Hey, this has been kind of a rough year, eh? The last couple of months have kind of made us want to hide under our desks. But as this year ends and the next begins, it would seem a shame to let it go by without a proper toast, something like “Thanks for nothing, 2008. See you on the flip side.”

The appropriate drink, we think, has bubbles (fun!) and is pink. Bonus points for antioxidants. This Sonoma pomegranate sparkler from Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg seems to fit the bill. High-rollers (are there any of you left?) can make this with their favorite champagne; low-rollers, we suggest a good Spanish cava like this.

For one drink:

Run a wedge of lemon around the rim of a champagne flute to moisten, then dip the rim into a small pile of sugar and rotate the glass so the sugar coats the rim in an even strip. Pour 2 ounces Pama pomegranate liqueur into the glass and top off with 6 ounces sparkling wine. Garnish with a few pomegranate seeds and a lemon twist. Toast!