Each New Year’s Eve, New York City shines at its brightest, and for this monumental celebration, bubbly champagne and sparkling wine cocktails naturally take the spotlight (with National Champagne Day coinciding on December 31st).

This year some of the city’s most sought-after cocktail bars will be serving some unusual and eclectic cocktails made with champagne and sparkling wine to chime in the New Year with serious splendor.

One of the most influential bartenders of our time, Jim Kearns of Slowly Shirley, creates an unexpectedly complex champagne cocktail that oozes elegance and class; Ingrid Bergman combines beer distillate with absinthe, grapefruit bitters, lemon syrup, cedrat and finest champagne.

Another of the world’s most acclaimed bartenders, Naren Young is famed for his ability to reinvent traditional, adored classics with modern vigor and contemporary style. At Dante, the Aperitivo #1 is both sweet, tropical and tart at once; a blend of tequila, vermouths, passionfruit puree, mango vinegar, Lillet Blanc, Aperol and a touch of sea salt.

Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman

Photo Courtesy of Nick Voderman

Ingrid Bergman

By Jim Kearns for Slowly Shirley

Ingredients:

  • 1 dash Grapefruit Bitters
  • 1 dash Absinthe
  • 1/2 Lemon Syrup
  • 1/2 Cedrat
  • 1/2 Beer Distillate

Glass: Flute

Garnish: Grapefruit Zest, Discarded

Preparation: Stir. Top with champagne.

Apertivo #1

Apertivo #1

Photo Courtesy of Steven Freihon

Aperitivo #1

By Naren Young for Dante

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz. Aperol
  • 1/2 oz. Milagro Blanco
  • 1/2 oz. Lillet Blanc
  • 1/2 oz. Martini & Rossi Bianco Vermouth
  • 1/2 oz. Passion fruit Puree
  • 1 oz. Orange Juice
  • Pinch of Maldon Sea Salt
  • 5 dashes Mango Vinegar
  • 5 drops Orange Flower Water

Glass: Highball

Ice: Cube

Garnish: 1/4 passion fruit, orange blossom spray and metal straw

Preparation: Shake and strain over ice. Top with sparkling wine.