10 Amazing Champagne Drinks You Must Try
Although very close to sparkling wine, champagne is different in that it can only be made from six different types of grapes. The most common are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Some varietals are also used, although less often. They are Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Arbane. This makes it great to create a variety of champagne drinks.
The Difference Between Wine and Champagne
The process for turning the grapes into champagne is where the difference lies. Grapes used for champagne must be hand-picked and pressed as whole clusters rather than being de-stemmed. Further, champagnes must rest at least 15 months for non-vintage and 36 months for vintage.
The Best Champagne Drinks
You do not have to be at a wedding or a special celebration to drink champagne. We have devised a list of fun ways to enjoy and make the drink to have at home with friends and family. Cheers!
Mimosa
This is one of the best ways to start a weekend, especially with brunch. With a mimosa, add two ounces of orange juice and four ounces of champagne.
Then, chill the champagne flutes in the refrigerator for about an hour. You can then fill the glass with champagne and top with orange juice.
For an extra bit of flavor, add a teaspoon or two of Grand Marnier. Adding a dash of orange bitters the drink to give it a more complex taste.
Black Velvet
Here’s a perfect drink for celebrating St. Patty’s Day! Hailing from Ireland, it is a great party (or anytime) drink. Fill a Collins glass halfway with Guinness, then top it off slowly with chilled champagne and stir gently.
The Barbotage
You will love it when happy hour comes with this one. This can be served in either a champagne flute or a brandy snifter.
Put half an ounce of cognac or brandy into a snifter, layer it with a quarter ounce of orange liqueur (Grand Marnier or Triple Sec. Then, top it with cold champagne and garnish it with a slice of orange. You can also add a maraschino cherry for color.
Soixante Quinze (French 75)
For this drink, fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add one ounce of gin or cognac, half an ounce of fresh lemon juice and half an ounce of simple sugar. Then, pour into a shaker and shake.
after this, strain into a chilled champagne flute until is is almost full, then top with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.
The Atomic Cocktail
This one can really send you soaring! Mix one and a half ounces each of vodka and brandy, then add one teaspoon of sherry. Stir well with cracked ice, then strain into a chilled martini or cocktail glass. Of course, add your cold champagne.
Peach Bellini
This drink is loved by all. Mix two ounces of peach nectar, one teaspoon of fresh lemon and one ounce of peach schnapps in a chilled champagne flute. Add crushed ice, stir, then add three ounces of chilled, dry champagne.
This also makes a divine frozen drink. Put it in the blender and it is perfect for a hot summer day.
The Jubal Early Punch
Named after Confederate General Jubal Anderson Early, this drink is great to serve at a party and is super simple to make. Just take one cup of sugar and dissolve it in one cup of lemon juice and one cup of water.
Add four ounces of dark rum and one and a half cups of brandy. Let it “marinate" for a while so all the flavors mix. Just before serving, add a bottle of champagne. Serve with or without ice in chilled cocktail glasses.
The Champagne Margarita
Margaritas alone are a tasty drink, but they are even better with champagne! Pour a shot of white tequila, one and a half ounces of lemonade and one ounce of pomegranate juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Take a margarita glass and salt the rim. Shake the liquor well, then strain it into a glass with ice, about three-quarters full. Top it off with champagne, put on some Jimmy Buffett music, and party like you are in Margaritaville.
The Lava Lamp
This drink takes Jell-O shots into a whole new sphere! Pour a cup of boiling water into a large bowl of Jell-O mix (choose any flavor you want). Next, pour in one cup of vodka and stir until the mix is completely dissolved.
Put the gelatin into small paper cups and cool them in the refrigerator until firm. When you are ready, fill chilled glasses with champagne, break up the Jell-O shots with a fork, then put them right into the glasses.
The champagne’s bubbles work their magic and you will think you have been transported back to the 60s!
The Champagne Mojito
Another drink to love during the summer is the mojito, in this case with champagne. First make some mint simple syrup (one cup of sugar, one cup of water and one cup of mint leaves packed tight).
Put them into a pot, bring it to a boil and stir until the sugar dissolves. Let the mixture cool to room temperature. Combine the simple syrup with two cups of light rum and three cups of champagne in a pitcher. Fill it with ice and serve.
Cheers
As Napoleon Bonaparte said: “I drink champagne when I win to celebrate … and I drink champagne when I lose to console myself." Drink to that and enjoy these champagne drinks!