This New Year’s Eve, you’re going to require Champagne. By the glass, by the bottle, possibly by the bowl. Either way, Champagne will flow. Now, if you’re merely a guest partaking in some end-of-year festivities, your job is done. But should you be hosting said festivities, you’ve got some work to do. Chiefly, to buy some Champagne. From there, it’s up to you whether you simply pop that cork and pour the liquid into glasses. Or pop that cork and proceed to conjure up something memorable.
For the latter, here are some New Year’s Eve-approved Champagne cocktail recipes for inspiration.
Southside Royale
2 oz dry gin
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
3/4 oz simple syrup
Champagne
Fresh mint
Lightly press mint in your shaker to release the oils. Add gin, lime and simple syrup, then shake until cold. Strain into a cocktail glass. Top with Champagne and garnish with a mint sprig.
French 75
Most often served with gin, many argue that cognac was the cocktail’s original base spirit. You really can’t go wrong, but we’ve been enjoying a few cognac-spiked varieties of late.
1 1/2 oz cognac
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
Champagne
Shake first three ingredients with ice, then strain into a Champagne flute or a coupe. Top with Champagne, and garnish with a lemon twist.
The Seelbach
1 ounce bourbon
1/2 ounce Cointreau
7 dashes Angostura Bitters
7 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
Champagne
Pour bourbon, Cointreau and bitters into a mixing glass, and stir with ice until chilled. Strain into a Champagne flute, top with Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.
Photo: Maxime Iattoni
