Having a party this Christmas? A sparkling cocktail really helps create a festive atmosphere. It doesn’t have to be complicated, and some can be tweaked to reduce the alcohol.
In most cases there is no need to go to the extra expense of buying Champagne. Prosecco, Cava or a Crémant will do fine. I certainly wouldn’t recommend using your finest Champagne. The most popular sparkling wine cocktails are the Mimosa and Buck’s Fizz, both made with sparkling wine and orange juice, and the Bellini, made from peach purée and Prosecco. These have the advantage of being simple to make and relatively low in alcohol. The Aperol Spritz, made from Aperol, Prosecco and sparkling water, is also worth considering, or you could instead offer a Hugo Spritz, a mix of Saint Germain, Prosecco, sparkling water and fresh mint leaves.
But you could be a little more adventurous. Below are five simple recipes that can be made up quickly and require only two or three ingredients. Make sure you have your ingredients chilled and plenty of ice on hand. If it’s a bigger celebration, it might be worth paying someone to be your mixologist for the night, leaving you free to mingle with your guests.
Champagne cocktail
Soak a cube of sugar in Angostura bitters, place in a Champagne flute and add sparkling wine. Some versions swap the bitters for brandy. It is traditionally garnished with a maraschino cherry or a slice of orange. Simple to make and very tasty.
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Black Velvet
This has only two ingredients; stout and sparkling wine. It sounds strange but it is delicious. Pour a glass two-thirds full of Guinness Draught and top up with sparkling wine. A Cava or Crémant would work best here.
Negroni
This uses three ingredients: gin, Campari and sweet vermouth. A Negroni Sbagliato swaps the gin for Prosecco to make a lighter, more refreshing cocktail. Use three measures of Prosecco to one each of Campari and vermouth.
French 75
This (Soixante-Quinze in France) is made from gin, sparkling wine, lemon juice and sugar syrup. Refreshing and not too alcoholic.
Kir Royale
A mixture of sparkling wine and crème de cassis, this can be made in seconds. A spoonful of the blackcurrant liqueur is a great way of masking an acidic sparkling wine.
If you want more inspiration, buy a copy of Irish Kitchen Cocktails by Oisín Davis. It has recipes for large batch cocktails that you can make ahead
