4 Sparkling wine and champagne cocktails for New Year's Eve
From Toronto bartending legend Robin Goodfellow, we've got four delicious sparkling wine and champagne cocktails (and a non-alcoholic option) to toast on New Year's Eve or at any celebration.
As we prepare to close the book on 2023 with a champagne cocktail toast, we've got mixed emotions. On one hand, we're not ready for the year to end. It flew by at the speed of light, and we're ashamed to admit we didn't accomplish all of our resolutions (we'll get that gym membership next year, we swear). On the other... Well, 2024 has a nice ring to it.
To toast to all the excellent food, drinks and mems we've had this year, and to the possibilities our next trip around the sun holds, we've got some excellent sparkling and champagne cocktails to pour on New Year's Eve or at any special occasion. They're all from Robin Goodfellow, the brilliant master of mixology at Vela, the hotel-lobby-inspired bar on Portland Street with sweeping architecture, 1920s vibes and pop-culture inspired cocktails.
Bright, bubbly and flavourful, these effervescent tipple recipes are equally delicious as sparkling wine or champagne cocktails, depending on your budget. Stir them up and pass them out before you count the seconds until the ball drops. From the Foodism team to you and yours, happy sipping — and happy New Year!
Robin Goodfellow's The Mari
This sparkling cocktail is like an Aperol spritz, all grown up. Martini Fiero and grapefruit combine with sparkling red wine for a refreshing, yet bitter cocktail.
Jessica Blaine Smith
Makes 1
Preparation time 5 minutes
Ingredients
2 oz Martini Fiero
½ oz rich syrup
½ oz lemon juice
1 oz grapefruit juice
¼ oz Oro Blanco Tincture
2 oz lambrusco
Lemon wheel, to garnish
Blackberry gummy candy, to garnish
Raspberry, to garnish
Method
Add the Martini Fiero, syrup, lemon juice, grapefruit juice and Oro Blanco Tincture to a chilled wine glass with ice.
Stir cocktail until bone cold.
Top with lambrusco.
Skewer a blackberry gummy candy, raspberry and lemon wheel, and use it to garnish. Serve.
Robin Goodfellow's The Crispy Clean
Living up to its name, this sparkling cocktail is light, herbal and clean with foresty notes. It’s a fun serve with unique flavours.
Jessica Blaine Smith
Makes 1
Preparation time 5 minutes
Ingredients
2 ¾ oz Batch
1 ½ oz Brokers Gin
½ oz Martini Bianco Sweet Vermouth
½ oz rich syrup
¼ oz Balsam Fir Tincture
1 oz lemon juice
1 ½ oz cava or champagne
Dehydrated lemon wheel, to garnish
Edible flowers, to garnish
Method
Add the Batch, gin, vermouth, syrup, Balsam Fir Tincture and lemon juice to a chilled wine glass with ice.
Stir cocktail until bone cold.
Top with sparkling wine or champagne.
Add garnish and serve.
Robin Goodfellow's The Classic
Make your cognac old fashioned a New Year’s Eve worthy serve by turning it into this classic champagne cocktail with the addition of bubbly.
Jessica Blaine Smith
Makes 1
Preparation time 5 minutes
Ingredients
2 oz cognac blend
1 bar spoon rich syrup
4 dashes Angostura Bitters
2 oz cava or champagne
Skewered orange zest and cherry, to garnish
Method
Add the cognac, syrup and bitters to a chilled cocktail mixer with ice. Stir.
Pour into a large chilled coupe glass.
Top with the cava, champagne or other sparkling wine.
Add the garnish and serve.
Robin Goodfellow's Torinio Spritz
Enjoy the bubbles without the booze in this alcohol-free sparkling cocktail. Of course, you could always adjust it to your preference by swapping in red vermouth and champagne or prosecco.
Jessica Blaine Smith
Makes 1
Ingredients
2 oz Martini Vibrante
1 ½ oz soda
2 oz Oddbird Non-Alc Sparkling Rosé
Grapefruit wheel or fan, to garnish
Method
Add the Martini Vibrante and soda to a chilled cocktail glass with ice.
Stir cocktail until bone cold.
Top with Oddbird Non-Alc Sparkling Rosé.
Garnish with a grapefruit wheel or fan, and serve.
