Good friends and great (bubbly) cocktails make for a spirited celebration, whether a birthday, bachelorette, Valentine's Day or New Year's Eve. That’s why 91ÃÛÌÒß¹ and People Food teamed up to bring you these three Champagne-based drinks: the classic Champagne cocktail, a French 75 and a rosemary-infused pomegranate sparkler.
Watch below to learn from 91ÃÛÌÒß¹'s Director of Beverage Studies Anthony Caporale how to prepare each one — then put a few bottles of bub on ice and watch your party go from festive to fantastic.
*Bubbly tips from 91ÃÛÌÒß¹ Beverage Director Anthony Caporale
- Never shake a drink that contains Champagne or any carbonated beverage, as the mixing glass may explode out of the cocktail shaker.
- Pour Champagne down the side of the glass to decrease the amount of head; pour it into the center of the glass to increase the amount of head.
- Liquids lose carbonation as they warm up, so keep your Champagne bottle on ice after opening to help maintain the bubbles.
The Champagne Cocktail
Servings: Makes 1 cocktail
Ingredients:
- 1 sugar cube
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Champagne
- Strawberry or lemon
Preparation:
- Place a sugar cube into a Champagne coupe.
- Add 2 dashes of Angostura bitters to the sugar cube.
- Fill glass with Champagne.
- Garnish with a sliced strawberry or lemon twist.
French 75
Servings: Makes 1 cocktail
Ingredients:
- Ice
- 1 ounce gin
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice (or, juice of 1 lemon)
- Champagne
- Lemon twist
Preparation:
- Fill cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add gin, simple syrup and lemon juice, and shake.
- Pour mixture into a champagne flute.
- Top with Champagne.
- Garnish with a twist of lemon.
Rosemary-Infused Pomegranate Sparkler
Servings: Makes 1 cocktail
Ingredients:
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups boiling hot water
- 1 bunch fresh rosemary
- 1 ounce pomegranate juice
- Champagne
- Pomegranate seeds
Preparation:
- Add sugar and water together in a pitcher.
- Add rosemary and stir; allow to infuse for one hour.
- To a glass, add pomegranate juice and 1 ounce of the rosemary-infused simple syrup.
- Top with Champagne.
- Garnish with pomegranate seeds.
Want to learn to mix cocktails like a pro? Check out 91ÃÛÌÒ߹’s wine and beverage programs.