This New Year’s Eve, celebrate something a little more than just ringing in the New Year; we’re talking about National Champagne Day. That’s right - it’s probably no coincidence that December 31 not only marks the end of the calendar year, but also what’s become known as National Champagne Day, and what better place to celebrate both holidays than in New York City.
This year in Manhattan, 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 mark the exciting occasion. Jim Kearns of the bar Slowly Shirley and Naren Young of Dante will both be stirring up some drinks that are not to be missed.
At Slowly Shirley, Kearns is creating an elegant cocktail combining beer distillate with absinthe: the Ingrid Bergman. Named for the Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American classics like Casablanca and Notorious, the Ingrid Bergman does everything a simple glass of champagne can do but with a more powerful punch. Served in a flute, stirred, topped with champagne and adorned with a grapefruit zest, the recipe calls for:
1 dash Grapefruit bitters
1 dash Absinthe
1/2 Lemon syrup
1/2 Cedrat
At Dante, Young’s cocktail titled Apertivo # 1 is a sweet, tropical and tart blend of tequila, vermouths, passionfruit and more. Served in a highball glass, shaken and strained over cubed ice and topped with sparkling wine and passion fruit and orange blossoms, this recipe calls for:
1 oz Aperol
1/2 oz Milagro blanco
1/2 oz Lillet Blanc
1/2 oz Martini & Rossi Bianco Vermouth
1/2 oz Passionfruit puree
1 oz Orange juice
Pinch of Maldon sea salt
5 dashes Mango vinegar
5 drops Orange flower water
In case you missed it, we ran a piece recently on Winter Cocktails to Sip in NYC. Take a look at some of those delicious cocktails again here:
The Drink: Pacific Coast Highway
Find It At: Slowly Shirley; 121 W 10th St
Created By: Jim Kearns
1 Muddled cucumber slice
1 tsp Argala Pastis
.75 oz Fino sherry
.25 oz Doug Fir Eu de Vie
.5 oz Zirbenz Pine liqueur
1 oz Eucalyptus-infused Terroir
Glass: Coupe
Garnish: Rosemary sprig
Method: Stir. Strain.
The Drink: Holly Jolly
Find It At: Miracle on 9th; 649 E 9th St
Created By: Nico de Soto
1.5 oz Gin
.5 oz Pine Liqueur
.75 oz Vanilla Syrup
.75 oz Lime Juice
3 Mint
Top with soda
Glass: Miracle Collins Glass
Garnish: Pine needles
Method: Shake. Strain. Top with soda
The Drink: Shakespeare’s Globe
Find It At: LOCL Bar; 222 W 77th St
Created By: Cody Goldstein
2 oz Four Pillars Gin
5 oz Root Beer Seltzer
.5 oz Vanilla Syrup
.5 oz Douglas Fir Liqueur
.25 oz Cointreau
Glass: Snow Globe
Garnish: Edible disco glitter
Method: Shake gin, syrup, Douglas fir, and Cointreau with ice for 5 seconds. Double strain into the globe and fill with root beer seltzer.
If you find yourself in New York City on New Year’s Eve, we suggest making reservations before you head out for the night. Contact these featured bars at:
Slowly Shirley at 212-744-7539
Dante at 212-982-5275
Miracle on 9th at 347-866-7739
LOCL Bar at 212-651-3319