New Year's Eve Champagne Drinks Made with Rum, Bourbon, and Whiskey

The twentieth century kicked off the time-honored tradition of clinking glasses full of champagne, drinking a toast to the New Year. Only the affluent participated in this ritual with expensive bottles of bubbly and attitude to spare.

Now-a-days, anything goes-from disposable plastic flutes to sparkling apple cider, people around the globe, who celebrate New Year's, lift their glasses high.

As time-honored traditions go, this one still adds "class" to your event, but can seem a little dry to your guests year after year. Soon, the 'eve bashes blur together in an indistinguishable series of toasts where no one can recall what year it was, or what champagne made the rounds. (Of course, that could be the alcohol talking, but we'll run with the alternate theory for now...)

Don't despair or throw the baby New Year to the bath water. You can easily spice up your party by modernizing your New Year's champagne toast with a special-blended drink utilizing three other classy classics-rum, bourbon, and whiskey.

Make your New Year's Eve party a night to remember by serving one of these new twists on the old champagne classic. People will be talking about your creativity for ages and will be dying to know what you'll come up with for the next celebration.

Monkey Toast

Give your guests a dose of the Caribbean to usher the New Year in.

½ shot of Coconut Rum

½ shot of Banana Liqueur

Champagne

Pour rum and banana liqueur into a champagne flute. Top with champagne. Serve.

Optional: Garnish with a slice of pineapple, banana, or orange. Better yet, use a toothpick or small skewer to serve all three garnishes with this tropical drink.

Southern Champagne

One sip of this concoction and you just might develop a twang.

½ shot of bourbon

Champagne

Pecans

Pour bourbon into a champagne flute. Top with champagne. Drop two pecan halves into bottom of glass. Serve.

Optional: If you like your bourbon, feel free to increase the amount to a full shot.

Irish Toast

Why wait until St. Patrick's Day to indulge in a wee little bit of the green? Toast the New Year in with Irish style.

½ shot of Whiskey

½ shot of Crème de Menthe

Champagne

Pour whiskey and crème de menthe into a champagne flute. Top with champagne. Serve.

Cherry New Year

½ shot of Vanilla Rum

½ shot of Black Cherry Rum

Champagne

Pour vanilla and black cherry rum into a champagne flute. Top with champagne. Serve.

Optional: Drop a maraschino cherry into the bottom of the flute.