How about a plan for New Year’s? No, not a plan for 2026 (that can wait until February). How about a drinking plan so you can pair the right moment with the right beverage?

From wine to beer to booze, we have a few splurges and smart buys that we think will fit in nicely during your celebration.

Hors d’oeuvres & tequila cocktails

Start with mini empanadas and a ranch water. Maybe taquitos and a tall glass of reposado on the rocks. Whatever the finger food, buck the trend of “seasonality” with a good-at-any-time tequila. Use the exquisitely light and flavorful Don Fulano Blanco ($55) to make your ranch water (tequila, lime, soda water) — the price is high, but quality is higher so a splash goes a long way.

Or skip the soda and drink your tequila like top shelf Scotch or bourbon. Tequila Herradura Reposado ($45) is the world’s first reposado that is aged 11 months in charred American white oak barrels. The result is a big taste that’s still smooth and still spicy and stands up on its own.

Wine with dinner

Wasn’t it Billy Joel who sang, “Bottle of red, another bottle of red, perhaps a third bottle of red instead?” In that spirit, tuck into some cozy reds with your dinner. If you’re having a red sauce, cheese plate or frozen pizza, go for the San Felice’s Borgo Chianti Classico ($33). It has sunny Tuscan disposition — full of fruitiness and floral tones — but has a body and richness fit for winter. If the menu leans closer to tapas or paella, head west and leapfrog Spain to Portugal. Quinta Nova Unoaked Red ($23) uses a blend of the country’s best northern grapes without aging them in oak for a lushness right between bright and earthy. Both wines beat their price point for flavor and pair with just about anything.

Beer with dinner or breakfast

Pour it in a glass if you must. Or sit the tallboy on the table and proclaim you’re toasting to good taste over good manners (but be nice about it, it’s been a long year). Jack’s Abby Extra Layer ($11 for a four pack of pints) is a Munich-style winter lager that’s perfect to sip while eating a hearty stew or soup. The breakfast brew? Wormtown Blizzard of ‘78 Winter ($12 for a four pack of pints) is a classic English-style brown ale made with Acoustic Java roasted coffee beans for extra toastyness.

Bourbon by a roaring fire after dinner

Don’t have a roaring fire? That’s a bummer, but thankfully a great bourbon is better than any fire. Last Thanksgiving we discovered Chicken Cock Straight Rye Whiskey (the distillery has had its glorious name since 1856). This year, we swapped rye for Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Bourbon ($60). It makes a delicious Manhattan, old fashioned, boulevardier, sip on the rocks, sip on its own, or shot. Yes, delicious in everything.

Sparkling midnight toast

You want to toast, cheer, and kick 2025 in the keister. And you want to do with bubbles. But, after you have had one to four drinks, you probably don’t want to pop open a $250 bottle of Dom Perignon at 11:59. How about some sparkling wines that don’t break the bank but are still absolutely delicious? Using the same French “méthode traditionnelle,” Crémant offers the same smooth effervescence. 90+ Cellars Lot 228 Crémant D’Alsace ($19) is the best place to start loving Crémant. Another smart and easy option is Kendall-Jackson’s Vintner’s Reserve Brut Cuvee ($20). Bright and fruity, and too good for the price point, this sparkling wine makes for a nice cheers and also goes great with late night snacks.