These easy-to-make co*cktails will have you welcoming the new year in style.
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The Basics: Easy to Make, Easy to Drink
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What you'll need for these:
BOOZE:
Angostura bitters
Champagne or other dry sparkling wine
Guinness
Tawny port
MIXERS:
Good orange juice
Pink grapefruit juice
Cranberry juice co*cktail
PRODUCE, etc:
Sugar cubes
Lemons
1. Mimosa
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Pour equal parts orange juice and sparkling wine in a glass, sparkling wine first. That's it! Tasty and quick.
2. Pink Mimosa
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Pour equal parts pink grapefruit juice and sparkling wine in a glass, sparkling wine first. Same dance as before, but with a crisp, grapefruit-y taste!
3. Poinsettia
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Pour equal parts cranberry juice and sparkling wine in a glass, sparkling wine first. No idea why this one gets a super special name, but the cranberry tang really brings out the holiday flavor!
4. Classic Champagne co*cktail
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Place one small sugar cube in the bottom of the champagne flute, top with Angostura bitters until soaked. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with lemon twist. Voila! You're ringing in 2015 with a classic 1860s taste.
5. Black Velvet
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Pour sparkling wine in, top with equal parts chilled Guinness or other dry stout beer. Hand what's left of the beer to your friend who does not appreciate champagne co*cktails.
6. Nelson's Blood
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Pour 4 parts sparkling wine and 1 part tawny port in a glass. Stir gently. Maybe have your guests try a sip before telling them the name. :)
THE ST-GERMAINS: Keeping It Classy
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What you'll need:
BOOZE:
St-Germain
Champagne or other dry sparkling wine
MIXERS:
Orange juice
Cranberry juice co*cktail
Club soda
PRODUCE, etc:
Lemon, juiced and for garnish
7. The Hummingbird
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Stir 3 ounces of sparkling wine with 1.5 ounces St-Germain. Top with splash of club soda. Enjoy the sweet, sweet nectar of The Hummingbird.
8. Champagne Granita
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Stir 3 ounces sparkling wine with 2 ounces orange juice, 1 teaspoon simple syrup, and 1.5 ounces St-Germain. A perfect drink for your guest who enjoys the sweeter things in life.
9. Elderflower Punch
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Stir 2 teaspoons simple syrup with 1.5 ounces lemon juice, 1.5 ounces cranberry juice, 1.5 ounces St-Germain, and 3 ounces sparkling wine. Tastes much better than eating an elderberry plant (don't do that, for the record).
THE GINS: Champagne co*cktails With a Kick
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What you'll need:
SUPPLIES:
Crushed ice
co*cktail shaker
BOOZE:
Dry gin
Champagne or other dry sparkling wine
MIXERS:
Grapefruit juice
PRODUCE, etc:
Lemons (for juicing and garnish)
Limes (for juicing and garnish)
Oranges
Raspberries (frozen or fresh)
Simple syrup
Mint leaves
Honey
10. French 75
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Pour 1.5 ounces gin, 1 ounce lemon juice, 1 teaspoon syrup, and a handful of ice in a co*cktail shaker. Shake and strain into a champagne flute, then top with 4 ounces sparkling wine and a lemon twist for garnish. A classic 1915 drink for your modern 2015 party!
11. Rouge 75
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Place 3-4 raspberries in the bottom of a champagne flute. Pour 1.5 ounces gin, 1 ounce lemon juice, 1 teaspoon syrup, and a handful of ice in a co*cktail shaker, shake and strain into flute, and top with 4 ounces sparkling wine. Garnish with 2 orange twists. The only thing more festive than champagne is fruit floating in champagne.
12. Southside Royale
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Pour 2 ounces gin, 3/4 ounces simple syrup, and 1 ounce fresh lime juice with a handful of ice into a co*cktail shaker. Shake until chilled and pour into champagne flute. Top with 4 ounces of sparkling wine and garnish with a sprig of mint. Not to be mistaken with a Royale with cheese.
13. Gin and Honey
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Pour 1.5 ounces grapefruit juice, 1/2 ounces honey, 1 ounce gin, and a handful of ice into a co*cktail shaker. Shake and strain into a champagne flute and top with sparkling wine. Like drinking the stars, but if the stars were mixed with delicious, delicious honey.
THE RUMS: For Revelers Really Looking for a Ruckus
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Spencer Bergen / Buzzfeed
SUPPLIES:
Crushed ice
co*cktail shaker
BOOZE:
Angostura bitters
Golden rum
Champagne or other dry sparkling wine
PRODUCE, etc:
Limes (for juicing and cut into wedges for muddling)
Simple syrup
Honey
Mint leaves
14. Air Mail
Buzzfeed
Mix 2 ounces golden rum, 1/2 ounce lime juice, 1 teaspoon honey, and a handful of ice in a co*cktail shaker. Strain into a champagne flute and top with 4 ounces sparkling wine. Garnish with a sprig of mint. Be sure not to have too many, so no one has to air mail you home!
15. Champagne Mojito
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Muddle 4-5 mint leaves, 1 ounce simple syrup, and 4 lime wedges at the bottom of a co*cktail mixer. Add 1.5 ounces rum and a handful of ice and shake well until chilled. Strain into a champagne flute and top with 4 ounces sparkling wine. Garnish with a sprig of mint. The drink is well worth the work.
Variation: Top with a few drops Angostura bitters to make it an Old Cuban.
Happy New Year!
Via giphy.com
