Don’t fight traffic, crowds and inflated prices on champagne toasts this New Year’s Eve. Host your own end-of-year celebration at home. Here are some tips and ideas. And, remember, Celebrate Responsibly.

HOW TO OPEN CHAMPAGNE:

• Chill the wine until it is around 45 degrees. 45 minutes to an hour in the fridge should do it.
  
  
• Do NOT use a saber, scabbard, samurai sword, machete or deer knife to “cut” the bottle open, unless you’re ready for a mess and a possible visit to the ER.
  
  
• Once the foil has been removed and the wire cage loosened, do not let go of the cork. Grab the cork firmly with one hand and slightly tilt the bottle while holding the cork. Twist the bottle and slowly let the cork push itself out. If done right, there will be a quiet pop and you are ready to serve.

We have a variety of options for any price point. And, as always, our Celebration Specialists can help you choose the perfect bottle for your unique needs – just ask!

A piping bag is one of the easiest, yet most important, kitchen tools available when it comes to entertaining. It helps you create amazing-looking appetizers and desserts, even if they are pre-made. In fact, the Phylo cups and brownies, in the photos below, were pre-made. To create these designs we used the Star Tip with our piping bag. Click here to read our food blog featuring these recipes!

New Year’s Midnight Kiss

• ½ oz. Hennessy Cognac

• 1 tsp. Grand Marnier

• Chandon Brut Sparkling Wine

• lemon twist for garnish

DIRECTIONS 

Pour the Hennessy and Grand Marnier into a Champagne flute. Top with Chandon Sparkling Wine.

Garnish with lemon twist. Enjoy!

Santa Sangria

• 1 bottle Fleurs de Prairie Rose

• 6 oz. Tito’s Handmade Vodka

• 3 oz. Grand Marnier

• 2 oz. white grape juice

• 2 oz. lemon juice

• 2 oz. pomegranate juice

• 3 oz. strained orange juice

• 1 bottle club soda

• 1 box raspberries

DIRECTIONS 

Add rosé wine, Tito’s Vodka, Grand Marnier, white grape juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, pomegranate juice, and strained orange juice to a large pitcher half filled with ice (entire mixture should be light pink). Pour over small amount of fresh ice in glasses and top each with about 1/2 ounce club soda. Garnish with blackberries or raspberries.

New Year Sparkler

•  1 oz. Hornitos Plata Tequila
•  ¾ oz. fresh lemon juice
•  ¾ oz. simple syrup
•  ½ oz. fresh pineapple juice
•  1 dash Angostura bitters
•  splash of La Marca Prosecco
•  blueberries

DIRECTIONS 

Lightly muddle 6 blueberries in a shaker. Combine remainder of ingredients except Prosecco in the shaker with ice and shake vigorously.

Double strain into a champagne flute and add a splash of Prosecco. Garnish with blueberries in the glass or on a skewer.

"The Cure" Bloody Mary

Yields 6 Servings. Make ahead and thoroughly chill.

• 3 cups tomato juice (fresh tomatoes recommended)
• 3 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 3 Tbsp. lime juice
• 1 Tbsp. horseradish – adjust to taste
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 3/4 tsp. celery salt
• 3/4 tsp. Tabasco sauce
• 1/2 tsp. coarse ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup olive brine
• Tito’s Vodka

DIRECTIONS 

Blend together tomato juice, lemon juice, lime juice, horseradish, Lea & Perrins, garlic powder, olive juice and hot sauce and process until smooth. Pour into glass pitcher. Add celery salt and black pepper; adjust to taste. Fill glasses with ice and add vodka – add about an ounce. Top off with your Bloody Mary mixture. Stir. Garnish*.

*Get creative. Don’t just add a celery stick. Add pickled green beans and okra, a crispy slice of bacon, a boiled shrimp or crawfish tail, and a lemon or lime wedge.

There’s no reason to drive a vehicle this time of year if you’ve been celebrating. Here are some folks who’ll take care of that:

Little Rock Yellow Cab: 501-222-2222 (if you can’t remember that number you shouldn’t be operating a phone) 

RIDESHARE: Get a ride with Lyft here OR Uber here before you start celebrating, it’s easy and dependable.