The best Champagne cocktails to make at home

Great Champagne is usually best enjoyed on its own. But sometimes, the occasion calls for a cocktail. The best Champagne cocktails are elegant, easy to make, and allow the Champagne to remain the star of the glass.

Whether you’re hosting a celebration or simply looking to try something different, these timeless Champagne cocktail recipes are worth knowing.

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Why use Champagne in cocktails?

Champagne brings freshness, lively bubbles, and bright acidity that few other sparkling wines can match. A well-balanced Champagne cocktail enhances these qualities rather than hiding them.

While premium vintage Champagnes deserve to be enjoyed on their own, a quality non-vintage Brut is often the perfect choice for cocktails. It delivers freshness, structure, and character without masking the other ingredients.

Champagne Cocktail

The classic Champagne Cocktail dates back to the 19th century and remains one of the world’s most iconic Champagne drinks.

Place a sugar cube into a chilled Champagne glass and soak it with a few dashes of Angostura bitters. Slowly pour chilled Champagne over the sugar cube and garnish with a lemon twist if desired.

As the sugar dissolves, it adds a gentle sweetness that balances the bitters while allowing the Champagne’s character to shine.

French 75

The French 75 is one of the most famous Champagne cocktails, combining gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and Champagne.

Shake the gin, lemon juice, and syrup with ice. Strain into a Champagne glass and top with chilled Champagne.

The result is crisp, refreshing, and citrus-forward, with more strength than its light, elegant appearance suggests.

Kir Royale

Kir Royale is one of the easiest Champagne cocktails to make.

Pour a small amount of crème de cassis into the bottom of the glass before topping with Champagne. The blackcurrant liqueur adds subtle sweetness, fruity notes, and a beautiful ruby hue.

You can also experiment with other fruit liqueurs to create different flavour combinations while keeping the Champagne at the heart of the drink.

Which Champagne is best for cocktails?

For most Champagne cocktail recipes, a non-vintage Brut Champagne is the best choice.

Its fresh acidity and balanced fruit complement the other ingredients while still allowing the Champagne’s personality to come through.

Save vintage Champagne and prestige cuvées for drinking on their own. Their complexity, delicate aromas, and long finish are best appreciated without additional flavours.

Discover your next Champagne experience

Whether you enjoy Champagne on its own or in a beautifully crafted cocktail, the right setting makes every glass even more memorable.

Explore the Champagne Hunters Map to discover outstanding Champagne bars, restaurants, hotels, Champagne houses, and unique Champagne experiences around the world. From hidden local gems to iconic destinations, you’ll find places where Champagne is more than just a drink, it’s part of the experience.

Start exploring and discover your next Champagne destination with Champagne Hunters.