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Nothing says celebration quite like a bottle of high-quality champagne and a couple of tall, elegant glasses. However, you don’t need to wait for the next birthday or graduation to enjoy that sparkling nectar as much as you’d like. There are numerous recipes on the web for champagne cocktails that will challenge your taste buds and offer new takes on your favorite drink. We’ve made a selection of some of the most delicious cocktail combinations out there and it’s your job to try them all out. These cocktails are great for any occasion, be it a fancy reception at a five-star hotel, an intimate get-together with close friends or a solo drinking adventure at home.
Champagne Cocktails: French 75
You’ve probably heard of this mix before as it’s among the most popular champagne cocktails in the world. French 75 was invented during the WWI in the USA by a New York barman called Harry MacElhone. The potency of the drink was early on described colorfully as getting hit by a French 75mm gun. In order to make French 75 yourself, you need the following ingredients: 5 ounces of quality champagne, 2 ounces of dry gin, half an ounce of lemon juice, and a little bit of sugar. Use the shaker to mix all the ingredients except champagne, pour the mix into the glass and add champagne at the end along with some ice. That’s it.
Black Velvet
Next one is a quite simple cocktail with a very cool name – Black Velvet. This is probably among those champagne cocktails that you can serve to your lover in the dark comfort of your home, while Alannah Myles is playing. So, how do you make this velvety delight? You need only two ingredients – stout Guinness beer and brut champagne. The idea is to first pour Guinness in the glass, then slowly add champagne, without any aggressive mixing, of course. Once you do it, use a small, wooden spoon and just lightly combine two drinks. It can’t be any simpler than that.
Airmail
Airmail cocktail originated in Cuba in the 1930s. It was created to celebrate the then-new airmail technology that promised quick and precise mail delivery. Because of that, it’s only natural that the Airmail cocktail would also be something new, refreshing and interesting. To make the original one yourself, you’ll need the Golden Cuban rum, obviously champagne, some lime juice, and just a teaspoon of honey. You mix all the ingredients, pour it into a glass filled with ice and add champagne in the end.
Mimosa
Then there’s the famously refreshing summer cocktail called Mimosa. Although there are numerous Mimosa recipes out there, the basis is always pretty much the same. A Mimosa is made up of champagne (or some other sparkling wine) and a citrus juice of your choice. The name comes from the color of the drink that resembles the yellow Mimosa flower. How to make one yourself? Well, it’s painfully simple, really. Squeeze some orange juice into a glass and add champagne of your choice. Of course, you can get creative and add watermelons, ginger, strawberries, etc. You can’t go wrong with this one.
Champagne Jello Shots
For the end of our list, here is something a bit unusual. If you’re not much of a slow-sipping person and want to amaze your party guests, you could try out these exciting champagne jello shots. Pour about a cup of your favorite champagne in a saucepan along with some lemon juice and a bit of sugar. Add gelatin and melt it at low heat. Once it’s completely melted, pour in a dash more of champagne and vodka. Once it’s done, pour the mixture into a pan and let it chill until it’s solid. Cut up the squares (or any other shapes) and serve on a plate.
These are the champagne cocktails we would recommend for pretty much any occasion. Do you have some other suggestions?
