One Minute Before Midnight

December 25, 2020 by Jennifer

I know today is Christmas, but that means that New Year’s Eve is next Thursday, and if there’s one thing we all need this New Year’s Eve, it’s champagne. While there may not be a lot to celebrate this year, there is one thing… the end of 2020.

I can’t remember the last time I was so excited for a year to end. I mean, this year has been a doozy. Sure, you all know about the pandemic that has had us locked down for months. But there was also the most divisive election in my lifetime. An election from which I think we have yet to recover (and I’m not sure we will for some time). There were protests and curfews like I’ve never seen. There was death and so much sadness. There was home schooling. So. Much. Home. Schooling. Without an end in sight. I know I have it better than some and I should be counting my blessings, but I can’t. I can’t turn the other cheek. Or turn that frown upside down. I just can’t. I can’t fake happy any more. I’m done. In other words, I am so ready to kick 2020 to the curb.

So, what is there to look forward to in 2021? A vaccine! That is absolutely number one. That vaccine means kids can go back to school. Indoor dining can come back. A new president. And most importantly parties! God, how I miss parties. I miss getting together with friends in my house and having a glass of wine or cocktail. Sure, I’ve passed the months doing my cocktail demos on Instagram and that’s been a ton of fun. (Have you been watching?) But nothing beats gathering with friends and just hanging out. Unfortunately we’re not quite there yet. New year’s parties this year will be over zoom or watching the ball drop with your loved ones. But just because we won’t be all together doesn’t mean we can’t still celebrate with delectable treats and wonderful cocktails, especially if those cocktails include champagne.

While I have no problem with a glass of plain champagne, I love a Champagne Cocktail. There’s the classic, which is delicious (and my mom’s new favorite drink). But if you want to get extra fancy just add a little Crème de Cassis and now you have a Kir Royale. I adore both those drinks, but I also love all the flavors that come with this time of year. There’s apple, cranberry, orange, cinnamon and plenty of spices. I use those flavors a lot from October through New Year’s in cookies, cakes and even a few savory dishes. But I wondered how they’d taste in a drink.

Luckily, I recently became a grambassador for Infuse Spirits and they sent me a bottle of their Cinnamon Apple Vodka. I already created one holiday cocktail with this delicious vodka infused with real apples and cinnamon sticks, but I thought a drink with champagne would be perfect for New Year’s. Taking my inspiration from the classic French 75, I used the Cinnamon Apple Vodka, a little cranberry simple syrup and champagne of course. What I ended up with was a deliciously, festive drink full of holiday flavors and plenty of bubbles. A cocktail that would be a great way to celebrate the start of 2021. But since today is Christmas, it’s also a wonderful drink to serve with Christmas dinner. Actually, this is a great cocktail to have any time during the holiday season. It’s sweet, full of all those delightful holiday flavors we love so much and a wonderful way to forget your troubles. And let’s be honest, we all need to forget this year. So, here’s to 2021, and a fresh start.