Champagne cocktail
A sugar cube soaked in bitters, a splash of cognac and cold Champagne. The original way to dress up a glass of fizz.
- Time
- 4 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Flute
- Strength
- 1.7 UK units
How to make a Champagne cocktail
- Soak the sugar. Put the sugar cube in a chilled flute and shake the bitters over it, until the cube is soaked through and stained deep brown.
- Add the cognac. Pour the cognac over the cube. Leave it for about 10 seconds, so the sugar softens and begins to break.
- Top with Champagne. Tilt the glass and pour the Champagne in slowly. You should see bubbles streaming from the cube.
- Finish with the peel. Twist a strip of orange peel over the glass to spray its oils across the top, then drop it in. Serve at once.
- Glass
- FluteNo flute? A coupe, though it will not hold the bubbles as long.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- A twist of orange or lemon peelOr: A maraschino cherry dropped in the bottom.
What you need to make a Champagne cocktail
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Vegetable peelerFor wide strips of peel with little pith.
Bottles we'd use
- Angostura bittersA small bottle lasts for years and is used in dozens of other drinks.Find it on Amazon
- A dry sparkling wineBrut Champagne is traditional, but cava or a good brut prosecco works well.Find it on Amazon
- A young cognacVS or VSOP is plenty: Hennessy VS or Courvoisier VS.Find it on Amazon
Links to Amazon are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Bar Bandol may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The Champagne cocktail story
A sugar cube, a few dashes of bitters and sparkling wine appear in Jerry Thomas's 1862 bartender's guide, which makes it one of the oldest cocktails still made. The splash of brandy or cognac came later, and you will find recipes both with and without it.
As the cube dissolves, it sends a stream of bubbles up the glass, which is half the point. Use dry sparkling wine so the sugar has room to taste of something, and go gently with the bitters.
Champagne cocktail: your questions answered
What is in a Champagne cocktail?
A Champagne cocktail is made with a sugar cube, 3 dashes of Angostura bitters, 15 ml Cognac and 90 ml Champagne. Garnish: a twist of orange or lemon peel.
How strong is a Champagne cocktail?
Made to this recipe, a Champagne cocktail contains about 1.7 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Champagne cocktail in?
Serve a Champagne cocktail in a flute. No flute? A coupe, though it will not hold the bubbles as long.
