TAMPA BAY HOME: 10 GREAT CHAMPAGNE-BASED COCKTAILS

Here are 10 great Champagne-based cocktails, perfect for the holidays in Tampa Bay. Each includes a festive photo, colorful descriptions, and a detailed recipe.

1. 1. • Recipe:
        • 1 sugar cube
        • 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters
        • 0.75 oz Cognac or brandy
        • Chilled Brut Champagne to top
        • Lemon or orange twist for garnish
        1. Place the sugar cube in a chilled champagne flute and saturate it with the bitters.
        2. Add the Cognac.
        3. Top with Champagne and gently stir to mix.
        4. Garnish with a citrus twist.

Cranberry Orange Mimosa

1. 1. • Recipe:
        • 2 oz cranberry juice (brands like Simply Cranberry work well)
        • 2 oz fresh-squeezed orange juice
        • 4 oz chilled sparkling wine, Prosecco, or Champagne (Korbel California Champagne is a good option)
        • Fresh cranberries and a rosemary sprig for garnish
        1. Pour the orange and cranberry juices into a champagne flute.
        2. Slowly top with sparkling wine.
        3. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.

Poinsettia Cocktail

1. 1. • Recipe:
        • 2 oz cranberry juice
        • 0.5 oz orange liqueur (like Cointreau or Triple Sec)
        • 4 oz chilled Champagne or Prosecco
        • Fresh cranberries or a rosemary sprig for garnish
        1. Add the cranberry juice and orange liqueur to a champagne flute.
        2. Top with Champagne.
        3. Gently stir to combine.
        4. Garnish with cranberries or rosemary.

French 75

1. 1. • Recipe:
        • 1 oz gin (try Tanqueray London Dry Gin or Hendrick’s Gin)
        • 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
        • 0.5 oz simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water)
        • 2-3 oz chilled Champagne to top
        • Lemon twist for garnish
        1. In a shaker with ice, combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Shake well.
        2. Strain into a chilled champagne flute.
        3. Top slowly with Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.

Kir Royale | Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

 

Kir Royale

1. 1. • Recipe:
        • 0.5 oz (or 1 tablespoon) Crème de Cassis (Briottet Crème de Cassis is a great choice)
        • Chilled Brut Champagne to top
        • Fresh blackcurrants or a raspberry for garnish
        1. Pour the Crème de Cassis into a champagne flute.
        2. Slowly top with chilled Champagne.
        3. Garnish with berries.

Holiday Sparkler | FOOD52 | Photo by James Ransom

Holiday Sparkler (Cranberry Lime)

1. 1. • Recipe:
        • 2 oz cranberry juice
        • 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
        • 0.5 oz orange liqueur (Triple Sec works well)
        • 3 oz Cava or sparkling wine
        • Fresh mint sprig for garnish
        1. Combine the juices and liqueur in a shaker with ice and shake briefly.
        2. Strain into a chilled champagne flute.
        3. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with fresh mint.

Pear Elderflower Champagne Cocktail

An elegant, modern classic that pairs the subtle sweetness of pear with the floral notes of elderflower liqueur. It’s light, energizing, and easy to make at home.

1. 1. • Recipe:
        • 1 oz pear nectar
        • 0.5 oz St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
        • Chilled dry Champagne or Prosecco to top
        • A thin slice of pear for garnish
        1. Pour the pear nectar and St-Germain into a champagne flute.
        2. Top slowly with Champagne.
        3. Garnish with a pear slice.

Cranberry-Sage Champagne Cocktail

A unique, aromatic cocktail featuring homemade honey-cranberry-sage syrup. The herbaceous notes make it a sophisticated and memorable choice for holiday gatherings.

1. 1. • Recipe:
        • 1-2 tbsp cranberry-sage syrup (recipe below)
        • Chilled sparkling wine to top
        • Whole cranberries or a sage leaf for garnish

        Syrup: Simmer 1.5 cups cranberries, 0.5 cup honey, 0.5 cup water, 0.25 cup orange juice, and 5-6 chopped sage leaves for 10 minutes until cranberries are tender. Strain and cool.

        1. Place 1-2 tablespoons of the cooled syrup in a glass.
        2. Top with sparkling wine and garnish.

Cranberry French 75 Cocktail | Burrata and Bubbles

Cranberry French 75

This variation adds a festive twist to the classic French 75, incorporating cranberry juice for color and a tart flavor that balances the gin and lemon.

1. 1. • Recipe:
        • 1 oz gin
        • 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
        • 1 oz cranberry juice
        • 3 oz chilled Champagne to top
        • Cranberries and a lemon twist for garnish
        1. In a shaker with ice, combine gin, lemon juice, and cranberry juice. Shake briefly.
        2. Strain into a chilled champagne flute.
        3. Top with Champagne and garnish.

Festive Champagne Punch

Perfect for a crowd, this punch combines a blend of juices and spiced rum, making it an easy, crowd-pleasing option for large parties.

1. • Recipe (serves 16):
     • 750ml bottle of Champagne
     • 750ml cranberry juice
     • 500ml ruby red grapefruit juice
     • 700ml ginger beer
     • 250ml spiced rum (optional, e.g., Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum)
     • Garnish: fresh cranberries, grapefruit slices, cinnamon sticks
     1. Ensure all ingredients are chilled.
     2. In a large punch bowl, gently combine all ingredients.