Champagne Alternatives for New Year's Eve

There is something about a glass of bubbly that makes any occasion a celebration. With New Year's Eve right around the corner, people are stocking up on Champagne and sparkling wine. However, if you would rather not indulge in the real thing, there are still many fun ways to ring in the New Year!

Sparkling apple cider is a well-loved alternative. Last New Year's Eve, when my friends and I were toasting with a glass of Champagne, their 6 year old daughter joined us with an individual sized bottle of sparkling cider. She felt like she was really a part of the adult party.

A company out of Seattle called Dry Soda is another sophisticated alternative to a glass of sparkling wine. In fact, they have a tasting room at their store downtown where they serve their soda in Champagne glasses just like a winery would do. Their flavors range from lemongrass to lavender to vanilla, and all of the flavors are much dryer (hence the name) than typical soda. It can even be paired well with food. For example, the lemongrass flavor goes nicely with sushi for a New Year's Eve dinner party.

Another fun alternative is to add a little splash of fruit juice to sparkling water. Pomegranate juice is a festive choice for this time of the year. Two parts water to one part juice will give a nice flavor and color to your "cocktail." Serve it in a Champagne glass with a few pomegranate seeds floating on the bubbles!

A little Asian inspired drink is bubble tea, which is a fun and unexpected twist on "bubbly." If you aren't familiar with this treat, it has chewy balls, or bubbles, of tapioca in the bottom of the drink. It comes in flavors like kumquat or mandarin orange for a delicious alternative.

Finally, for your holiday party, the Jones Soda Company allows you to add your own custom photo to the front of their soda bottles along with your own caption. You can add photos from past New Year's Eve celebrations, or take a new shot for the occasion with party hats and confetti. Their flavors range from blue bubble gum to red apple to the classic root beer. They also have seasonal flavors like "snowdrift soda" or "holiday cheer." Everyone can find a flavor that suits him or her from their wide assortment.

Whatever your non-alcoholic choice, here is to a very happy New Year! Cheers!