Beyond Bubbly

It’s all so predictable — party hats, noisemakers, “Auld Lang Syne” and, of course, champagne and the inevitable champagne hangover that puts your brain in traction for days. Break the cycle this New Year’s Eve and try one of these easy cocktails created by our resident party girls and amateur mixologists, the Style Council. There’s something for everyone — an energy boost, a toast for Mormons, boozy flu prevention — and they make great alternatives to boring bubbly. But if you insist on popping your cork, or are looking for a way to use the cheap-ass bottle of Korbel someone’s saddled you with, we’ve included a colorful and delicious way to get rid of it. This holiday season, drink responsibly — friends don’t give friends hangovers.

Happy New Year!
XO,
The SC

Velvet Matador
When I saw Red Bull sorbet in the ice cream case at Lickety Split on Hollywood Boulevard, I immediately thought of punch. Just the word “punch,” a communal beverage with gobs of sherbet floating in carbonated high-fructose corn syrup, took me back to the world of junior-high dances with its bowls of greasy Lay’s potato chips and sweaty palms on the small of my back. But Red Bull sorbet makes an awesome adult punch because, I don’t know about you, but there comes a point in the evening where I start to feel my mortality and a little Red Bull becomes necessary if I’m to keep the partying going. Mixed with vodka and some ginger ale, the frozen Red Bull punch, or Velvet Matador as we’ve come to know it, keeps everyone suspended in that perfect state — buzzed and energized! After all, New Year’s parties don’t get started until midnight. And forgive me, I’m no Martha Stewart — I’d rather be on the dance floor than fixing drinks, so the idea of my guests ladling their own Velvet Matadors as they see fit makes me pleased as . . .

—Linda Immediato

1 (750-ml) bottle chilled vodka
1⁄2 gallon Red Bull sorbet
1 (2-liter) bottle ginger ale
Pint of blackberries (optional)
Mint leaves

Pour the vodka into a large punch bowl, then add the Red Bull sorbet (scoop by scoop), floating it all over top. Douse liberally with ginger ale. Sprinkle with blackberries and mint leaves. Step back and wave your red cape . . . Toro! Toro! Serves 12 to 15.

Tip: Can’t make it to Lickety Split? Make Red Bull ice cubes: Fill ice-cube trays with the cocaine alternative and freeze, then just pop them into your punch bowl. You can also swirl raspberry sorbet into the punch for a real bullfight effect.

A peachy mocktail

Fellini
For many, the holiday party season means one thing — getting waaaasted. But while you’re counting down to midnight with a glass of some intoxicant, there are plenty in this town who prefer not to join you: your friends in the program, for instance, or pregnant women, diabetics, those on antidepressants . . . you get the sober picture. Instead of shoving a plastic cup of Diet Coke or tasteless fake wine at your non-boozing buddy, why not mix up a yummy “mocktail”? A great festive zero-proof concoction is the Faux Bellini, a virgin variation on the classic champagne cocktail. The original recipe, created in 1934 at Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy, contains Prosecco or champagne mixed with fresh puréed white peaches and a hint of raspberry or cherry juice to give the drink a pink glow. Our trashy (but not trashed) Faux Bellini, “Fellini,” for short, contains supermarket peach nectar, a splash of cranberry juice, a twist of lemon and club soda for sparkle. A few drops of orange flower water can give it extra fragrance. The drink is refreshing and delicious, and guess what? No hangover.

1 slice lemon
Sugar
3 tablespoons peach nectar or mango purée
2 tablespoons cranberry juice or raspberry purée
1⁄2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Few drops orange flower water (optional)
Club sod
1 sprig mint

Chill tall champagne flute, run a lemon slice around rim, and dip rim in plate or shallow bowl of sugar. Let sit for a minute to dry. Pour peach nectar, cranberry juice, lemon juice and orange flower water (if using) into sugar-rimmed flute and top off with club soda. Garnish with fresh mint. Serves 1.

Tip: For easy faux champagne, mix club soda with grape-juice concentrate. Create a virgin Kir Royale by combining nonalcoholic Chardonnay and cassis (don’t use crème de cassis, which contains booze).

Estefania
Estefania (a nickname I got while traveling in Cuba) was born of sheer resourcefulness one late night when the only booze left in the house was a bottle of peach vodka that came from who knows where. The concoction I mixed together easily could have turned out more cloying than a Fuzzy Navel, but the flavors (and planets) aligned in a cocktail that is refreshing, fruity and exotic . . . and did I mention it’s healthy? You can actually stave off a cold while you booze it up. The lemon-ginger echinacea juice I get at Trader Joe’s has a spicy heat that perfectly cuts the sweetness of the peach; Vitamin Water is for color and a snap of tartness (and Vitamin C!); seltzer adds a fizzy finish. The basil is a twist on the Mojito’s mint, but let’s face it, mostly it’s to impress your guests.