It's no secret that I love champagne cocktails. Coincidentally, I'm also a huge fan of New Year's Eve, and the two go together really well. This year we're having some friends over to our place instead of going out, so I'll be the one mixing the drinks. Here's a roundup of my favorite sparkling cocktails, any of which would be perfect for ringing in the new year!
1. Champagne Cocktail - It doesn't get easier or more classic than this. I love to enhance the original recipe (bitters, sugar cube, lemon twist, bubbly) with orange bitters and an orange twist.
2. Champagne Julep - This sparkling riff on a Mint Julep makes for a beautiful presentation, especially when served in a julep tin or cup with a metal straw.
3. Air Mail - Honey simple syrup adds beautiful richness and flavor to this sparkling Daiquiri riff. It's an impressive drink and a great crowd-pleaser. Definitely one of my all-time favorites.
4. Italian 57 - If you're up for something a little more complicated but well worth the effort, the Italian 57 is sure to surprise and delight your guests. Amaretto, a bit of gin, lemon, blood orange, orange marmalade, rosemary, and sparkling rose make for an incredibly aromatic and deliciously tart cocktail. Plus, I mean... look at it!
5. French 75 - Possibly the most classic champagne cocktail out there, the French 75 is a perfect go-to when you want to dress up your bottle of bubbly. There is much debate over whether the gin or Cognac version is best - I'm firmly in the Cognac camp with this one, but try them both and decide for yourself!
6. Old Cuban - This is another drink on my list of definite crowd-pleasers, which makes sense as it's actually quite similar to the Air Mail. You can't go wrong with aged rum, simple syrup, lime, muddled mint, and champagne.
7. Curative - This is one of my own recipes from last New Year's, a sparkling riff on the Penicillin. Scotch and champagne work surprisingly well together with a bit of honey-ginger syrup, and crystallized ginger makes a perfect garnish.
8. Strawberry Sparkler - I developed this one for South of Plum, working with the Air Mail and the Old Cuban as inspiration. It's basically a sparkling strawberry daiquiri. With it's lovely flavor and pretty pink hue, it's a great choice for guests.
9. Last Cocktail - This one requires a bit of extra prep, but it's completely worth it. A rosemary-pear puree along with a rosemary and clove garnish make an otherwise summery drink - gin, lemon, champagne - very appropriate for a wintry New Year's.
10. Seelbach - This is a whiskey-drinker's champagne cocktail. Don't let its rosy hue fool you: with bourbon, Cointreau, and lots of bitters, it's very boozy and not too sweet.
What will you be drinking this New Year's Eve?
1. Champagne Cocktail - It doesn't get easier or more classic than this. I love to enhance the original recipe (bitters, sugar cube, lemon twist, bubbly) with orange bitters and an orange twist.
2. Champagne Julep - This sparkling riff on a Mint Julep makes for a beautiful presentation, especially when served in a julep tin or cup with a metal straw.
3. Air Mail - Honey simple syrup adds beautiful richness and flavor to this sparkling Daiquiri riff. It's an impressive drink and a great crowd-pleaser. Definitely one of my all-time favorites.
4. Italian 57 - If you're up for something a little more complicated but well worth the effort, the Italian 57 is sure to surprise and delight your guests. Amaretto, a bit of gin, lemon, blood orange, orange marmalade, rosemary, and sparkling rose make for an incredibly aromatic and deliciously tart cocktail. Plus, I mean... look at it!
5. French 75 - Possibly the most classic champagne cocktail out there, the French 75 is a perfect go-to when you want to dress up your bottle of bubbly. There is much debate over whether the gin or Cognac version is best - I'm firmly in the Cognac camp with this one, but try them both and decide for yourself!
6. Old Cuban - This is another drink on my list of definite crowd-pleasers, which makes sense as it's actually quite similar to the Air Mail. You can't go wrong with aged rum, simple syrup, lime, muddled mint, and champagne.
7. Curative - This is one of my own recipes from last New Year's, a sparkling riff on the Penicillin. Scotch and champagne work surprisingly well together with a bit of honey-ginger syrup, and crystallized ginger makes a perfect garnish.
8. Strawberry Sparkler - I developed this one for South of Plum, working with the Air Mail and the Old Cuban as inspiration. It's basically a sparkling strawberry daiquiri. With it's lovely flavor and pretty pink hue, it's a great choice for guests.
9. Last Cocktail - This one requires a bit of extra prep, but it's completely worth it. A rosemary-pear puree along with a rosemary and clove garnish make an otherwise summery drink - gin, lemon, champagne - very appropriate for a wintry New Year's.
10. Seelbach - This is a whiskey-drinker's champagne cocktail. Don't let its rosy hue fool you: with bourbon, Cointreau, and lots of bitters, it's very boozy and not too sweet.
What will you be drinking this New Year's Eve?
wow nice post. Delightful introduction, particularly when served in a julep tin or glass with a metal straw.There is much civil argument about whether the gin or Cognac variant is best I'm immovably in the Cognac camp with this one, however attempt them both and choose for yourself. a touch of gin, lemon, blood orange, orange preserves, rosemary, and shimmering rose make for an unbelievably sweet-smelling and delightfully tart mixed drink.
ReplyDeletewrite my essay