A champagne cocktail is an alcoholic drink made with sugar, Angostura bitters, Champagne, brandy and a maraschino cherry as a garnish. It is one of the IBA Official Cocktails.
A recipe for the cocktail appears as early as “Professor” Jerry Thomas’ Bon Vivant’s Companion (1862), which omits the brandy or cognac and is considered to be the “classic” American version.
Main alcohol: Champagne
Ingredients: 2 dashes Angostura bitters, 1/3 oz Cognac, 3 oz Champagne, 1 Sugar cube
Preparation: Add dash of Angostura bitter onto a sugar cube and drop it into a champagne flute. Add cognac followed by gently pouring chilled champagne. Garnish with orange slice and a maraschino cherry.
Served: Straight up; without ice
Standard garnish: Maraschino cherry, Orange slice
Drinkware: Champagne flute