Article by Victoria Wood
Our pick of the top 5 champagne cocktails to serve this holiday season. Thanks to the pandemic most of us will be partying at home so these recipes should help lift the mood!
The foods we indulge in over the festive period are, more often than not, richer than we are routinely used to and so the perfect way to compliment them, whilst cutting the high fat or salt content, would be to wash them down with a delicious champagne cocktail.
If you’re up for adding a twist to your Christmas champagne cocktail, then look no further – here we outline our favourite winter cocktails as designed by the professionals, simplified so you can make them easily at home…Cheers! Salud! Tchin Tchin!
Raspberry Velvet
A timeless classic, the one-of-a-kind cocktail ‘Black Velvet’ was first made in 1861!Combine the uniqueness of the original with a little raspberry liqueur and transform it into this eclectic ‘Raspberry Velvet’ version.
Ingredients (per glass):
- 30ml Champagne
- 10ml Raspberry Liqueur (e.g. Chambord)
- 20ml Guinness
- Serve in a tall, slender wine glass
Method:
Pour in the champagne, allow to settle briefly and then add the Chambord. Take a spoon, turn it upside down, and pour the Guinness slowly over it to layer the stout over the cocktail. No need for garnish, this bad boy speaks for itself!
Spritz à L’Orange
Everybody loves a spritzer, and when better to introduce some bubbles to the situation than at Christmas? This is a simple yet decadent cocktail which will impress your guests without making a mess or causing you stress! The added warmth and citrus zing of the orange really brings out the flavours, as well as the festive feeling!
Ingredients (per glass):
- 25ml Orange Liqueur (Cointreau or Ferrand Dry Curaçao)
- 50ml Champagne (or dry sparkling white wine of choice)
- Wedge of lemon
- Orange slice, for garnish
Method:
Fill a wine glass with ice and pour in the Orange Liqueur. Squeeze the lemon into the glass, add more ice and top up with Champagne. Garnish with your orange slice and –voila! – a light, but potent apéritif.
Mondo Rouge
We definitely need a red cocktail to stay in keeping with the festive spirit, so the Mondo Rouge is a perfect Christmas cocktail to serve up at any moment over the holidays. This is a sumptuous and sexy cocktail with depth and delicate flavours all combined to make a true winter classic.
Ingredients:
- 10 ml White Tequila
- 50 ml Fresh Lemon Juice
- 5 ml Agave Syrup (1 part agave to 1 part water)
- 10 ml fresh (or bought if unavailable) blood orange juice
- 3 shakes of Angostura Bitters
- A top up with Champagne of choice
- Grated cinnamon bark
Method:
For this you will need a cocktail shaker with some ice in the bottom, into which you need to add your tequila, lemon juice, syrup, orange juice, and Angostura bitters and give it a good shake. Strain the mixture into a Champagne flute glass, top with more champagne then squeeze the rind of the blood orange to allow some of the oils to be released and grate the cinnamon bark on top to garnish to perfection.
Let the Beet Drop
This is an epic, slightly healthier cocktail that all your guests (even if that is limited to your immediate household!) will love. It is sure to become a staple party piece, especially over Christmas and the New Year due to its deep and meaningful colours and flavours…Let the Beet Drop is a gin-based cocktail which features, yes you’ve guessed it – beetroot juice! A rich and punchy cocktail which will definitely get your festive juices flowing…
Ingredients
- 20ml Gin
- 5ml Fresh Lemon Juice
- 20ml Beetroot Juice (preferably freshly juiced)
- 20ml Prosecco (or your favourite sparkling dry white wine)
- Lemon peel slithers
Method:
Combine the gin, lemon juice, and beetroot juice over ice in a highball glass. Top up with the Prosecco and garnish with slithers of lemon peel.
’Tis the season to be jolly, merry, happy and festive – cheers to that, and to all of you, Merry Christmas, and a BRIGHT New Year!
