5 Champagne Cocktails for New Year’s Eve

Nothing is more iconic on New Year’s Eve than a toast with a Champagne cocktail. Those sparkling bubbles just shout celebration. And so that you have several choices, I’m sharing 5 Champagne cocktails for New Year’s Eve.

Whether we will be celebrating New Year’s Eve with a large party or just a a party for two, sharing the passage from one year to the next is still special. I’m giving you 5 Champagne cocktails to choose from for New Year’s Eve.

The first New Year’s Eve that Sweet Shark and I ever spent together was in Paris. (When he asked me on Halloween night if I would spend New Year’s Eve with him in Paris, I knew he wasn’t talking about Paris, Texas.)

We arrived in Paris the morning of the 31st, and that night after a fabulous dinner in a French bistro, we walked over to the ChampsÉlysées ~ that’s shah zay-lee-zey, not champs el-e-sees for us Americans. The most beautiful boulevard in the world was lit with white twinkling lights and a million people (I think it was a million.) surrounded us.

Happy Parisians and tourists carried bottles of champagne and glasses and shared a sip and kissed and shouted Bonne Année.  It was magical and beautiful and enchanting and still the most amazing New Year’s Eve we’ll ever have. It was also the coldest ~ Europe was experiencing a “Siberian front”. That Champagne helped keep everyone warm.

We love Champagne drinks and Sweet Shark and I want to share with you these 5 Champagne cocktails for New Year’s Eve. You’ll have plenty of time to read over these Champagne cocktail recipes and decide which one(s) you want to try this New Year’s Eve.

5 Champagne Cocktails for New Year’s Eve

These drinks are easy to make.  But you have to remember that the best Champagne cocktails must have chilled Champagne glasses and very cold Champagne or Sparkling Wine. We love Prosecco and Cava.

And just to be clear, any of these Champagne cocktails would also be perfect for toasting on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS ~ WHAT CHAMPAGNE TO BUY

First, if you need some ideas for which Champagne to buy, this article from Tasting Table about Champagne lists some really affordable and delicious suggestions for your Champagne buying.  Run out right now and purchase a few bottles.  

TIP: Put the Champaagen in the fridge and put your prettiest Champagne flutes or coupes in the freezer.

Just for clarification: all Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne.  Champagne must come from the Champagne region of France and is made from either chardonnay or pinot noir grapes.  Prosecco (from Italy), Cava (from Spain), and all other sparkling wines by law can’t be called Champagne.

TIP: For all these drinks, use whatever sparkling wine fits your budget, but buy the best you can.

REMEMBER: Champagne should be served and enjoyed immediately.  You can’t let those bubbles disappear!

FRENCH 75

Many versions of this drink, dating back to WWI, exist. There is even a bar in New Orleans called French 75. This version was originally in Bon Appetit years ago.  I often ask for a French 75 when we are out for dinner any time of year.

Champagne French 75 Cocktail

French 75

French 75
A simple, but classic combination of gin and Champagne.
Serving Size 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces gin
  • 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
  • 3/4 ounce simple syrup
  • Champagne or sparkling wine chilled
  • 1 lemon twist for garnish

Instructions

  • Combine gin, lemon juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
  • Fill the shaker with ice; cover and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is very cold, about 20 seconds.
  • Strain the cocktail into a large Champagne flute.
  • Top the cocktail with sparkling wine.
  • Garnish the cocktail with a lemon twist.

SPARKLING GINGER

This recipe is from Martha Stewart. Of course, Sweet Shark had to tweak it. This is the easiest drink you can make.  The crystallized ginger makes the Champagne have even more bubbles.  We buy it in the bulk section of our Central Market with the other crystallized (sugared) fruit. He likes to pour it in front of guests for “ooh’s and ah’s”.

Sparkling Ginger

Sparkling Ginger
An impressive Champagne cocktail to make and serve.
Serving Size 1 drink

Ingredients

  • 2 thin slices crystallized ginger
  • 3 dashes orange bitters
  • chilled Champagne or sparkling wine such as Prosecco or Cava

Instructions

  • Place the crystallized ginger slices in a Champagne flute.
  • Add the 3 ~ 4 dashes of orange bitters to the flute.
  • Add the Champagne or sparkling wine to fill the glass. It will bubble up. Serve immediately.

TICKLED PINK COCKTAIL

How cute is that name? And doesn’t a glass of bubbly tickle your nose a bit? Sweet Shark found this drink recipe in Bon Appetit. It comes from a bar in Philadelphia. What a great way to start an evening with this pretty pink drink. Just one!

Tickled Pink Cocktail

Tickled Pink
A pretty pink Champagne cocktail that will add to your festive party.
Bon Appetit
Serving Size 1 drink

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur
  • 1 tablespoon pineapple juice
  • splash Malibu rum or other coconut~flavored rum
  • 1/2 teaspoon grenadine
  • Champagne or sparkling wine

Instructions

  • Combine first 4 ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
  • Add ice cubes to fill shaker and shake until ingredients are cold, about 15 seconds.
  • Strain liquid into Champagne flute or coupe.
  • Top with Champagne or sparkling wine.

