What to Drink on NYE If You Don’t Like Champagne
It’s your party, and you’ll drink what you want to.
By Erin Henderson
As an Aquarius, my general rule for living is to rebel against the crowd, so I am completely comfortable with anyone who also chooses to march to the beat of their own, personal drummer.
Of course, as New Year’s Eve rolls around, the easiest answer is to drink whatever you please. Spiked hot chocolate? Sure. Watermelon daiquiri inspired by the tropics? Have at 'er, babe.
But I also understand some of us would rather blend in with the crowd, and not have to explain our drink choices all evening.
Here are a few ideas for fizzy cocktails, with alcohol and without, for a festive evening.
Celebratory Drinks For Those Who Aren't Into Champagne
Sour Beer Spritz
Years ago, I had a food and drink tour company called Drink Toronto which showcased thirsty adventurers some of the most interesting bars and restaurants in the city. At one place, now long gone, thanks to the pandemic, the owner showed us his spin on an Aperol spritz. Using sour beer in place of bubbly, it was so much interesting than the OG Aperol Spritz.
Makes: 1 drink
Bartender level: Easy
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Aperol
- 3 oz unflavoured sour beer (you could also use a citrus flavour if plain is hard to find)
- 1 oz soda water
How to Make It:
- In a large wine glass filled with ice, pour in the Aperol and gently top with beer and soda.
- Stir and serve with a half-moon of orange.
Citrus Twist
A few years ago, when my friends were starting families, many kept early pregnancies on the downlow not wanting to jinx anything. But this also meant a bit of stress around foregoing the mimosas at brunch, when, just last week, and the week before that, they were happily downing the bottomless flutes.
While no one should have to defend their reasons for not drinking alcohol, sometimes, and in some situations, you just want to play it cool, and this pale, slightly effervescent cocktail is a lovely doppelgänger for a festive bubbly. No one has to know the truth.
Makes: 1 drink
Bartender level: Easy
Ingredients
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz honey simple syrup
- 3 oz lemon or orange kombucha
How to Make It:
- Pour lemon and simple syrup into a chilled coup.
- Top with cold kombucha.
Raspberry Cream
This old school cocktail has the sense of frivolity and excess of the swinging 1950’s, when Grasshoppers and Pink Ladies were the drinks of choice for society women in pearls and waist-pinching corsets. The boldly hued drinks did a fantastic job of masking the serious spirits lurking inside.
This Champagne tipple dials back the alcoholic kick but brings a sense of mad cap whimsy to the party.
Makes: About 8 drinks
Bartender level: Easy
Ingredients:
- ½ cup frozen raspberries
- ½ cup cream
- 1 cup framboise liqueur
- Scoop of ice
- Chilled bubbly
- Raspberries, for garnish
How to Make It:
- Blend the raspberries, cream, and framboise with the ice in a blender until slushy.
- Place a small scoop the raspberry mixture into a coup and top with cold bubbly.
- Garnish with raspberries and serve.