Ring In The New Year With These Delicious Champagne Cocktails

Since I’d kept my choices simple and straightforward, I already had a few things I’d need on hand and only had to pick up a handful (or armful) of other items. I was able to nab everything I needed from my local shops and didn’t have to go out of my way to find anything too obscure or pricey.

• Sugar
• Water
• Blueberries
• Lemon zest
• Lemonade
• Champagne (or prosecco)
• Blueberries

Note: I used a small bottle of champagne to test my recipes, which you may also want to do as well, but if you want to make the cocktails for a New Year’s Eve get-together, you might want to buy a bottle or two (or 20, depending on how you and your friends like to party) of the good stuff.

First, I started by making a simple blueberry syrup that would be added to the drink. I combined 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. I was sure to keep stirring it until the sugar had dissolved. I then added 2 cups of blueberries and zest from one lemon and let it all come to a boil before reducing the heat and letting it simmer. During this time, the blueberries softened and split. Once that happened, I removed the saucepan from the heat and let everything cool down. From there, I strained the mixture into a jar using a coffee filter to prevent any blueberry bits from getting into my syrup.

It was then time to make the rest of the drink. I poured about a tablespoon of the blueberry syrup into my glass and then added some lemonade, leaving enough space to top it off with champagne and a few blueberries.

The Lemosa ended up being a beautiful drink. It was a  dark rose color with a little fizz, and it was lovely on its own. The blueberries added an extra touch that made this cocktail something that is surely special enough to serve on New Year’s Eve.

The Lemosa was just as pleasant as I was expecting. The blueberry syrup added a slightly sweet hint to the tangy lemonade, which would have been tasty enough. But with the champagne adding an extra kick to this cocktail, it's definitely a fabulous choice to enjoy while the ball drops.

• Champagne
• Cranberry juice
• Lemon
• Lime
• Sugar

For the Dizzy Fizzy Cocktail, I started by cutting up a few lemon and lime slices. I then squeezed the juice out of the remaining halves of the lemon and lime. I quickly dropped the slices into the juice to get them wet before dropping them in the sugar, making sure that they were fully coated on each side. I also dipped the rim of my glass into the juice before placing it in the sugar.

Now that everything was prepped, it was time to make the drink itself. I grabbed another lemon and lime and added a little juice from each into the glass before pouring in some cranberry juice and champagne. I finished the drink by placing one of the sugared lemon slices and one of the sugared lime slices onto the side of the glass. I then topped it off with a little more champagne to fill the glass, and I was done.

The Dizzy Fizzy was even prettier than I had hoped. The rich dark burgundy color of the cranberry juice was beautiful, and the sugared fruits, as well as the sugared rim, added extra pops of brightness.

Um, yum! The cranberry juice and champagne were such a nice combination, and the sugared rim added a lovely level of sweetness to the tart juice. The fruit provided just the right amount of sweet and sour to this dynamic cocktail that’s absolutely worthy of NYE.

• Sparkling cider (I used Sicilian Lemon Italian Soda)
• Rainbow sherbet
• Rainbow sparkles
• Honey
• Fruit

The Rainbow Sherbet Float was just as much fun to make as it was to drink. I started by scooping a few balls of sherbet onto wax paper that I had placed on a cookie sheet. I popped that into the freezer to harden up for a few minutes while preparing everything else. I then cut a few half slices of lemon and lime and put a little notch into two of the raspberries. Next, I dipped the rim of the glass in honey before popping it into rainbow sprinkles. It was then time to pour in the lemon soda, pop in two of the sherbet scoops, and top it off with more soda.

The Rainbow Sherbet Float mocktail could not have been cuter. It was colorful and bubbly and looked like the perfect mix between a snazzy drink and a delicious dessert.

I actually filled the glass a little too much, and it nearly bubbled over, which meant that the color from the rainbow sprinkles immediately started to run down the inner sides of the glass as I added the fruit to the rim. However, it ended up being another funky aspect of this quirky NYE treat.

I tried the float myself and thought it was awesome. The fizzy lemon soda was lovely, and the sherbet added a creaminess that was delightful. My son also tried the mocktail and loved it! He was thrilled by the idea of a new twist on an ice cream float, and his eyes lit up when he saw the colorful concoction I had created.

Whether you’re celebrating with your adult friends or have a few little ones among the partiers, these are three great options to help you say goodbye to the past 12 months and joyfully ring in the next. Happy New Year!