The Classic Champagne Cocktail

The Champagne Cocktail is a classic drink that’s festive and elegant, perfect for celebration (or New Year’s Eve). The sugar cube makes it sparkle!

Here’s the easiest drink recipe that has the most stunning result: the classic Champagne cocktail! Are you celebrating something? Because this is the drink for you. Adding a sugar cube to champagne makes a fountain of bubbles that positively sparkles! I am pretty enamored with this drink. It takes any party to celebration status with just a few simple ingredients. Here’s all you need to know about this classic cocktail!

Want more ideas? Check out our Easy Champagne Cocktails, including French 75, Cranberry, Chambord & Champagne, St Germain Cocktail and more.

What’s a Champagne cocktail?

This isn’t just an champagne cocktail, it’s THE champagne cocktail. Yes, the Champagne Cocktail is a classic alcoholic drink that makes the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails. Here’s what’s in a classic Champagne cocktail: Sugar, Angostura bitters, Champagne, Cognac or brandy, and a Maraschino cherry or lemon twist garnish. And what makes it unique? Keep reading.

A never-ending bubble fountain!

The best part about a champagne cocktail? The bubble fountain! Instead of adding sugar to the drink itself, you’ll add a sugar cube. When the champagne hits the sugar cube in the bottom of the glass, it creates an ongoing fountain of bubbles that leaves the glass literally sparkling for minutes! Want more bubbles? Just top off the glass with champagne, and you’ll have another round of bubbles to keep things lively.

There are lots of variations on a champagne cocktail, so of course we’ve put our own spin on it! Here’s what makes our version special…

Why to make our Champagne cocktail recipe

Alex and I have a long list of cocktail recipes that we’ve created for you: the home cook. Our drink recipes are easy to make and break things down so you don’t have to be a cocktail expert! We have lots of versions of classic cocktails, from gin fizz to whiskey sour to Moscow mule. We’ve put our spin on the Champagne cocktail, and here’s why you’ll want to make our recipe every time:

• It’s easy! We’ve paired it down to the essentials. All you need is a sugar cube, lemon, Champagne, and angostura bitters.
• It’s fresh and citrus-y. Instead of cognac, we’ve gone with a lemon vibe. Squirt a lemon peel into the drink, which brings a spritz of freshness! Then garnish with a lemon twist.

Wondering how to make a lemon twist?

Set me up with a lemon, and there’s no way I’d come up with a lemon twist garnish! That’s why Alex figured out a way to make a lemon twist garnish using no special tools, and then showed me how to do it! Go to How to Make a Lemon Twist (with a Knife!).

Another way to serve it: on the rocks!

Looking for another spin on the champagne cocktail? There’s another traditional way to serve it: on the rocks! The flavor is a little different because the ice waters it down, making the flavor a little more subtle. Here’s how to do it:

• Follow the same instructions in the recipe below, but use a cocktail glass.
• Add ice with the sugar cube, then pour in the champagne.

When to serve a champagne cocktail

The Champagne cocktail is seriously festive, with that beautifully sparkly bubble fountain! It works well for so many occasions. It’s great as a:

• New Year’s Eve drink
• Christmas or holiday drink
• Bridal shower drink or bachelorette party drink
• Girls night drink
• Celebration drink (you got that job or promotion, had a baby, etc!)
• Dinner party drink
• Romantic dinner drink
• Brunch drink (Mother’s Day, etc)

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