4 Excellent Alternative New Year’s Eve Toasts — That Aren’t Champagne
Null Wines
This holiday season, we’re all hopeful about celebrating with loved ones (following COVID-19 safety procedures, of course). Whether you’re having an elaborate, multi-course dinner party, an intimate soiree with a few friends, or going to an all-out rager, one thing’s for certain: there will be drinks, lots of them. Though for many a glass (or several) of champagne is the beverage of choice, this is far from a hard and fast rule.
There are plenty of reasons to think beyond the bubbly this year. It could be that you aren’t in the mood for something so sweet. Perhaps you just want to switch things up with an unexpected tipple — and flex your knowledge of this season’s trending ingredients. Whatever your reason, we’ve got you covered with the best champagne toast alternatives to try.
1. Close out 2021 with the year’s most buzzy cocktail: the Espresso Martini.
Slane Irish Whiskey
Say goodbye to 2021 by indulging in the year’s trendiest cocktail. If you’re looking for something with a kick of energy, Slane Irish Whiskey has their own take on the Espresso Martini. Slane Irish Whiskey is aged in virgin oak, seasoned oak and sherry casks, making for a smooth drinking experience with notes of caramel, vanilla, and butterscotch — flavors that pair fantastically with an espresso.
Here, find Slane’s sophisticated and yet simple recipe for Espresso Martini made with Irish Whiskey, espresso, amaro, and a coffee liqueur (we recommend Mr Black Single Origin).
2. Make a cocktail using the first-ever Vietnamese gin, which launched in the US just this year.
Sông Cái Distillery
Sông Cái Distillery is a first-of-its-kind Vietnamese distillery bottling the taste of Vietnam’s biodiverse terroir through gins and other spirits. Recently named on of the top spirits of 2021 by Bloomberg, the Việt Nam Dry Gin reimagines the traditional dry gin with 16 indigenous Southeast Asian botanicals including green turmeric, jungle pepper, black cardamom, and heirloom pomelo.
The Lotus Garden cocktail, a collaboration with the acclaimed Vietnamese restaurant Madame Vo, is an ideal drink for anyone seeking bold, vibrant flavor. It’s made with Sông Cái’s Việt Nam Floral Gin, a vibrant gin that emulates the lush, fertile landscape of Vietnam’s iconic highlands region. Start the new year off on a sweet note, with a cocktail mixed with lychee syrup, lemon juice, and basil leaves.
3. Save yourself some prep work by serving canned craft cocktails made with an award-winning gin.
Brooklyn Gin
If you’re looking for something effervescent that isn’t champagne but don’t have a cocktail shaker, Brooklyn Gin has the perfect option. Released in 2021, the Gin & Soda Starter pack of canned cocktails offers a range of fresh fruit flavors mixed with the award-winning gin — you can get hibiscus pear, cucumber lime, lavender lemon, and for the more traditional, lime.
Canned cocktails have recently taken off in popularity. With so many options out there, what can set a specific RTD product apart? Well, for one, you should look for the quality of ingredients: Brooklyn Gin uses gin made with hand-cracked juniper and hand-peeled citrus. Crisp and refreshing, it’s a fantastic way to ring in the new year. With this pack, your guests will certainly be sipping all night.
4. Skip the booze altogether with a new non-alcoholic sparkling rosé.
Null Wines
Launched in 2021, Null Wines is a non-alcoholic wine label launched by collaborative studio concept Studio Null. The brand’s inaugural trio comprises the: Sparkling Rosé, a rosé from Silvaner and Portugieser grapes; Blanc Burgunder, a crisp white Pinot blend; and the Prickly Red, a lightly carbonic Tempranillo and Syrah blend.
Produced with award-winning winemakers and top dealcoholization experts in Europe, all of Null’s wines start in the vineyard with real grapes, which are fermented then dealcoholized via vacuum pressure to preserve their body, aroma, and flavor.
Null’s standout sparkling rosé comes from Germany’s Rheinhessen region. and uses a dynamic blend of Portugieser and Silvaner grapes. It’s a delightful option for anyone who wants the bubbly fizz of champagne minus the alcohol.
—
Happy Holidays!