You’re about to do a toast to the upcoming new year, but champagne is just not for you. We’ve come up with some alternatives that are perfectly acceptable to drink on NYE if you don’t like champagne.
Champagnes are commonplace for big celebrations. Whether you’re getting engaged, doing a speech for your friend’s wedding, or saying a few words after your rich and much elder significant other suddenly passed, a glass of champagne is perfect for any occasion. But not everyone likes champagne — maybe you don’t prefer the unique taste, or maybe it’s simply that you don’t like the acidity, bubbles, or flute glass.
Below, these champagne alternatives are great to toast with, and hopefully as socially acceptable as the champagne at your NYE bash this year.
[Hero and featured image credit: Billy Huynh/Unsplash]
What to drink on NYE if you don’t like champagne
You like the bubbly feeling, but not the taste: Gin fizz
The best known variation in the fizz family, the gin fizz was one of the most popular drinks in America during the 1900s to 1940s. It’s made with gin, lemon juice, syrup, and topped with soda — something simple and easy, fizzy without the lingering after taste. If you don’t like gin, you can also sub the base for other liquors. Although uncommon, whiskies and rums can also be a fizz.
You like the taste, but not the bubbly feeling: Northern Italian pinot grigio
Okay, we know that the sparkling wine is different in taste, but if you’re looking for something that resembles champagne without the fizz, pinot grigio from Northern Italy has flavour profiles that you will find while tasting Prosecco. Delle Venezie or Friuli-Venezia will certainly scratch that itch, or perhaps something from Picpul de Pinet if you’re looking for something a bit more on the acidity.
When you have a date to impress: Aperol Spritz
The Aperol Spritz is a great drink for any occasion, including an NYE party without champagne. With only 11% alcohol percentage, it’s perfect if you want to moderate your drinking, and the bright flavours made it a very popular brunch favourite. Sure, it still contains sparkling wine, but the soda and the Aperol bring in the tangy, refreshing notes that will make you forget why you don’t enjoy sparkling wine in the first place.
When you’re getting catfished: Jägerbombs
Despite its reputation and German name, Jägerbombs are actually not that strong. Clocking in at around 7% alcohol percentage, it’s just slightly stronger than your average beer, made by dropping Jägermeister into red bull. Basically, the Jägermeister is for those herbal notes and a little alcohol. The red bull is for when you need to quickly make your way out of your date’s view. Stay too long and the cameraman will want a couples’ photo, and you’re having none of that.
When you’re getting catfished, but you think you could make it work: Martini shots
If you think you could still make it work with a few drinks to nudge you in the right direction, we recommend Martini shots. One shot, and you don’t feel anything much. Third one down, your auto-pilot kicks in and you’re walking on air.
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Written by
Vichayuth Chantan
Digital Writer, Drinks and Dining
Writer by day, skinny legend by night, "Kook" Vichayuth works closely with Bangkok's F&B industry. His hobbies include bar-hopping, catching up with friends, and silently judging you from across the room.
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