Classic Champagne Cocktail

This champagne cocktail is a mix of bubbly champagne, sugar, and Angostura bitters that’s garnished with a lemon twist, dash of bourbon, or a maraschino cherry.

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About Classic Champagne Cocktail

A classy drink for parties or small gatherings, this classic champagne cocktail takes an already popular drink for celebrations to a new, bubbly high.

What is a champagne cocktail?

The core of a champagne cocktail is the bubbly mix of champagne, Angostura bitters, and sugar. From there, you can garnish the drink with a dash of brandy, a lemon twist, and/or a maraschino cherry.

Fun fact: This is an official cocktail of the IBA (International Bartenders Association), which means it’s one of the many cocktails that will crop up during the World Cocktail Competition (WCC) in bartending

What goes into a classic champagne cocktail?

To whip up this cocktail, you’ll need three key ingredients:

• Champagne (dry sparkling white wine)
• Angostura bitters
• Sugar (typically a sugar cube)

For garnishing, you could add one (or many) of the following:

• A dash of brandy
• A lemon twist (my personal favorite)
• A maraschino cherry

What type of champagne should you use?

You don’t need to be too choosy when picking some bubbly, but you do want to make sure that whatever you pick is not sweet. This drink is best mixed with a dry champaign that’s served cold.

As for me, I tend to like Schramsburg Cremeant for this type of drink.

If you need some help picking the right champagne for your tastes, check out this list for finding the best one on any budget.

What does a champagne cocktail taste like?

Dry like champagne but with a hint of tart sweetness thanks to the sugar and bitters, this cocktail will take your favorite bubbly to the next level. This drink will do best with those who already love a dry (not sweet) champagne but would like to spice things up with a new way to enjoy an old favorite.

Notes & tips for this cocktail

• When serving this champagne cocktail, be sure to have a set of classic champagne flute on hand.

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How to make a classic champagne cocktail

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – If using a lemon twist, cut into the rind of a lemon slice, then cut away the pulp. Twist the strip of rind until it holds a curly shape, then set it aside.

Step 2 – In a small dish, add a few dashes of Angostura bitters, then toss the sugar cube in it until the sugar cube is completely saturated in bitters.

Step 3 – Drop the sugar cube in a tall champagne flute, then pour in bubbly champagne. Top with the lemon twist.

Step 4 – Serve and enjoy!