Want to ring the New Year right? Some secret Champagne serving tips from two of Denver’s best bartenders should help. Follow these tips for celebrating with bubbly on New Year’s Eve and no one has to lose an eye.

Hoytt Boyle from Zengo in Riverfront has these tips:

• Twist the bottle, not the cork. This helps to keep the bottle from popping and spraying champagne everywhere and over everyone.
•  Always serve in a flute, not a glass. The small surface area keeps the bubbles longer
•  Never add ice. Ice can harm the delicate aromas and mute Champagne’s taste.
•  While older maybe better when it comes to wine, that is not the case with Champagne. Fresh is best!
• Sparkling wines and cavas can be a great, and sometimes cheaper, alternative.

Sarah Patnaude’s from Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizza has these recommendations:

• Pour slowly! Patience is important, otherwise there will be more Champagne on the counter than in your glass.
• Use a wine chiller to keep champagne perfectly chilled throughout the party. For those who don’t have a wine chiller, use a decorative bowl filled with ice, get creative!
• Don’t shake the bottle. While this should go without saying, Champagne is like soda. While flying Champagne looks good on championship sports teams, we can promise your dressed up guests will not appreciate it.
• Store Champagne properly. Avoid excessive heat, which spoils the grapes, and avoid excessive cold, which reduces the fizz.

Another tip is to buy Champagne and fine wine before Christmas to get the best selection and pricing. To make your party even more fun, Sarah also offers up these great champagne cocktails:

Sarah’s Spritzer:

2 parts Champagne

1-1/2 parts St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur 

2 parts Soda water

Pour ingredients over ice and garnish with a wedge or a twist of lemon.  

Sparkling Absinthe:

Half Kubler Absinthe, half champagne poured in a flute

Photo: Flickr user dpotera