Sparkling wine cocktails are a great choice to serve at a casual brunch or as an aperitif at a dinner party. They're easy to make, not overly strong and can accommodate a wide range of flavors. Here are a couple of classic recipes to get you started, as well as a variety of flavor combinations to spark your creativity.
The Mimosa
Perhaps the best-known of all sparkling wine cocktails, The Mimosa is a light, refreshing favorite commonly served at daytime get-togethers like brunches, luncheons and bridal showers. Although it may seem like a mundane choice, good quality ingredients like fresh squeezed orange juice and a nice dry sparkling wine are what make the Mimosa so popular.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (750ml) dry sparkling wine or Champagne
- 6 tablespoons orange liqueur (e.g. triple sec, Grand Marnier)
- 12 ounces orange juice (fresh squeezed if possible)
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- Fill each Champagne flute with 4 ounces of sparkling wine, then add 1 tablespoon orange liqueur and 2 ounces of orange juice and garnish each with a slice of orange.
The Kir Royale
The Kir Royale is a popular French café cocktail named for Félix Kir, the mayor of Dijon from 1945 to 1968. A variation that uses raspberry liqueur in place of the blackcurrant is call Kir Impérial.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients
- 1 ounce crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur)
- 4 ounces chilled sparkling wine
Instructions
- Pour the crème de cassis into a Champagne flute, top with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.
More Sparkling Wine Cocktails
The basic formula for making sparkling wine cocktails is very simple. Start with about 4 ounces of your favorite bubbly, add 2 to 2-1/2 ounces of juice, liqueur or a combination of the two and garnish as desired. Below you'll find a few combinations to get your creativity flowing.
PrintPomegranate Sparkler
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients
- 4 ounces sparkling wine
- 2 ounces pomegranate juice
- 1/2 ounce pomegranate liqueur
- Pomegranate arils for garnish
Instructions
- Pour the sparkling wine into a Champagne flute, add the pomegranate juice and liqueur and garnish with a few pomegranate arils.
Ginger-Lime Sparkler
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients
- 4 ounces sparkling wine
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1-1/2 ounces Domain de Canton Ginger Liqueur
- Lime peel twist
Instructions
- Pour the sparkling wine into a Champagne flute, add the lime juice and ginger liqueur and garnish with a lime peel twist.
Elderflower Sparkler
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients
- 4 ounces sparkling wine
- 1 ounce grapefruit juice
- 1 ounce elderflower liqueur
- Grapefruit peel twist
Instructions
- Pour the sparkling wine into a Champagne flute, add the grapefruit juice and elderflower liqueur and garnish with a grapefruit peel twist.
Tangerine Sparkler
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients
- 4 ounces sparkling wine
- 2 ounces tangerine juice
- 1/2 ounce maraschino liqueur
- Maraschino cherry
Instructions
- Place the maraschino cherry in the bottom of a Champagne flute. Add the sparkling wine, tangerine juice and maraschino liqueur.
ronnie campbell says
Happy new year Lynn and Erika – may 2014 be festive and bright! Thanks for all the great recipes!
Lynne Webb says
Thanks Ronnie – Happy New Year to you!