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
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
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.