Poppin’ Bubbly

It may be the week after Christmas, but that doesn’t mean the festivities have to stop. In the spirit of Christmas, Chanukkah, New Year’s and anything else you may be celebrating, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things…bubbly, spirited things to be exact. Champagne, sparkling wine and Cava all hold special places in my heart, so this season, pop a cork and experiment with the bubbly. Cheers!

Basil Hayden Fizz

Your boy’s a bourbon drinker and, alas, you prefer wine and champagne. What’s a girl to do? Combine them, of course! Made with twice as much rye as traditional bourbons, Basil Hayden has a spicy aroma and clean finish that’s enjoyable straight (that means sans mixers; “neat” means no ice and straight up) or as the base of a cocktail. And ladies, because Basil Hayden has a smooth texture, it’s a perfect introduction to the whiskey category (stay tuned for an upcoming Whiskey 101 column).

To create the Basil Hayden Fizz, pair the bourbon with a dry Brut Champagne. One of my favorite budget friendly options is a bottle of Mumm Napa (Brut Prestige), a California sparkling wine priced at about $18 a bottle; it can be found at most local wine retailers. Take one part Basil Hayden and two parts Champagne and pour into a Champagne flute. I suggest pouring the bourbon in first, followed by the Champagne so that the bubbles and effervescence bring the flavors to the top of flute.

Hibiscus Champagne Cocktail

Piper-Heidsieck Brut is the star of the Wild Hibiscus Cocktail that’s available exclusively on New Year’s Eve for $16 a glass at all Morton Steakhouses across the country. An edible hibiscus flower from the Wild Hibiscus Company lays at the bottom of the flute and is topped with Piper-Heidsieck. For those staying in on New Year’s Eve or hosting a party of their own, a bottle of Piper can be purchased for about $42 and a Wild Hibiscus Flower jar is available at Whole Foods and Williams Sonoma for only $15. Pop the cork, open the jar, add one hibiscus flower to the bubbly and you’ll be celebrating in style.

Moet & Chandon

Looking for a great host or hostess gift for the New Year? Moet & Chandon recently launched an online atelier of sorts that allows wine lovers to customize their favorite bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne. At www.mymoet.com, visitors choose a varietal (White Star or Nectar Imperial) and size (750ml or magnum), pick from gold or silver Swarovski crystals, add a personal message of up to seven letters and ship it off to the lucky recipient. Last year, Moet & Chandon opened a pop-up boutique in New York’s SoHo neighborhood and the buzz was so extraordinary that Moet wanted to make the one-of-a-kind bottles available nationally. For years Moet & Chandon has been gifting celebrities such as a Blake Lively, Kanye, Madonna and Stephanie Miller (kidding, but I do have one!) with personalized bottles of Champagne, hand embellished with Swarovski crystals. Now you can too.

Still unsure about what Champagne you should try? Pop into one of my three favorite local wine shops. They’ll take care of you…

Drinks Over Dearborn (650 N. Dearborn)
Kyle McHugh has a tightly edited selection.

Kafka (3325 N. Halsted)
Have a great $25 and under section.

Todd’s Wine (1616 N. Damen)
Blink and you’ll miss this shop on busy Damen Ave., but the recently opened shop offers some unique varietals.