CHAMPAGNE COSMO

What girl doesn’t love a Cosmo? The addition of the Champagne makes this drink a great starter to a festive meal; raise your glasses to this party-perfect take on a Cosmopolitan. From Fine Cooking Magazine.

Champagne Cosmo

Champagne Cosmo
Start your party celebrations off with this bubbly version of the classic Cosmo.
Fine Cooking Magazine
Serving Size 1 drink

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces chilled cranberry juice cocktail
  • 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 twist lime zest about 1/4 inch wide and 3 inches long
  • Champagne or sparkling wine

Instructions

  • Combine the cranberry juice, Grand Marnier and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Mix well.
  • Twist the lime zest over the Champagne flute to release the essential oils. Drop into glass.
  • Pour the liquid into the Champagne flute. Top the liquid with the Champagne or sparkling wine.

CHAMPAGNE PUNCH

I was really proud of myself for finding this recipe several years ago.  In fact, I served it at a ladies’ Christmas brunch the first Christmas we were in our new home. It’s fruity, but not sweet. It got rave reviews and I think I think I got accepted into the neighborhood because of it.

Although featured in a Southern Living article, the drink comes from Julia Reed, one of my very favorite Southern writers.  She is the author of:

  • But Mama Always Put Vodka in the Sangria: Adventures in Eating, Drinking and Making Merry
  • The House on First Street, My New Orleans Story
  • Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns and Other Southern Specialties: An Entertaining Life with Recipes
  • Queen of the Turtle Derby and Other Southern Phenomena.

Originally from Greenville, Mississippi, Julia lived in New Orleans for many years (We have walked by the house in the Garden District that she wrote about.).  She has an irreverent sense of humor and writes for Southern Living and Garden and Gun.  We Southern girls do love a good punch. Be sure to use your prettiest punch bowl and cups.

Pink Champagne punch

Unfortunately, Julia Reed passed away after a long battle with cancer.

Julia Reed’s Champagne Punch

Champagne punch
A pretty Champagne punch perfect for a large party during the Christmas holidays.
Serving Size 14 cups

Equipment

  • large mixing bowl

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brandy
  • 2 bottles (750~milliliter) chilled sparkling wine
  • 1 bottle (375~milliliter) chilled dessert wine such as Sauternes
  • oranges or lemon slices for garnish
  • cranberries for garnish
  • 1 ice ring

Instructions

  • Stir together the fresh lemon juice and the 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar in a large bowl until the sugar dissolves.
  • Stir in the brandy.
  • Place an ice ring in a large punch bowl.
  • Pour the punch over the ice ring.
  • Stir in the sparkling and dessert wines.
  • Garnish with orange or lemon slices and cranberries.
  • Serve in punch cups.

I can’t forget these 10 Delicious Holiday Cocktails to share with you.

I know you want to save these delicious Champagne cocktails, so be sure to PIN them.

pin for later graphic in blue

As we enter the last week of the year and we turn to thoughts of the new year, I want to wish you a Happy New Year. May it be a healthy, prosperous, and peaceful year.

Christmas Santa signature

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14 Comments

  1. Oh Yummm! I know NYE is over, but I think I’ll continue to ring in the new year and try one of these cocktails every week! 🙂 Thanks so much for the festive recipes and the backstories too!

  2. These all sound terrific, Carol! Definitely bookmarking for the next festive occasion…or the next time we need to create a festive occasion!! NYE in Europe sounds absolutely magical – definitely on my bucket list!

  3. Congratulations Carol, you are being featured at the next Friday with Friends link party!
    I love champagne cocktails and you gave me some more ideas to try out.
    Thank you for participating 🙂
    Rachelle

    1. Thank you so much, Rachelle. I hope that you had a nice New Year’s.

  4. Great post! I love bubbles and French 75 is my cocktail of choice…always! I have turned on many girlfriends to French 75s since my hubby has perfected it for me. All the varieties sound yummy though! Will have to try them. Love all the glassware you used and the photography makes me thirsty. 🙂 Happy New Year!

    XO- MaryJo

  5. Bring on the champs, I love it! Thanks for sharing these recipes Carol, I’ve chosen to feature you at Happiness Is Homemade Link Party #355.

    1. Thank you so much, Katie. Cheers and Merry Christmas.

  6. Rebecca Payne says:

    I love Champagne. I want to try the punch for Christmas and the others for New Years Eve. Thank you for sharing these recipes.

  7. MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) says:

    Can hardly wait to try some of these with friends! They just sound so good! Thanks for sharing these recipes with us!

    HAPPY NEW YEAR, CAROL, TO YOU AND SWEET SHARK! May the new year be a wonderful one for you both!

  8. These all look wonderful, Carol! Thank you for sharing them!

  9. Oh so many choices! They all sound divine but the punch sounds particularly yummy! I love Julia Reed so that gives it an added charm for me. 🙂

    1. Lisa, I’m so glad you like the cocktails. We had fun sampling and taking the photos. But someone had to do it! I love Julia’s writing. I think I have all her books. Years ago we walked by her house in the Garden District and I think I still have the picture. The punch is really great for a festive girls’ party.

    2. Lisa, the champagne punch is perfect for a girls’ festive event. I think I’ve read every Julia Reed book. Can’t wait until her next one. Until then I read her articles in Garden and Gun and Southern Living.

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