New Year’s Eve and champagne go together like Christmas and Eggnog – for any New Year’s party to be complete champagne must be present. Champagne can be expensive though, and sometimes cheap sparkling wine does not taste great on its own. Good champagne should never be used for cocktails – the beautiful flavors of the champagne would be overwhelmed and wasted. However, less expensive champagne or sparkling wines can be lovely in a cocktail. T
his does not mean that all sparkling wine is poor quality - some sparkling wines that re not made in the Champagne region are excellent, such as Domain Chandon. They are less expensive but often just as high quality as champagne.
For an added twist to a classic glass of champagne try one of these great champagne cocktails.
Before making one of these cocktails read “How to Mix Champagne Cocktails” below.
Buck’s Fizz
The Look: Orange and Fizzy – like a mimosa but darker
The Recipe:
- 2 Shots/3 oz Orange Juice
- 1 dash Grenadine
- 6oz Champagne or Sparkling Wine
This classic is easy to make and is a more elegant twist on a mimosa.
Kir Royal
The Look: Rosy with bubbles
The Recipe:
- 1/2oz Crème de Cassis
- 6oz Champagne or Sparkling Wine
The amount of crème de cassis can vary according to taste, but always remember to follow the mixing guidelines below.
Champagne Cocktail
The Look: Pale and Simple
The Recipe:
- 1 dash Angostura Bitters
- 1 Sugar Cube
- 6oz Champagne or Sparkling Wine
Bellini
The Look: Pale pink
The Recipe:
- 2 oz Peach Juice of Peach Schnapps
- 4 oz Champagne or Sparkling Wine
To make this cocktail less alcoholic add peach juice, to make it more alcoholic add peach Schnapps. Strawberry Bellini’s and Raspberry Bellini’s can be made by crushing fruit and adding it to the cocktail.
How to Mix Champagne Cocktails
The most important thing to remember when mixing a champagne cocktail is not to disturb the champagne so that the bubbles escape and the champagne goes flat. In order to do this the mixer must be added first, then the glass should be tilted and the champagne or sparkling wine should be poured down the side of the glass very, very slowly. In the case of the traditional champagne cocktail the sugar cube should be added first, then the angostura bitters, then the champagne.
There are many more ways to add interesting flavors to champagne and sparkling wine. Almost any liqueur can be added to champagne. Fruit based liqueurs are the best as they complement the delicate flavors of champagne nicely.
To learn more about how to store, open and serve champagne.
Elizabeth Humphreys - While originally from New York City, I now live in Great Britian. I am a student at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, studying for ...
