Easy Champagne Cocktail Recipes
Romantic Cocktails with Champagne or Other Sparkling Wine
Champagne cocktails are an ideal way to toast your loved one. These five Champagne cocktail recipes are easy and romantic. And they work with inexpensive sparkling wine
A Champagne cocktail is the ideal way to toast your loved one. Not only do the little extras that turn sparkling wine into a cocktail add an extra romantic touch; but also, by altering the personality of the bubbly you pop open, such embellishments also make it possible to for you to serve less expensive sparklers and make them look and taste extra glamorous.
How to Make Champagne Cocktails
Elegant though they are, Champagne cocktails are very easy to make. Follow these simple guidelines:
- The bubbly. Start with any decent but not terribly costly Champagne or other sparkling wine, such as California champagne or California sparkling wine (only sparklers made by the old-fashioned method in the France's Champagne region can legitimately bear that proper name), Italian Asti or Prosecco, Spanish Cava, or any number of other bubbly wines. Chill it thoroughly in the refrigerator for several hours or for about half an hour in a wine bucket filled with ice and water.
- Opening the bottle. To open a Champagne bottle, first wipe it clean and dry. Carefully remove the foil and the wire "cage" surrounding the cork. Then, covering the cork with a clean napkin or kitchen towel, firmly grasp the cork with your strongest hand and the bottle with the other. Pointing the bottle away from you, from other people, and from anything breakable, turn the cork and bottle in opposite directions, gradually easing out the cork.
- The glasses. Unless otherwise specified, serve Champagne cocktails, if possible, in classic Champagne flutes—tall, narrow, straight-sided glasses that preserve their sparkle the longest. Some other drinks, having a greater volume, call for other kinds of glasses. Always chill the glasses well in the refrigerator or freezer before pouring the cocktails.
All the following Champagne cocktail recipes make one serving.
Classic Champagne Cocktail Recipe
About one and a half centuries old, this sophisticated cocktail gained new fame from the 1987 movie Moonstruck starring Cher and Nicolas Cage.
- 2 or 3 drops Angostura bitters
- 1 sugar cube
- 5 ounces chilled Champagne or other sparkling wine
- Carefully drop the bitters from the bottle onto the sugar cube.
- Pour the Champagne into a chilled Champagne flute.
- Drop the sugar cube into the glass and serve immediately.
Kir Royale Recipe
Popular in the south of France, the drink commonly known as Kir combines white wine with a splash of crème de cassis, blackcurrant liqueur, which gives the wine an alluring blush. Change the wine to Champagne and the drink takes on a royal touch.
- 2 tablespoons crème de cassis
- 5 ounces chilled Champagne or other sparkling wine
- Pour the crème de cassis into a chilled Champagne flute.
- Pour in the Champagne and serve immediately.
Black Velvet Recipe
Like wearing diamonds or pearls with denim, this favorite cocktail is great for a decidedly casual yet still stylish celebration. Use a beer glass or other glass large enough to hold a full pint easily.
- 8 ounces chilled Champagne or other sparkling wine
- 8 ounces chilled Guinness or other stout
- At the same time, slowly pour the Champagne and Guinness together into the same chilled glass.
- Serve immediately.
Bellini Recipe
Named for the 15th-century Venetian artist Jacopo Bellini, this popular Italian cocktail was invented at Harry's Bar in Venice. Look for good-quality bottled peach nectar.
- 2 ounces chilled peach nectar
- 4 ounces chilled Prosecco or other sparkling wine
- Pour the nectar into a chilled Champagne flute.
- Pour in the Champagne.
- With a long, slender bar spoon or swizzle stick, gently stir, then serve immediately.
Mimosa Recipe
You can serve this favorite as a milder cocktail or with breakfast the next morning. A touch of orange-flavored liqueur makes the drink extra special.
- 4 ounces chilled Champagne or sparkling wine
- 2 ounces chilled freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or other orange-flavored liqueur (optional)
- Fresh mint sprig for garnish (optional)
- Pour the Champagne, orange juice, and Grand Marnier (if you like) into a chilled Champagne flute.
- With a long, slender bar spoon or swizzle stick, gently stir.
- Serve immediately, garnished with mint if you wish.
Remember: When serving any cocktails, always be responsible. Make sure your guest does not overindulge, and check to be certain that there's a taxi or limo service available to get them home safely (that is, if your Valentine goes home!).
