champagne cocktails for new year'sIf there's ever a time to break out the bubbly, New Year's Eve is it. But if you don't want to be called an amateur, you're going to want to go one step beyond popping the cork. Yes, even if you're popping the cork with a saber. (Okay, if you pop the cork with a saber, you're officially off the hook for any more theatrics.)

Instead of passing out glasses of champagne, or thinking that mimosas are somehow "exotic" at night, instead take a gander at these five champagne recipes and surprise your guests with your ingenuity and taste.

Then you can start practicing with your saber for next year's New Year's Eve party.

The French 75

Always my favorite champagne cocktail to order when I'm in a speakeasy, the French 75 is as sophisticated as it sounds. Here's how you make it:

2 ounces champagne
1 ounce gin
Juice of half a lemon
1/2 ounce simple syrup

Pour all ingredients over ice in shaker. Shake until chilled, strain into champagne glass. Garnish with lemon wedge. Oooh, la, la!

The Black Velvet

For your beer drinkers, who are diving into champagne simply for the holiday.

4 ounces champagne
1 ounce Guinness beer

Mix, and serve in champagne glass

The Schusboomer's Delight

The best thing about this champagne cocktail is the name. Repeat it often throughout the night for optimal effect.

1 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 ounces cognac

Pour over two ice cubes in a tall glass, fill the rest of the glass with champagne, and serve.

Nelson's Blood

For a particularly morbid party, bust out the Nelson's Blood.

4 ounces champagne
1 ounce tawny Port

Mix, serve

Pomegranate Poinsettia

A twist on the traditional, substitute some Pom for the cranberry juice in this fruity, yum of a drink.

3 ounces champagne
1 ounce pomegranate juice

Mix, and pour over ice.

Happy 2012!

 

Image via YouTube