Classy Cocktails to Ring in the New Year

Opening a bottle of bubbly is a quintessential part of any New Year’s Eve celebration. However, a brand-new year should have a brand-new drink to match. Here are nine champagne cocktail recipes to ring in the new year like a top-shelf mixologist.

French 75

• 2 oz. gin
• 1 tsp. simple syrup
• lemon juice
• 4 oz. champagne
• ice cubes
• lemon for garnish

1. Place gin, simple syrup, ice cubes, and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker.
2. Shake and strain into champagne flute halfway filled with ice.
3. Fill with champagne.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Champagne Margarita

• 1 oz. silver tequila
• .5 oz. triple sec
• 3 oz. champagne
• lime juice to taste (.5 oz.)
• lime for garnish
• ice cubes

1. Create a salted (or sugared) rim by running lime along the rim of the glass. Then, dip the glass into salt.
2. Mix tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and ice in a cocktail shaker and strain into a glass.
3. Pour champagne directly into the glass.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Lipstick Memory

• 1 oz. cranberry juice
• 1 tsp. simple syrup
• 1.5 oz. Campari
• 2.5 oz. champagne
• rosemary sprig (optional)
• ice cubes

1. Add simple syrup, cranberry juice, Campari, ice, and lightly torched rosemary sprig to a glass and stir.
2. Top with champagne and serve.

Kir Royale

• 1/2 oz. crème de cassis
• Champagne
• lemon for garnish (optional)

1. Place crème de cassis in champagne flute.
2. Top with champagne.
3. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Champagne Martini

• 1.5 oz. vodka or gin
• 1.5 oz. champagne
• 1 tbs. raspberry puree
• fresh raspberries for garnish
• ice cubes

1. Add raspberry puree to a chilled martini glass.
2. Shake vodka and ice in a cocktail mixer. Strain into the martini glass.
3. Top with champagne.
4. Garnish with fresh raspberries.

Champagne Cosmopolitan

• 1.5 oz. vodka
• 1/2 oz. triple sec
• 1/2 oz. cranberry juice
• 1/2 oz. lime juice
• 1 tsp. simple syrup
• 2 oz. champagne
• ice cubes

1. Place ice, vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, simple syrup, and lime juice into a cocktail shaker.
2. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Top with champagne.

Champagne Moscow Mule

• 1 oz. vodka
• 1.5 oz. ginger liqueur
• 1/2 oz. lime juice
• 3 oz. champagne
• lime or mint sprigs for garnish
• ice cubes

1. Shake and strain vodka, ginger liqueur, ice, and lime juice into a champagne flute.
2. Top with champagne.
3. Garnish with a lime twist or mint sprigs.

Champagne Old Fashioned

• Simple syrup
• 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 oz. bourbon
• 4 oz. champagne
• orange for garnish

1. Mix simple syrup and bitters.
2. Add bourbon.
3. Top with champagne.
4. Garnish with torched orange peel.

Sparkling Mai Tai

• 1/2 tbs. lime juice
• 1/2 tbs. almond syrup/orgeat
• 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
• 1 oz. rum
• 4 oz. champagne
• mint sprigs for garnish
• ice cubes

1. Pour lime juice, orgeat, Grand Marnier, rum, and ice into a cocktail shaker.
2. Stir until well chilled and strain into a champagne flute.
3. Top with champagne.
4. Garnish with mint sprigs.