Classic Champagne Cocktail
A classic Champagne cocktail is simple, elegant, and easy to build right in the glass. A sugar cube, bitters, and chilled sparkling wine make a festive drink with a bright lemon finish.
- Total time
- 5 min
- Yield
- 1 cocktail
- Difficulty
- Easy
Prep 5mCook 0mAmericanDrinks
The classic Champagne cocktail dates back to the 1800s, and it still feels right for holidays, dinner parties, and small celebrations. It is not fussy. You build it in the glass, so there is no shaker to wash.
The sugar cube does two jobs. It lightly sweetens the drink, and it creates a steady stream of bubbles as the Champagne hits it. A few dashes of Angostura bitters add warm spice and balance.
Use a dry sparkling wine you enjoy drinking on its own. True Champagne is lovely, but a good brut sparkling wine, Cava, or dry Prosecco also works well.
01What you'll need
Ingredients
4 items · 1 cocktail
- 1 sugar cube, about 4 grams
- 2 to 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- 5 ounces chilled brut Champagne or dry sparkling wine
- 1 lemon twist, for garnish
02How to make it
Step-by-step
Chill the glass
Place a Champagne flute or coupe in the freezer for 5 minutes, or fill it with ice water while you gather the ingredients. A cold glass helps the drink stay crisp.
Add the sugar cube
Drop 1 sugar cube into the bottom of the chilled glass. If you used ice water to chill the glass, pour it out and dry the glass first.
Soak with bitters
Add 2 to 3 dashes of Angostura bitters directly onto the sugar cube. Let it sit for about 10 seconds so the cube absorbs the bitters.
Pour slowly
Tilt the glass slightly and pour in the chilled Champagne or sparkling wine. Pour slowly because the sugar cube will make the wine foam.
Let the bubbles settle
Pause for a few seconds if the foam rises near the rim. Add the rest of the sparkling wine until the glass is nearly full.
Twist the lemon
Hold the lemon twist over the glass and gently bend it to release the fragrant oils. Rub the yellow side around the rim if you like a stronger lemon aroma.
Garnish and serve
Drop the lemon twist into the drink or rest it on the rim. Serve right away while the cocktail is cold and bubbly.
03From our kitchen
Cook's tips
- Make-ahead: Do not assemble this cocktail ahead of time. The bubbles fade quickly. You can chill the glasses, cut the lemon twists, and set out the sugar cubes and bitters before guests arrive.
- Storage: A finished Champagne cocktail does not store well. If you have leftover sparkling wine, seal the bottle with a sparkling wine stopper and refrigerate it for 1 to 2 days.
- Sparkling wine swap: Brut Champagne is traditional, but brut Cava, dry Prosecco, or any dry sparkling wine works. Avoid very sweet sparkling wine unless you want a sweeter drink.
- Sugar cube substitute: If you do not have sugar cubes, use 1 teaspoon granulated sugar. The look and bubbling effect will be different, but the flavor will still work.
- Bitters swap: Angostura is classic. Orange bitters make the drink brighter and more citrusy. Use only a few dashes so the bitters do not overpower the wine.
- Glass choice: A flute keeps bubbles longer. A coupe looks classic but lets bubbles fade faster. Both are fine for serving right away.
Cook's note
For the cleanest flavor, choose a dry sparkling wine labeled “brut.” Since this drink has only a few ingredients, the wine matters. It does not need to be expensive, but it should be something you would happily sip plain.
04Frequently asked
Questions & answers
Do I need real Champagne for a Champagne cocktail?
No. Real Champagne comes from the Champagne region of France, but this cocktail also works with other dry sparkling wines. Brut Cava is a good budget-friendly choice.
Can I make a Champagne cocktail without a sugar cube?
Yes. Use 1 teaspoon granulated sugar in the bottom of the glass, then add the bitters. It will sweeten the drink, but it will not create the same slow stream of bubbles as a cube.
Why does the drink foam so much when I pour?
The sugar cube gives the bubbles many places to form, so the wine foams more than usual. Pour slowly and pause when the foam rises.
Can I add brandy or cognac?
You can. Some versions include 1/2 ounce cognac or brandy before adding the sparkling wine. It makes the drink stronger and warmer in flavor, so use a little less sparkling wine to leave room in the glass.
Is this cocktail sweet?
It is lightly sweet, not syrupy, when made with brut sparkling wine. For a drier drink, use half a sugar cube or a smaller spoonful of sugar.
05Per serving
Nutrition facts
Nutrition Facts
1 cocktail
Amount per serving
% Daily Value*
- Total Fat0 g
- 0%
- Saturated Fat0 g
- 0%
- Cholesterol0 mg
- 0%
- Sodium8 mg
- 0%
- Total Carbohydrate7 g
- 3%
- Dietary Fiber0 g
- 0%
- Total Sugars6 g
- Protein0 g
- 0%
- Vitamin D0 mcg
- 0%
- Calcium19 mg
- 1%
- Iron0.4 mg
- 2%
- Potassium104 mg
- 2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
05Keep cooking
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