A spirited way to bid goodbye

As 2007 comes to a close, some Champagne cocktail recipes to help tide over the departed year.

At this time of the year most people aren't thinking of food but of drink. Keeping the spirit of the season literally in mind, we in our collective wisdom thought that the regular 'Foodie' should be replaced instead by a 'Drinkie'. And somehow, since people think of a year ending as being celebratory, what is better than Champagne for such an occasion. And if you are unfortunate enough to be the host of a New Year Eve party then this is our way of giving you a helping hand by giving you some great Champagne recipes to serve your guests for this jolly old night.

Champagne is great drunk in all its bubbling glory but its also works as a base for some great cocktails, and an evening at Ricks at the Taj Mahal, Delhi, confirmed that view.

The bartender at Ricks said that a lot of guests actually request Champagne cocktails. So, we asked him to share with us the recipes, which he did, using vodka, Cognac, Kahlua and Cointreau with Champagne.

Out of the all cocktails that he served, the Classic Champagne cocktail stood out. Made with Cognac and sugar cubes soaked in Angostura bitters, it's one of the most popular cocktails at Rick's.

The Cosmique is just like the Cosmopolitan but one which looks and tastes better. The Cosmique is made in such a way that the glass appears double coloured, with Champagne on top and the rest of the ingredients at the bottom.

The Grand Champagne tastes a bit bitter as it has Kahlua in it but is worth a try. While it might not go down too well with people who don't like a bitteri taste, it certainly makes for another great Champagne cocktail.

So, the next time you have to toast someone with Champagne, or feel like sipping a glass of bubbly, substitute it with these cocktails instead. The recipes (and your cocktail-making skills) are bound to impress your guests while keeping them happily high.

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Favourite Recipes

KIR ROYALE

20 ml Crème de cassis
100 ml Champagne

Glass: Champagne flute
Method: Built
Pour crème de cassis into a Champagne flute and roll the glass, so the cassis gets coated inside the flute. Pour Champagne till the top.

CLASSIC CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL

20 ml Hennessy Cognac
A bit of Angostura bitters
1 sugar cube
100 ml Champagne

Glass: Champagne Flute
Method: Built
Soak the sugar cube with Angostura bitters and drop it into a Champagne flute, pour Cognac into the flute and top it up with Champagne.

COSMIQUE (Half Cosmopolitan and half Champagne)

15 ml vodka
7.5 ml Cointreau
7.5 ml fresh lime juice
15 ml Cranberry juice
100 ml Champagne

Glass: Champagne Flute
Method: Stirred and Layered
Garnish: Orange Zest
Pour vodka, lime juice, Cointreau and cranberry juice in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir the ingredients. Strain it out into a Champagne flute. With the help of a flattened bar spoon, layer the Champagne on top of the Cosmopolitan. Garnish it with a orange zest.

GRAND CHAMPAGNE

15 ml Kahlua
15 ml Grand Marnier
100 ml Champagne

Glass: Champagne Flute
Method: Layered and built
Layer Kahlua and Grand Marnier in the same order in a Champagne flute. Layer the Champagne on top with a flattened bar spoon.