Active Time
2 minutes
Total Time
2 minutes
Whether it’s New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, or a random Tuesday on the couch, sipping a Champagne cocktail always feels celebratory. The long legacy of the classic version dates at least as far back as the Bartender’s Guide, an 1862 book by industry icon Jerry Thomas that included this drink. With just three ingredients (plus a citrusy garnish), its festive fizz is an understated answer to cognac- (or gin-) and liqueur-spiked sparkling cocktails like the French 75 or Kir Royale.
While the sugar and aromatic bitters augment some of the wine’s flavor, you can taste the bubbly in this old-fashioned Champagne cocktail more than in, say, a bellini, mimosa, or Aperol spritz. But save your best Champagne for sipping straight and opt for a middle-of-the-road bottle of Champagne when mixing this drink.
If you don’t have sugar cubes on hand, swap in 1 tsp. granulated sugar (raw sugar is particularly nice). Otherwise, this is a rare classic cocktail in which experimentation is less ideal because each ingredient is crucial to the integrity of the drink. Could you make a satisfying aperitif using simple syrup instead of sugar, lemon juice or lime juice instead of a lemon twist, or prosecco or cava instead of brut Champagne? Sure. But purists would argue that any of those substitutions means your version no longer qualifies as a classic Champagne cocktail recipe. That might not matter to you in the slightest—it’s the sort of debate best settled over another round of something bright and bubbly.
This recipe was adapted for style from ‘101 Champagne Cocktails’ by Kim Haasarud. Buy the full book on Amazon.
Ingredients
Makes 1
Preparation
Drop 1 sugar cube into a Champagne flute and soak with 3–5 dashes Angostura bitters. Top with 4 oz. Champagne or other sparkling wine. Garnish with a lemon or orange twist.
Editor’s note: This Champagne cocktail recipe first appeared on Epicurious in November 2010. Head this way for more great sparkling wine drink recipes →
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Reviews (8)
Back to TopWonderful for New Year's eve celebration this year. It is on must do list.
Anonymous
Palm Springs California
1/1/2022
Has always been one of my favorites. Great way to test a bartender and see if they know their stuff. Amazing how many try to give me a Kir Royale instead which is not AT ALL the same.
Anonymous
Washington, DC
2/15/2017
One of my favorites, but, to make it even better, before adding the champagne, add about an inch of Lillet (a French aperitif wine) to the glass and then fill with champagne.
janekaren
New Haven, Ct.
2/22/2012
This is my "go-to" cocktail! Simply perfect!! Classy too!
Anonymous
12/26/2011
I couldn't find bitters - so I used candied ginger in lieu of the sugar & bitters.
contra_laura
1/11/2011
This is a classic champagen cocktail, however, just to give it a bit more of a kick add a nip of brandy to the glass as well as the Bitters & sugar cube.(good french brandy if you have it) Voila, you have the Classic French Champagne Cocktail - French '75.
greenfk
Brisbane, Australia
12/28/2010
The very best and simple to make!!! Always my drink of choice for a special occasion.
2rallan
Stockton, CA
11/24/2010