butterfly pea? ➜ omit; instead serve "The Change" as a scent transition: first without, then with lemon zest.
Too sweet? ➜ Always adjust sweetness last and in 0.5 cl steps.
Non-alcoholic? ➜ Omit alcohol in each recipe; balance texture with a splash of soda, tea base (hibiscus/green tea) or non-alcoholic spirit.

Between Smoke and Light – Small Effects, Big Stories

A good drink never just tells about the taste.
It whispers, scents, glows – sometimes before you even taste it.
For what you see, hear, and smell, you always drink with.

Small details can change how people feel.
And often, just a tiny movement is enough
to turn a glass into an experience.

🌿 1 – Smoke Meets Rosemary

The classic, newly staged – without a smoker, without effort.

Here’s how to do it:

Light the tip of a fresh rosemary sprig lightly (only 2–3 seconds),
then immediately place it in a small, fireproof bowl.
Position the glass upturned over the smoke and let it sit for 10–15 seconds.
When you lift the glass, a delicate herbal scent remains –
a warm reminder of sun, fire, and earth.

Pairs perfectly with Into the Woods or Hierbas Reborn.

✨ 2 – Sugar & Light – the Quiet Fireworks

No sparks, no chaos – just a soft glow that you can see and smell.

Here’s how to do it:

Moisten the rim of the glass with lemon.
Dip into gold-cinnamon sugar (2 tablespoons of sugar + ½ teaspoon of cinnamon + pinch of edible gold dust).
Just before serving, hold a candle flame close to the rim – not directly into the flame!
The sugar caramelizes slightly, smells like Christmas, and sparkles like frost.

For warm drinks, Hot Velvet or White Velvet – the golden moment at the end of the year.

🧊 3 – Ice with Memory

Ice can do much more than cool.
It can tell stories – softly and elegantly.

Here’s how to do it:

Place herbs or spices in ice cube trays:
Mint for freshness, lavender for calm, rosemary for warmth, lemon balm for lightness.
Fill with clear water and freeze slowly (fewer bubbles, clearer cubes).

As the ice melts in the glass, the flavors slowly unfold –
as if the drink is speaking to you.

Tip: Flowers or dried orange slices are also beautiful – used subtly.

💫 4 – Scent Instead of Decoration

Decoration is good. Scent is magic.
It works before you even taste.

Here’s how to do it:

Squeeze a citrus zest over the glass –
the essential oils create a fine, invisible mist.
Alternatively: Light cinnamon bark or vanilla pod briefly and position it near the glass.

The scent lasts for 30 seconds – long enough to transform the first sip into a small memory.

This is not an effect. This is atmosphere.

🔥 5 – Small Stage, Big Impact

A trick that professionals love – and that works at home.

Here’s how to do it:

Place the drink on a small mirror plate or silver base.
Position a candle or LED lamp with warm light beside it.
Angle the glass slightly, allowing the light to flow through the drink.
Just before serving, enliven with a splash of soda or a zest spray – the drink begins to sparkle.

This works with any light drink – particularly beautiful at dusk or sunrise.

💡 Conclusion: Small Gestures, Big Memories

You don’t need to set off rockets to celebrate the year.
A glowing drink, a scent in the air, a sound from the glass –
that’s all it takes for an evening to remain memorable.

The art lies in not celebrating loudly,
but in truly feeling.

The Taste of New Beginnings

Sometimes a new year doesn't start with noise,
but with a quiet moment.
A click of the glass,
a scent of lemon,
a sip that tells you:
It's up to you.

New beginnings don't always taste sweet.
Sometimes they are bitter like grapefruit,
warm like vanilla,
clear like lemon,
or unexpectedly like a drop of chili in a drink,
which should actually be gentle.

And that's the beauty of it:
You determine the direction.
Your memories from last year —
the loud, the quiet, the tender, the wild —
they are part of your taste.
But what is coming,
you mix yourself.

Maybe you choose more lightness.
For less sugar and more real flavors.
For drinks that get by with little alcohol,
but still taste like life.

Maybe you want to be bolder.
Try something new.
A spice you’ve never bought.
An ingredient that reminds you of a journey.
Or an experience that you want to take
into what lies ahead.

New beginnings don't mean changing everything.
It means choosing more consciously.
And every drink you mix in these days,
can be a small compass:
Where do I want to go?
What should my year feel like?
What do I want to taste, experience, discover?

Maybe that's the real magic of these days:
That you pause for a moment,
smell, taste, feel —
and realize that you hold the ingredients of your year in your own hands.

The next chapter doesn't begin at midnight.
It begins within you.
In the first sip.
In the first feeling.
In the first taste of 'new'.

quiet, but unforgettable

And if you feel like not just reading about flavors,
but really experiencing them –
then you'll find us exactly where good moments are created:
at the bar, in conversation, in the scent of fresh citrus fruits
and in glasses that tell more than words.

Whether you want to taste the sun on Mallorca,
want to mix something new with your team or friends in Frankfurt,
or are looking for an idea in Berlin that connects more than just dinner –
we are ready to create something special with you.

Just send us a message
or use the contact form on our website.
The rest happens in the moment –
and sometimes it is exactly from that a beginning arises,
that one fondly remembers.