New Year’s Eve guide: Champagne, glasses and cocktails

It’s once again reaching that time when we reflect on the year gone by and gather together to usher in the one that lies ahead. Though you may be suffering a bit of déjà vu as we head toward the last night of 2021, with many people’s plans flying out the window as they did in 2020 as part of efforts to halt the resurgence of the pandemic. 

But celebrating at home doesn’t necessarily mean you have to skimp on the glamour. Here’s our guide on where to fetch champagne, how to fix cocktails and what glasses to use to put together a perfectly stylish NYE celebration in the comfort of your home. 

Where to buy booze: Hedonism

Hedonism is one of the best shops to buy wine, not only in the UK but also in the world. From small artisan producers to the likes of Selosse, Salon and Krug – including their Clos d’Ambonnay cuveés – this London boutique has everything you need to bring the new year in style. There’s not only wine, but also a great selection of top-shelf liquors, from scotch to gin and armagnac. In general, it’s always best to ask for products from small producers rather than going with a famous brand that you could find in a supermarket. Who knows what hidden gems you might discover!

Which glasses to use: Coupe or flute?

Champagne has been commonly drunk in flutes for the past 40 years, but originally it was served in coupes. Nude make great – and still affordable – coupes called Savage (after the mixologist Rémy Savage who contributed to the design), which look very fashionable when filled to the brim with bubbles. Plus, the same glasses can also be used for cocktails for a bit of added razzle dazzle. However, if you fancy longer stems and narrow glasses, their Stem Zero Volcano is another solid option, featuring ultra light, lead-free crystal made with the brand’s signature ion-shielding technology, meaning it is also resilient. Not a bad thing if you think your house party might take a turn for the more raucous. 

How to make a good cocktail?

If you feel a cocktail is more fitting for the occasion, then there are a number of books we can recommend that will provide plenty of inspiration for even the most discerning of aspiring home bartenders. There’s Adrienne Stillman’s Spirited: Cocktails from Around the World, a comprehensive, fully illustrated guide to both classic and contemporary cocktail-making that also provides tidbits of historical detail to help contextualise your tipples of choice. Or there’s Claridge’s: The Cocktail Book, which features over 500 different drinks recipes from familiar names to brand new inventions, courtesy of the legendary Mayfair hotel. Or what about the new Home Cocktail Bible from award-winning drinks writer and TV regular Olly Smith, which starts from the basics of what you need to make most drinks, whether the spirits, mixers, syrups or bits of kit, then provides the recipe for over 200 cocktails. Remember to drink in moderation, however delicious the drinks you whip up might be. 

The editorial unit