Three sparkling cocktails for New Years Eve (or really any celebration)
Quick, say the first two words that come to mind when you think of New Year’s Eve. Sparkles and bubbles, right??? I can think of nothing that is more associated with New Year’s Eve celebrations than champagne.
I will be the first to say that champagne is the perfect drink and never gets old. I will never say no to a glass of champagne, but I will also always say yes to a spritzy sparkling cocktail. There’s something extra festive about adding pizzazz to your bubbly, and it’s even more fun if they’re champagne cocktails that you haven’t heard of before. Here are the three that I’m making this year:
The Bitter Frenchman
This cocktail takes the boozy, bright soul of a French 75 and gives it a sophisticated, edgy bitterness with Campari. Because in cocktails, as in life, a splash of Campari makes everything that much better.
1 oz. Cedar Gin
½ oz. Campari
¼ oz. lemon juice
½ oz. simple syrup
Dry champagne (or other sparkling wine)
Shake all the ingredients except the champagne with ice until chilled. Strain into a coupe or champagne flute and top with the champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Teatime with the Romanoffs
Vodka did not become popular in the United States until the invention of the Moscow Mule, and the Moscow Mule didn’t become popular with me until I decided to make it with ginger syrup and champagne instead of ginger beer.
3/4 oz. Lake Superior Vodka
½ oz. ginger syrup*
½ oz. lime juice
Dry champagne (or other sparkling wine)
Shake all the ingredients except the champagne with ice until chilled. Strain into a coupe or champagne flute and top with the champagne.
*To make ginger syrup, combine 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water and 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for at least an hour before straining. Strain through a fine mesh strainer. Store in the refrigerator in an air tight container until you are ready to use.
The Final Countdown
I find myself not infrequently operating on the principle that if X is good and Y is good, X+Y will probably be pretty good too. This is the type of thinking that brought us the cronut and the pie milkshake, so how wrong could it be? In this case I put together two of my favorite drinks, the Last Word and champagne with great success. You get the sweet-tart-herbal, one-two(three) punch of the Last Word but lightened with effervescence.
½ oz. Juniper or Spruce gin (I like either one in this particular cocktail!)
½ oz. Green Chartreuse
½ oz. Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
½ oz. lime juice
Dry champagne (or other sparkling wine)
Shake all the ingredients except the champagne with ice until chilled. Strain into a coupe or champagne flute and top with the champagne.
