Still figuring out your New Year’s Eve plans? Mezze Bistro + Bar (413.458.0123) and Allium Restaurant + Bar (413.528.2118) have the answer! Both restaurants are still accepting reservations for the special night — coming soon! We’ll be serving up festive additions to the regular menu and since we’re open at 5 pm, you’ll have plenty of time to fuel up before heading to that glamorous late-night party. Give us a call for more information, or visit Open Table to make a reservation.
WHAT WILL YOU BE DRINKING
ON NEW YEAR’S EVE?!
Sure, there’s something undeniably classic about popping a bottle of champagne as the ball drops in Times Square. But what to sip during the countdown? Or in the wee morning hours, with your dancing feet surrounded by confetti?
Here are three great options to diversify your holiday beverage plan:
APEROL SOUR
A note about sours: the classic recipe calls for egg and citrus to be introduced to the spirit. The ingredients are first shaken “dry” (meaning, without ice) — this step allows for the egg white to emulsify, creating the iconic frothy texture that’s associated with sours. Since you’re probably burnt out on eggnog by now (thanks, Christmas), the Aperol Sour will put your leftover eggs to good use. Since Aperol is an aperitif, this light bittersweet cocktail will get along famously with hors d’oeuvres. It almost tastes like a very refined, adult version of orange cream soda. Incorporating egg into your bar regimen may sound intimidating, but if you already know how to separate an egg and shake a cocktail, you’ll do just fine.
3 oz Aperol
0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz simple syrup
1 egg white
Add all ingredients into a shaker glass, cap and dry shake without ice vigorously for 10 seconds. Fill shaker with ice and shake another 10 seconds. Strain into a collins glass with ice.
SPARKLING COCKTAILS
These cocktails honor the effervescence and celebratory quality of champagne, but also add another dimension of flavor that’s exciting and somewhat unexpected. Sparkling cocktails are wonderfully drinkable, and pretty universally appealing. Since each cocktail only uses 1 oz. of the corresponding liqueur, a single bottle can go a long way. These sparkling cocktails are incredibly simple to assemble which makes them an easy choice while hosting a large group (and a friendly option for the novice bartender).
Kir Royale: 1 oz. Mathilde Cassis liqueur topped with sparkling wine
Sparkling Pear: 1 oz. Mathilde Pear liqueur topped with sparkling wine
Elderflower Cocktail: 1 oz. St. Germain topped with sparkling wine
FRENCH 75
This drink is elegant, period. Which is a little surprising, considering it’s named after a cannon. Legend says that it packs a punch that’s comparable to being hit with the intensity of a French 75 mm field gun. The French 75 offers another chance to incorporate the sparkly stuff but this time its livened up with dry gin and lemon juice, plus simple syrup for a little sweetness. If cocktails wore clothing, this one would be rocking something tight, vintage and glittering gold.
1 oz London Dry Gin
0.5 oz simple syrup
0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
3 oz sparkling wine
Fill shaker glass with ice and quickly add gin, simple syrup and lemon juice. Shake to chill (10 seconds.) Strain into a coupe glass or champagne glass. Pour 3 oz of sparkling wine on top. Garnish with a lemon peel.
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If you’re looking for a little more than a recipe to follow, we’ve got your covered. The Allium bartenders will be in residence at Guido’s Fresh Marketplace in Great Barrington again on Saturday, December 29, from 12 – 2 pm, offering demonstrations and tastings of all the above cocktails (as well as the Negroni and the Hemingway Daiquiri!)
Luckily, Guido’s has everything you’ll need to create a fabulous cocktail menu featuring something sour, something sparkling or something classic for your New Year’s Eve shindig. And just in time! Please feel free to chat up the Allium bartenders about their favorite recipes and taste, taste, taste.
If you decide to mix up any of the cocktails featured here, please share your pictures and stories with us by e-mailing mezzebistro@mezzeinc.com or post to Allium’s or Mezze’s Facebook pages directly. We’d love to see what you’ve whipped up for the holidays.
Have a very happy and safe New Year’s Eve and a wonderful New Year!
