Cocktail Hour: Champagne Cocktails

There is magic in each bottle of Champagne; a party in each bubble floating excitedly to the surface. Champagne is most often drunk to mark special occasions, to celebrate milestones, to honor the exceptional. A crop of us, myself included, have designated it as our beverage of choice, sipping it no matter the occasion. Despite its distinguished and elegant character, bubbly possesses a much greater versatility than one might think. Make it the main ingredient in a cocktail, and BAM! The party’s just getting started. If you’re so inclined, shake up one of my favorite Champagne concoctions at your next cocktail or dinner party. Chin-chin!

Classic Champagne Cocktail

Sugar cube | Bitters | Cognac | Champagne | Lemon Twist

Drop sugar cube into Champagne flute
Add two dashes Angostura Bitters
Pour in 1/3 oz. Cognac
Top with 3 oz. chilled Champagne
Add a lemon twist

French 77

Fresh Lemon Juice | Simple Syrup | Elderflower Liqueur | Champagne

In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 oz. Gin, 1/2 oz. Elderflower Liqueur, 1/2 oz. simple syrup and 1 oz lemon juice over ice
Shake vigorously and strain into a Champagne flute
Top with 2 oz. chilled Champagne

Rosemary Pink Diamond Fizz

Gin | Fresh Grapefruit Juice | Rosemary Simple Syrup | Champagne

In a cocktail shaker, combine 1/3 cup gin, 1/2 cup grapefruit juice and 2 tbsp simple syrup over ice
Shake vigorously and strain into 2 Champagne flutes
Top with a generous amount of chilled Champagne

Rosemary Simple Syrup:

Combine five 6-inch sprigs of fresh rosemary with 1 cup each water and sugar in a saucepan
Bring to boil and stir to dissolve sugar
Remove from heat and allow rosemary to infuse the syrup for ten minutes
Chill syrup in a glass jar

Author Description

Ashley Fauset

Ashley is a party planner, classically trained dancer, grammar enthusiast and coffee aficionado. She lives in Los Angeles with her musician husband and their hammy two-year-old, and shares her tales of mama-hood at Silver Lake Mom.

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