Nothing is more refined and sophisticated than sipping a glass of champagne. This drink is the most elegant alcoholic beverage and it is the ultimate symbol of wealth and luxury. However, something seems to be better than champagne alone: a champagne cocktail. There are numerous cocktails using champagne as main ingredient, but you are going to learn how to prepare the classic Champagne cocktail recipe. It is wonderfully simple and yet, the result is truly exquisite.
The history of the Champagne cocktail goes back in the 1880s. In time, some people have praised this drink while others denigrated it. There were voices claiming that it’s sacrilege to alter the unique taste of champagne with sugar and bitter. Nevertheless, the cocktail remained highly popular and even nowadays it is much appreciated at fancy events.
If you learn how to prepare the Champagne cocktail, you can add a refined touch to all your parties and you can make your guests feel like stars on the red carpet.
How to Prepare the Champagne Cocktail
First of all, buy the ingredients. These are measurements for one cocktail, so multiply them with the number of guests you plan to impress.
- Champagne
- 1 sugar cube
- 2-3 dashes of Angostura
- 1 oz. of brandy
- A cherry and some orange slices for garnish.
It is best to keep the bottle of champagne unopened until you finish assembling the other ingredients. This way, when you pour it in the glass, it’s going to be fresh and bubbly. Also, the quality of your cocktail depends on the quality of the champagne you are using, so go for the best one you can find.
Another important thing to remember is to always use cubes of sugar. There is no need to crush them because their purpose is not necessarily to sweeten the champagne. They are meant to create those amazing magic bubbles that are going to charm everyone.
Take a champagne flute and put the sugar cube in it. Add the dashes of Angostura, so that the sugar gets soaked in the bitter. Also add the brandy and open the champagne bottle. Once you add the bubbly liquid, you’ll notice how the sugar cube dissolves and creates a wonderful fizzy drink. Garnish the flute with the cherry and the orange slices and serve it to your guests.
This is perfect for the Christmas or the New Year’s party because it has certain warmth to it thanks to the brandy. Everybody is going to feel deliciously spoiled by your cocktail. If you plan a big party and you are worried that you won’t be able to assembly the cocktails, prepare the flutes with all the ingredients except the champagne in advance. This way, when your guests arrive, all you have to do is to pop the bottle and add the champagne in the flutes.