Yes, there are alternatives, and yes, it’s more expensive than other sparklers, but Champagne will always be the ultimate glass of elegance and celebration. It’s a classic way to ring in the new year, and such a big day requires the special feeling that cocktails bring to an occasion, so why not combine the two?
Champagne is perfect for keeping cocktails light and refreshing, as well as bringing a bit of fruity crispness to robust mixes. Start the year as you mean to go on with these memorable Champagne cocktails.
Kir Royale
This wonderful cocktail goes back to 19th century France and makes full use of the gorgeous blackcurrant liqueur Crème de Cassis. Elegant bubbly bite with silky, juicy sweetness – simple but delicious. Also, it pairs perfectly with berry and meringue desserts like Eton mess and pavlova if you’re having a New Year feast.
Ingredients
1 tbsp crème de cassis
Champagne
Blackberry or raspberry (optional garnish)
Method
Crème de cassis first, poured into a Champagne flute before topping up with Champagne. A blackberry or raspberry tops it up nicely, and if it’s frozen you can use it to chill the cocktail too.
Black Velvet
These two might seem like a slightly odd match at first, but it’s actually a cocktail steeped in history. As the legend has it, a London steward was inspired to come up with it following the nation’s mourning of Prince Albert in 1861. The crisp Champagne takes the robust heaviness away from the Guiness, and you get a fruit dipped in dark chocolate kind of profile. Rich, lively and interesting to try if you never have before.
Ingredients
100ml Guinness
100ml Champagne
Method
Two ingredients with equal measures, how’s that for simple? Go for Champagne first, and then pour the Guinness in over the back of a spoon for some lovely layering.
Champagne Bowler
This wine heavy classic dates back to the 30s and brings a splash of summer to the New Year celebrations. The foundation of three grapes compliments the fresh, natural flavour of those sweet strawberries, and the result feels clean and crisp, with a hint of richness.
Ingredients
3 chopped strawberries
20ml brandy (preferably Cognac)
30ml dry white wine (like Chardonnay)
60ml champagne
Dash of syrup (optional)
Method
Muddle your chopped strawberries in a shaker, and add the brandy, white wine, a little ice and shake well. Unusually, we don’t recommend straining here because we want all that strawberry goodness and flavour, so just top up with Champagne and toast to the warmer weather ahead.
Poinsettia
This is essentially a cranberry mimosa, and it’s delicious. The ruby red hue and rosemary garnish keep the festive theme, and the flavours are citrusy, tart and refreshing. The orange liqueur gives a little weight and sweetness, the cranberry juice gives that bittersweet fruit, and of course, the fizz is there with its fine bubbles to lighten the mood. It just works so well.
Ingredients
25ml orange liqueur
50ml cranberry juice
75ml champagne
1 rosemary sprig to garnish
Method
Chill everything beforehand for this one, it makes all the difference. Pour the orange liqueur and cranberry juice into a chilled glass, and very gently top up with champagne before finishing with a rosemary sprig for aesthetics and faint whiff of herby goodness.
Classic Champagne Cocktail
This old-school classic is what started it all, and though it’s as simple as a cocktail can get, it is definitely worth including if you’re looking to retain all the star power and complexity of your champagne. The Angostura-soaked sugar cube gives a little sweet spice to liven up a straight serving of fizz.
Ingredients
1 sugar cube
4 dashes of Angostura bitters
200ml champagne
Lemon or orange slice to garnish
Method
Drop the sugar into the bottom of the flute and soak for a few minutes with Angostura. Then top up with Champagne and finally, garnish with a little citrus. Simple excellence.
Champagne Punch
Something slightly different here, because if you’re seeing in the New Year with a big group, then a punch is always handy. It’s quite an extravagant way to use champagne, but if you can’t do that at New Years then when can you? Like any punch, there aren’t many hard and fast rules, but we think this run down works a treat. The fresh lemon, lime, and citrus cut through nicely, there’s plenty of crisp wine, fruity sweetness and gentle warmth from Cognac and ginger.
Ingredients (for 8)
1 bottle of champagne
250ml grapefruit juice
200ml ginger ale
200ml dry white wine
100ml orange liqueur
100ml pineapple juice
1 sliced lemon
1 sliced lime
1 sliced orange
40ml Cognac/brandy
70ml simple syrup
Handful of mint leaves
Handful of cranberries
Ice
Method
The only important thing here is to leave the Champagne till last. We want to retain all those bubbles, so combine everything else and chill for an hour (at least). When guests arrive, pour in the bubbly, and make sure it’s drunk first so the effervescence hasn’t faded.
If these have caught your eye, then you just need one thing... that all important Champagne. Let’s be honest, if you’re mixing it then there’s no need to splash out on a super expensive bottle, and there are plenty of fantastic Champagnes at in the mid-range area that are perfect for cocktails. Take a look here!
