The “ first evolved cocktail , ” according to cocktail historiographer David Wondrich , theChampagne Cocktaildoesn’t ask a peck of pizzaz to impressment — it ’s already a perfectly balanced mixture ofbitters , sugar , Champagne and a lemon twist . But if you happen to get bored of the classic , there are ways to mix things up without transform it into an wholly different cocktail . Here , the good ways to upgrade the Champagne Cocktail .
Add Some Fresh Fruit
sum up fruit juice to a Champagne Cocktail and you risk veering intoMimosaterritory . Instead , drop some fresh yield into the cocktail . Try cutting up some strawberry and freeze them into ice cubes , dropping in fresh berry , or garnish the flange of the meth with seasonal fruit like a thinly - sliced apple wheel .
Garnish With Herbs and Citrus Zests
Subtly shift the look profile of the cocktail by supplant the lemon twist with different citrus tree peels , such as Citrus paradisi or orange . Or , try dropping in a twig of impertinent herbaceous plant like rosemary or thyme for an aromatic garnish .
Double the Champagne With Champagne Ice Cubes
If you wish your cocktails supernumerary frigidness but find the estimate of watery Champagne ( rightfully ) repulsive , freeze some Champagne in an internal-combustion engine cube tray ahead of clock time for boozy ice regular hexahedron . They ’ll chill down your cocktail without reduce it .
Try New Bitters (or Make Your Own)
The Champagne Cocktail gets its complex tone from anAngosturabitters - soaked sugar regular hexahedron , but different flavoredbitterswill take the cocktail to new heights . Try usingPeychaud’sbitters for a lighter , anise - tinge taste ; orange bitterness for a bright , citrusy flavor ; lavender bitters for a gorgeous floral olfactory property ; orBittermens ‘ Elemakule Tikibitters for a naughty , tropical take on the classic . Better yet , make your own redolent bitters , customized to your personal sense of taste .
Try Different Sugar Cubes
While a whitened sugar cube is the go - to for an erstwhile - school Champagne Cocktail , flavor sugar cubes will form bubbles more than just sweetness into your drink . For a lavishly cherubic drink , usecinnamon sugarorhoney - flavoredcubes . Or , for a romantic twist , try dropping inheart - shapedsugar cube .
Swap Out Sugar Cubes Entirely
Instead of using a sugar third power , opt for something a little more capricious such as a bright rock confect peg or a tiny cloud of cotton candy , which will magically thaw at once in the Champagne . You could also rim the methamphetamine hydrochloride in coloured sugar for extra glam .
Make It Extra Boozy
For an redundant spirited riff on a Champagne Cocktail , swap out the bitters forabsintheand float a half - ounce ofCognacon top . Also known as a Casino Cocktail , this potent take maintains the essence of the original but summate a fleck of edge . The absinthe - soaked sugar block step by step imparts an Pimpinella anisum - flavour into the cocktail , while the Cognac float adds a spicy kick .
Matthew Kelly/Supercall
