3 Effervescent New Year’s Eve Drinks

Whip up some fancy sparklers before you ring in 2015

By Seattle Mag December 29, 2014

blue-train

New Year’s Eve is nearly upon us, and if you want your party to shine with a sparkle that dwarfs every other party this year (and even last year), then I suggest you serve up more entertaining Champagne and sparkling wine cocktails. The Washington Post agrees, as you can see in this recent article on bubbling up your holiday sipping strategy. So see which of the below three drinks best matches your mood (all of which are from my book Champagne Cocktails), and make this year’s end-of-year party a little tastier.

Blue Train
This is a version of the Blue Train Special, which I first saw in Trader Vic’s 1947 Bartender’s Guide. It’s a swell way to give a shout out to folks traveling a distance to visit you for NYE, and also, stories say, points to more travel for you in the New Year if you have it during the first hour of the year.

Ice cubes

1 1/2 ounces brandy

1 ounce fresh pineapple juice

Chilled brut sparkling wine

Pineapple chunk, for garnish, (optional)

1. Fill a cocktail shaker three-quarters full with ice cubes. Add the brandy and pineapple juice. Shake well.

2. Strain the mixture into a Champagne flute. Top with chilled sparkling wine and garnish with a pineapple chunk on a toothpick.

Class of the Race
If you’ve had a successful year of various endeavors (business, summer basketball league, love), then you should be treating yourself with this number, which is an award in a glass. You may want to buy yourself an actual award, too–you deserve it!

Ice cubes

2 ounces bourbon

1 ounce Bénédictine

1/2 ounce simple syrup

2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters

Chilled brut Champagne

1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway full with ice cubes. Add the bourbon, Bénédictine, simple syrup, and bitters. Shake well.

2. Strain the mixture into a flute glass, and then top with Champagne.

Eden
Like the legendary place itself, this sparkler is a tiny bit bitter, a tiny bit sweet, and full of citrus. As a warning, if you have a few of these, you many end up wearing what Adam and Eve did, pre-apple, because it’s got a little kick to it.

Ice cubes

2 ounces white rum

1 ounce Campari

1 ounce fresh pineapple juice

1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice

Chilled Prosecco

Orange slice, for garnish

1. Fill a highball glass three-quarters full with ice cubes. Add the rum, Campari, pineapple juice, and orange juice. Stir briefly.

2. Top with Prosecco. Stir one more time. Garnish with the orange slice.

 

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