Prepare Cheap Sparkling Wine Cocktails From What You Already Have in the Kitchen
Champagne cocktails are arguably the most festive cocktail ever, but mixing real champagne with a capital T with additives that hide the flavor is a bit wasteful. However, this does not mean that you should not enjoy the sparkling drink. In fact – along with a reasonably priced bottle of bubbles – you can make delicious, cheap and festive libations from what you already have in your kitchen.
Sparkling wine is very easy to make with a cocktail, so the options are almost endless. (Feel free to add any below when you think of them.) Below are some of my favorite sparkling drink add-ons, almost all of which I already have in my fridge or pantry:
- Lemons + Sugar Cubes: Dissolve a sugar cube (or teaspoon of sugar) in half an ounce of lemon juice and add four ounces of sparkling wine. Substitute one of those ounces of champagne for an ounce of gin and you have French 75.
- Jam: Take a teaspoon of your favorite fruit preserves and pour them into the bottom of your champagne glass. Top with bubbles, stir very gently and enjoy.
- Fresh Herbs + Cherry Cocktail Syrup: A few sprigs of zesty thyme balance out the sugary character of the syrup. A small amount matters, so add 1/2 teaspoon to the flute, pour over the wine, and add a few sprigs of fresh thyme to the glass. (Slap the palm of your hand to release the scent.)
- Canned Peaches: I like canned peaches, and the juice (not syrup) they come in makes a great faux Bellini (an ounce of this is enough per flute). Plus, the jar already has a side dish.
- Beer: Two parts sparkling mixed with one part stout for a creamy, surprisingly fruity cocktail. Just pour dark beer over the top of the bubbles and let them get to know each other in a glass.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with drinking sparkling wine without the “distractions” add-ons. I’m not even sure if you need a flute.