Grape Gossip, Champagne Cocktails - Spice up your Festive Fizz

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Why not have some fun this New Year and impress all your friends with a few champagne cocktails – the perfect way to spice up your festive fizz! These are all delicious and easy to make, and will bring a smile to everyone’s face.

Classic Champagne Cocktail

This complex drink changes in your glass as the sugar dissolves – a real treat!

1 brown sugar lump (preferably ‘rough cut’ for added ‘wowo factor)

Angostura bitters

Brandy

Champagne

Soak the sugar lump with angostura bitters (these come in an odd little bottle wrapped in paper – you’ll probably find it skulking at the back of your aunt’s drinks cabinet!) then put into the bottom of a champagne flute.

Cover the lump with brandy.

Top up with champagne – take care as the sugar reacts with the champagne, so you will get lots of fizz!

Kir Royal

The easiest of all cocktails!

12 ml Crème de Cassis (to taste)

Champagne

Put approximately 12ml cassis in the bottom of a flute and top up with champagne – or more if that’s how you prefer it. That’s it!

Why not put your own ,mark on this old favourite by using a different liqueur? Chambord Raspberry liqueur is great, or try Amaretto or Frangelico for a nutty delight!

A Kir Imperial is exactly the same, only made using vintage champagne (what a waste!)

Sloe Champagne

A Christmassy one, this!

Teaspoon Cranberry Jelly

35ml Sloe Gin

Champagne

‘Muddle’ (stir together) the gin and Cranberry jelly in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake.Pour into a champagne flute and top with champagne.

So there you have it; a few ideas to have some fun with this New Year!