Champagne is the perfect drink for any celebratory event or social gathering. But the next time you are going to pop a bottle of bubbly, consider making some cocktails with it as well. There are many different types of drinks that can be made using champagne, from light, fresh spritzes to more spirit forward, complex combinations.
According to Salvatore Tafuri, bar director at The Loyal and The Times Square EDITION, attention to detail and the use of high quality ingredients are crucial to any champagne cocktail. But don’t just throw it in a shaker and call it a day. “The reason why you don’t want to stir/mix the champagne too long is so as not to ruin the perlage,” he said, referring to the effervescence. “Instead you want to add the ingredients carefully to create a perfect combination and have the champagne be complementary."
Here are ten champagne cocktails that you can make at home for your next party—and don’t be afraid to splurge on some high quality bottles for these.
The Imperial 1869
15ml agave syrup
2 dashes grapefruit bitters
1 dash orange flower water
100ml Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut
Pour all the ingredients into a coupe and top with champagne. Garnish with a sprig of Queen Anne’s Lace.
The French Rose
Created by Jonathan Pogash
(batch drink - serves approx. 20)
1 bottle Champagne Palmer & Co Brut Réserve NV
1 bottle Caorunn Gin
1 cup Monin rose syrup
2 cups fresh lemon juice
2 small bottles Fever Tree tonic
Fresh berries and rosemary sprigs
Add all ingredients to a large container, seal tightly and refrigerate until ready to use. When ready, add ice to container and stir very well to dilute. Pour over ice into wine glasses. Garnish with fresh berries floating on top and rosemary sprigs.
The Buttonhook
Created by Sam Johnson of NYC bar Death & Co.
2 oz G.H. Mumm Brut
1 oz Monkey 47 Gin
.25 oz Clear Creek Pear Eau de Vie
.5 oz fresh lemon juice
.75 oz simple syrup
5 mint leaves
Measure all ingredients except G.H. Mumm into a shaking tin. Shake briefly and vigorously. Double strain into a champagne flute and top with G.H. Mumm. Garnish with a lemon pigtail twist.
The Loyal's Champagne Cocktail
Created by The Loyal bar director Salvatore Tafuri
.5 oz cognac
1 sugar cube
3 dashes Angostura bitters
Champagne
Building directly in the glass, add the sugar cube, bitters and cognac, followed by a splash of Champagne to taste. Garnish with lemon and orange twists.
The Moët Diamond
3 oz Moet Imperial Brut Champagne
1/3 oz Grand Marnier
2 dashes cherry bitters
1 rock candy stick
Pour Grand Marnier into champagne flute and add dash of cherry bitters. Gently pour chilled Champagne. Garnish with rock candy stick.
The Monferrato
From NoMad bar director Leo Robitschek’s new book The NoMad Cocktail Book
6 dashes Angostura bitters
6 dashes Peychaud's bitters
1/2 oz Combier triple sec
1 oz Cocchi Americano
2 oz Duc de Romet Champagne
Orange twist, for expressing
Combine all ingredients except champagne and orange twist in a mixing glass. Fill mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into a flute and top with champagne. Express the oils of the orange twist over the glass, then rub the twist on the rim of the glass and discard.
Beautiful Stranger
Created by Erick Castro of Polite Provisions
1.5 oz blanco tequila
.75 oz lemon juice
.75 oz grenadine
1 oz champagne
Shake all ingredients except champagne in a shaker with ice, strain into coupe glass (or flute) and top with champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Fit For A Queen
Created by Matt Landes of Cocktail Academy
1.5 oz gin
.5 oz strawberry-infused blanc vermouth
.75 oz fresh lemon juice
.5 oz Earl Grey syrup
Top with champagne
Add all ingredients, except champagne, to shaker tin and fill with ice. Shake and double strain into a flute. Top with champagne and a strawberry slice for garnish.
Henrietta’s Sling
Created by Daniel Zacharczuk of Bibo Ergo Sum, Los Angeles
1oz Xaymaca Plantation Rum
.75 oz Fino sherry
.5 oz mead syrup
1 tsp Giffard Passionfruit
1 dash Angostura bitters
Top dry champagne
Combine all ingredients (except champagne) in a mixing glass and stir. Top with champagne.
Miss Marguerite
Created by Zachary Pease of My Friend Duke, NYC
.5 oz lime
.5 oz Benedictine
1 oz Lofi Gentian Amaro
Champagne
Combine ingredients (except champagne), shake and strain. Pour into champagne flute and top with champagne.
