Make it A New Years Worth Remembering
Written By: Anonymous on Tue, Dec 30th 2008
New Years is a time to raise a glass, make a resolution, and enjoy the company of those around you. Only a few short days remain…are you prepared to ring in the new?
First and foremost, we have to discuss Champagne. The staple of your New Years night, picking a quality Champagne can be critical. First, it is generally accepted that whether you choose Champagne or sparkling white wine, it’s the taste that matters rather than the place of origin. While it’s nice to drink Champagne from the Champagne region, it certainly isn’t necessary. That being said, here are some criteria on which to make your selection.
Top End Champagne
Veuve Clicquot – Veuve is one of the undisputed king’s of Champagne. With a brand name as recognizable as their signature yellow label, Veuve Clicquot is an excellent choice if you want a little wow factor for your guests.
Veuve can vary in price depending on vintage and store location, but expect to dish out a few dollars to pay for the quality and brand name.
Krug – "As a Champagne, it is distinctive and easily recognized by taste due to the house's policy of complete barrel fermentation and very extended lees aging; on the nose, Krug is identified by its strongly developed and aged nutty lees influence and autolytic notes on the nose"
Along with Veuve, Krug contains that “wow” factor. Serving Krug indicates that you consider this New Years a real occasion. Once again you can expect to pay some bucks – but it might just be worth it.
Economical Champagne
Barefoot Bubbly – It’s a little silly, it’s a little irreverent…but dang it if it isn’t good! Barefoot is something you can get a whole bunch of and be confident that it will keep all your guests happy. Averaging in at about $10 a bottle, this won’t break the bank. It might even start up a conversation as people wonder if it was actually made with bare feet! (It wasn’t, that name is an homage to old wine making methods).
Roederer Estate Brut – A bit more than the Barefoot (this bottle is just shy of $20), but very well received. With taste notes that seem to please the pantheon of palates, from beginner to expert, Roederer Estate produces one accessible, yet enjoyable wine. This is one you can serve with a bit of pride without having to take out a second mortgage.
So, Champagne aside, what else is extremely necessary to make your New Years a success? Something to compensate for all that drinking…of course.
Let’s chat about hangovers.
Hangover Prevention and Treatment
Chaser – It’s a pill you take before you get to serious drinking. Chaser "is an amazing hangover pill to help prevent hangover headaches, is safe, and contains no aspirin or Acetaminophen". Upon browsing user reviews, there seems to be a good general consensus regarding the effectiveness of the product.
However, a lot of people attribute good results to drinking a lot of water along with the pill. Since hangovers are mostly due to dehydration, drinking water before your New Years festivities is just good general advice.
Coffee – Have plenty on hand, both during your event and afterward. Hopefully at your party there will be a few designated drivers around, and they will want something to keep them occupied and alert. Coffee is exactly the thing you should have available to them. If you’d like to offer them something interesting too, check out Jax Coffee House for real coffee, and not just that freeze-dried stuff.
Whatever time zone you’ll be in when celebrating the New Year, make sure you do it safe and smart! Give your guests something to remember, and hey – stick to your resolution this time!
Need great wine and Champagne deals for New Years? Check out DrinkUpNY.com stat!
