Whether you’re in New York or L.A., Kansas or Maine, saying farewell to 2021 demands a bit of fizz. If you don’t drink alcohol, no problem: We have plenty of spritzy, fizzy, bubbly concoctions up your alley. Here are a few of our favorite mocktails and bubbly-based cocktails to usher in 2022 with panache.
1. Limoncello Spritz
Lemon, ginger beer and limoncello find ideal foils in one another in this Limoncello Spritz. Loosely modeled after the Aperol Spritz, it swaps out the amaro for limoncello and its concentrated citrus notes. Soda water, Prosecco, and garnishes of fresh mint and lemon add bubbles and freshness.
2. Avec Sparkling Mixes
We can’t be the only ones who pop open the wine fridge (or heck, regular fridge) on New Year’s eve to spy just a single sad bottle of cheap Prosecco rolling around. There’s nothing wrong with that, but for an occasion, it’s lovely to frouf it up. Enter: Avec drinks. They’re carbonated combos of grapefruit and pomelo, ginger and pineapple, and yuzu and lime. Keep them N/A, if you like, and just add ice; they’re divine that way, since they have real fruit juice as their bases. Or add gin, tequila or vodka, depending on your taste. (Save the Prosecco for another day, or use it to top them off!)
3. The Ritz 110
Puttin’ out The Ritz 110 at your New Year’s Eve fête is a swank touch. The Ritz London is among the most famous hotels in the world. Its Louis XVI and 24-carat gold leaf interiors inspired this gold-infused cocktail, concocted to celebrate the hotel’s 110th birthday. Light, bright, fizzy and a little sweet, it comprises gold-infused vodka, Crème de Pêche, Grand Marnier, brown sugar, Champagne, and a ribbon of orange zest. It’s fabulous.
4. Pomme Royale
Like an elegant nap at an apple farm in Normandy, the Pomme Royale from David Lebovitz combines unexpected elements. Calvados (apple brandy) mingles with lemon juice, Cointreau, simple syrup, lemon, sugar, and Crémant (the dry cousin of Champagne). Shaken until very cold and served up in a coupe glass, it’s as beautiful as it is refined.
5. Voilà
Nursing a wee cold but still want a drink to mark the evening? Consider the Voilà, another David Lebowitz creation, which helped the Californian handle the long, dark French winters. Clementines and tangerines sell by the bagful in Paris, cheering up locals. Freshly squeezed tangerines, bourbon, and a tangerine syrup spiced with black and Sichuan peppercorns form the base of this drink. The rest is all Champagne this and orange wheel that. It’s as glorious-looking as it is tasty.
6. Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail
We absolutely love a drink that relies upon pantry and bar staples. This Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail delivers. It’s just Grand Marnier, pomegranate juice, and whatever sparkling wine you have kicking around the fridge. Add pomegranate seeds if you’ve got ’em, and simple syrup if you prefer sweeter drinks. It’s ruby-hued, soothing, and the sort of rose-colored glasses (in cocktail form) we like for welcoming 2022.