Champagne Cocktail — Sparkling wine cocktail with sugar and bitters

Champagne Cocktail

Sparkling wine cocktail with sugar and bitters

Number of people

Ingredients

  • 3 dashesAngostura Bitters
    Soak sugar cube
    Substitute: Peychaud's variant
  • 4 ozChampagne
    French champagne
    Substitute: Quality sparkling wine
  • 1/2 ozCognac
    VSOP cognac
    Substitute: Brandy acceptable
  • 1 cubeSugar Cube
    White sugar cube
    Substitute: Simple syrup 1/4 oz

Instructions

  1. Place sugar cube in champagne flute
  2. Saturate sugar cube with 3 dashes Angostura bitters
  3. Add 1/2 oz cognac
  4. Top with 4 oz champagne
  5. Stir gently and garnish with lemon peel

Technique Notes

Do not stir after the Champagne goes in. The sugar cube is meant to sit at the bottom feeding bubbles for the whole drink, and stirring dissolves it at once.

Why the Champagne Cocktail Works

The bitters-soaked sugar cube is the entire point — it sits at the bottom of the flute releasing aromatic spice and a steady stream of bubbles for the entire drink. Cognac fortifies; Champagne dilutes upward over time. Each sip changes as the cube dissolves.

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