The Conversation
When it comes to Champagne, we’re torn. As much as we love the elegance of sipping on a glassful of the good stuff, we certainly appreciate when it’s supplemented with a splash of booze and fruit juice. This roundup of 15 fizzy cocktails will help you decide for yourself which presentation you prefer. Reach for this collection when you’re looking to stretch the sparkling wine a bit further on New Year’s Eve, or if you want to cover up some of that budget-bottle taste. But be warned, each one makes it a whole lot easier to pop open a bottle of bubbly — cheers.
1. Blackberry-Thyme Sparkler: You won’t believe just how easy these chic ombre cocktails are to throw together. (via The Effortless Chic)
2. Ginger-Prosecco Cocktails: If you want to enhance the warm flavors of this cocktail even further, a few spoonfuls of ginger liqueur are the perfect sidekick for ginger beer. (via Freutcake)
3. The Flirtini: Move over, Cosmo. Vodka, pineapple and bubbly are the only ingredients required to shake up this cocktail made famous by Sex and the City. (via Modern Wifestyle)
4. Raspberry-Black Pepper Champagne Cocktail: Fresh thyme and a turbinado sugar and black pepper rim tame the sweetness of this magenta sip. It’s scaled to make a big pitcher’s worth — in other words, a worthy candidate for your next party. (via The Candid Appetite)
5. 24 Carat Champagne Cocktail: Can we just talk about the edible gold glitter stars for a sec? No question, they’re the greatest garnish out there for a Goldschlager and Champers cocktail. (via Brit + Co)
6. Champagne Etoile: DIY vanilla-bean-infused simple syrup is a terrific counterpoint to smokey bourbon in this festive drink. (via Coco + Kelley)
7. Raspberry-Elderflower Pimm’s Cocktail: Elderflower Champagne is a welcome upgrade from the usual ginger beer or lemonade typically found in this refreshing, fizzy beverage. (via Lavender and Lovage)
8. Mother’s Ruin Punch: A cinnamon- and orange-tea-infused sweet vermouth is an extra special addition to this tasty punch. But don’t just take our word for it — its cult following tells you just how good it really is. (via Food52)
9. Pear Champagne Cocktail: Sage simple syrup provides an herbal nuance to this pear-liqueur-based sparkling wine cocktail. (via Carolina Girl Cooks)
10. Candied Kumquat Bubbles: Your taste buds will tingle from the combo of bubbles and sweet-tart candied kumquats. (via The True Spoon)
11. Peaches and Bubbly: If mimosas, screwdrivers and bellinis all got shaken together into one superb sip, this would be it. (via Simply Happenstance)
12. Pom White Tea Fizz: You’ll get a healthy dose of antioxidants as you enjoy this delicately flavored, yet multidimensional mixture. (via Brit + Co)
13. Sparkling Negroni: Adding sparkling wine to the classic negroni takes off a bit of the bitter edge. Happily, this trick makes it much more brunch-appropriate at the same time. (via The Crepes of Wrath)
14. The French 75: This is one classic cocktail recipe that you need to know by heart. It’s a definite crowd-pleaser, so be sure to have enough gin and lemons on hand to mix up batch after batch. (via PDXfoodlove)
15. Champagne Punch: Pineapple juice and rum give this peppy punch a boozy tropical feel that works all year long. (via Brit + Co)
What’s your favorite way to enjoy the fizzy stuff? Any go-to, budget-friendly bottles you’d recommend to your fellow readers? Let’s talk below!
Heather Sage is a gluten-free recipe developer and freelance writer living in Orlando by way of the Silicon Valley. When she isn’t playing around with alternative flours in the kitchen, she can be found tackling DIY projects around the house or exploring her neighborhood. Check out her gluten-free recipe blog, A Sage Amalgam.
