Tis the Season: My Favorite Champagne Cocktails
My Favorite Classic Champagne Cocktail. It's no secret I love sparkling wine. (Remember Champagne is sparkling wine made in Champagne, France; all other bubbles are sparkling wine, prosecco, cava, etc.). And I mean love. But, I wish sparkling wines were loved more than during the holidays or on special occasions.
Sure, I love celebrating with bubbles as much as the next person, but sparkling wine actually pairs very well with most food. Some wine critics even argue that rose sparkling wine is the best wine to pair with food (overall).
With that said, I thought I would share with you all my favorite (and, I mean absolute favorite) champagne cocktail. I typically call it The Elderflower, but you may also know it as a St. Germain Champagne cocktail. It is refreshing, delicious and insanely addictive.
Directions: Fill your glass 2/3 full with sparkling wine; top off with a generous splash of St. Germain (or any elderflower liquor) and finish with a twist of lemon.
Now for you advanced mixologists, here are some more great recipes.
Christmas Cocktail. Ingredients: 1 sugar cube; splash brandy; genorous splash cranberry; champagne; a few raspberries. Directions: Place sugar cube in the bottom of chilled champagne glass. Add brandy and let soak in, then splash on the cranberry juice. At last moment, fill with champagne and dress with raspberries.
Champagne Sidecar. Ingredients: 1 ½ measures bourbon; 1 measure Cointreau; ¼ measure lemon juice; chilled champagne; ice. Directions: Shake bourbon, cointreau and lemon juice over ice and strain into a chilled flute. Fill with chilled champagne
French 75. Ingredients: 2 measures brandy; 1 measure lemon juice; 1 tsp sugar syrup; cracked ice; chilled champagne; lemon peel to decorate. Directions: Shake brandy, lemon juice and sugar syrup vigorously over ice, strain into cold highball glass and fill with champagne. Dress with twist of lemon.