What’s better on a warm summer night than a bubbly, refreshing cocktail made from Champagne? The original Champagne cocktail is the cool, retro way to celebrate summer!
I love champagne for its bubbles, its vintage glamour, and its chic factor. Why not take this beautiful wine beverage and combine it with other ingredients to create an exhilarating, new cocktail? That’s exactly what happened. But when did this cocktail come into being? Well, as far as I can tell, it was created in the 1800’s and today has had countless iterations taken from the original recipe. It was famously the cocktail that Humphrey Bogart was drinking in the movie Casablanca when he turned to Ingrid Bergman and uttered, “Here’s looking at you, kid.” Pretty cool, right? The next time you’re watching the movie, pour yourself a Champagne cocktail and enjoy it along with Bogie.
The original Champagne Cocktail had 2 different fusions of flavors. One is on the sweeter side and the other is lemon focused. I personally prefer the lemony one but to each his own. Here are the two recipes to create your own retro, glamour cocktail.
The Original Champagne Cocktail – version 1 (lemony)
Ingredients:
- 1 sugar cube
- 5 dashes Angostura bitters
- Squeezed lemon peel
- Champagne (remember, Champagne is from the Champagne region of France. You can also use a dry, sparkling white wine)
- Garnish: Lemon twist
Instructions:
- Add the sugar cube to the bottom of a Champagne flute
- Add 5 dashes of bitters on top of the sugar cube
- Squeeze the lemon peel into the flute
- Fill the glass with Champagne
- Garnish with a lemon twist
- Watch the beautiful and plentiful bubbles sparkle in your glass
- Enjoy!
The Original Champagne Cocktail – version 2 (sweeter)
Ingredients:
- 1 sugar cube
- 5 dashes Angostura bitters
- 2 tsps of Cognac
- Champagne or sparkling white wine
- Garnish: Orange twist or Maraschino cherry
Instructions:
- Add the sugar cube to the bottom of a Champagne flute
- Add 5 dashes of bitters on top of the sugar cube
- Fill the glass with Champagne or white sparkling wine
- Add the 2 tsps of Cognac
- Garnish with an orange twist or Maraschino cherry
- Watch the beautiful and plentiful bubble fountain in your glass
- Enjoy!
As a side note, you should expect to get 5 cocktails with one bottle of Champagne.
Get your friends together and have a vintage, retro cocktail party. This one will be at the top of your list. It is easy to make, delicious and refreshing. It is fast becoming a cocktail of choice at some of the newest bars around the country. Why wouldn’t you want to enjoy a bubbly cocktail on a rooftop bar this summer listening to some great music with great friends? Or, have one while dining al fresco at a table for two on a warm summer night with someone special. It’s totally up to you! It’s not just for special occasions so try this cocktail anytime and you’ll be in love with the classically nostalgic feeling it can invoke.
Cheers!