Sparkling drink recipes to ring in the New Year

There's no need to save the bubbly until the clock strikes midnight this New Year's Eve. A signature Champagne cocktail will make your celebration instantly more festive. And stay tuned tomorrow for a bunch of non-alcoholic suggestions.

Just be sure to have enough Champagne or sparkling wine (see our Champagne report for some great wines) on hand to keep the drinks flowing. For a cocktail made mostly with Champagne (like the traditional Champagne cocktail), one bottle will fill 6 flutes, according to Epicurious. Adjust accordingly for drinks with a smaller quantity of bubbly and supplement with the necessary mixers. It's safe to assume that guests will drink roughly 2 drinks in the first hour and one drink each following hour, so for a party of 20 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., that's about 100 drinks or about 17 bottles of Champagne (if it's the only drink you're serving). Begin chilling the wine at least two hours beforehand. Champagne easily goes flat, so set out a bar where guests can serve themselves; Try laminating a few copies of the drink recipe and set them out. Remember: many guests won't reuse glasses, so you may need just as many glasses as drinks. And don't shy away from renting Champagne flutes so you aren't in the kitchen washing dishes all night. Or go the plastic route--many clear plastic flutes are surprisingly convincing.

Need some inspiration? We rounded up these fun drinks from our favorite web sources.

• The basic Champagne cocktail requires only bitters, a sugar cube, and a bit of Cognac. And sparkling wine, of course.
• Champagne punch is perfect for parties--guests can serve themselves this fruity Champagne punch. For interest, add frozen fruit to float around on top.
• A boozy French 75 is sure to please guests who might otherwise snub Champagne.
• The Nomayo, a sophisticated gin and Champagne cocktail, practically necessitates a bartender, but if you're willing to splurge (or have friends who follow directions well this drink is a black-tie-appropriate way to ring in the New Year.
• With currant syrup, Kir Royale is a festive nod to the holiday season.
• Stout beer and sparkling wine combine for a manly take on the Champagne cocktail in a Black Velvet.
• Part dessert, part drink, sorbet plus Champagne is a sweet indulgence.
• This sparkling cider alternative to a standard cocktail is a good option for youngsters or guests who choose not to imbibe.