Toast to the New Year With Sparkling Wine Cocktails
In case you're feeling exhausted from the holiday spree, there's still one more to go before everyone disappears into winter hibernation next month. Refreshingly, New Year's is all about the bubbly, so that makes it a bit lighter than these past few weeks. Be it a fizzy cocktail or Champagne service, here are several good spots to hit up in Chicago to toast to the end of 2016.
III Forks Prime Steakhouse: A riff on the classic French 75, this downtown steakhouse freshens things up with Prairie Organic vodka, St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, lemon juice, fresh pineapple and sparkling wine. The result is a drink that’s deeply refreshing, a bit tropical and more floral than the original that inspired it.
RPM Steak: Leave it to this dashing downtown steakhouse to feature one of the most dazzling bubbly cocktails in town. The Imperial Spritz is the ultimate refresher, featuring Grey Goose vodka, lemon, cassis, raspberry and Prosecco.
GT Prime: One of Chicago’s newest steakhouses also boasts one of the best sparkling wine selections in town. From Prosecco and Cava to some of the most top-tier Champagnes (including 2004 Dom Perignon), there’s no shortage of fine sparkling wines to be had at GT Prime.
Maple & Ash: Under the tutelage of superstar sommelier Belinda Chang, you can bet that Maple & Ash boasts some of the best wine selections in Chicago and beyond. And this is certainly true of sparkling wines. Both the downstairs Eight Bar and the main restaurants upstairs feature an abundance of bubbly, all designed to match perfectly with any of the meaty indulgences you plan on partaking in.
Rebar: One of the ritziest cocktail bars in Chicago, Rebar also offers some of the most lavish sparkling wine cocktails. The bar keeps it simple and elegant with creations like the Pearfecto, made with Remy 1738, pear liqueur, ginger-sage syrup and Prosecco; and the Reveev, a bubbly martini featuring VeeV Acai liqueur with fresh blackberries and sparkling wine.
Webster’s Wine Bar: When it comes to wine, you can't do much better than this Logan Square classic. The restaurant and wine bar is a Mecca for sparkling wines sourced from across the globe. This includes a few bubbly options by-the-glass and several bottles from France and Italy, plus more from Spain and Austria. It all pairs well with Webster’s impeccable food menu, which features the likes of oysters, cheese, chicken liver mousse, fried smelts, salt cod croquettes and much more.
RM Champagne Salon: If a couple Champagne cocktails just isn’t enough, then you'd be wise to visit RM Champagne Salon, the closest thing to a Parisian parlor this side of the Eiffel Tower. This beautifully decorated lounge pays apt homage to all things Champagne. In addition to bottles, RM offers a nice mix of bubbly by the glass, plus cocktails like Life is a Beach, made with Grey Goose vodka, Velvet Falernum, cucumber-lemon-honey shrub, sage and Cava.
Pops for Champagne: Another sparkling staple is Pops for Champagne, River North's longstanding destination for all things fizzy and luxurious. One of the most thorough and immersive selections of Champagne in Chicago, Pops offers a variety of half bottles, large formats, non-vintage Champagnes, grower-producer Champagnes and vintage Champagnes. The options are overwhelming in the best possible way.