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.

Classic Champagne Cocktail Recipe | Epicurious

The Classic Champagne Cocktail

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 Cocktail Recipe | Sugar & Soul

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 – A Full Living

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 Cocktail Recipe | Love & Lemons

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

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

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

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

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.