Sipping a Bit ‘o Bubbly

Sparkling cocktails and champagne should not be relegated to times of celebration only. Thank goodness holiday times and special occasions give many the extra nudge needed to pick up a bottle of bubbly for clinking glasses rather than the same old tried and true cocktail of the everyday. Every Bit ‘o Bubbly cocktail doesn’t necessarily find its way into a champagne flute. Often effervescent bubbles tickle at the nose by way of martini and cocktail recipes topped with champagne, prosecco and wonderful sparkling sake. The following cocktails tickle at the nose by way with varying bubbles, but sip oh, so wonderfully. Stay tuned for more dazzling cocktail recipes to tickly your fancy during the holiday season.

Cynthia Rowley chose Basil Hayden’s bourbon for her Spring 2010 collection show. She even named the cocktail; the Basil Natural. Her design team made sure the Basil Natural embodied her line’s whimsical spirit and call to nature. The cocktail is a refreshing twist on the typical Fashion Week beverage staples of champagne and vodka. It looks like brown spirits have become the fashionable trend among the stylish headliners of the fashion world.

Basil Natural

1 part Basil Hayden’s Bourbon

Soda Water

Squeeze of Lemon

Place Basil Hayden’s Bourbon in white wine glass. Fill with chilled soda water. Add squeeze of lemon. Garnish with small lemon wedge.

Sweet Tail

3 ounces Bulldog Gin

3 Mint sprigs

1 Vanilla Bean

3/4 oz Creme de Cassis

1 oz Simple syrup

Champagne

Muddle mint and sliced vanilla beans in mixing glass. Add simple syrup and gin with ice. Shake to blend. Strain into chilled flute. Top with champagne and crème de cassis. Garnish with mint sprigs.

The Gilded Sapphire

1 part Bombay Sapphire Gin, chilled

1/2 part Elderflower Extract

2 drops Rose Water

3 dashes Moreland Champagne Bitters

2 parts Champagne

Place elderflower syrup, rose water and bitters into chilled martini glass. Add chilled gin. Top with champagne. Sprinkle cocktail with edible gold leaf.

Wild Thyme Bellini

1 ounce Berry Puree

1 ounce Raspberry Liqueur

4 ounces Barefoot Bubbly Brut Cuvee

Thyme Sprig Garnish

Muddle fresh wild berries or raspberries to create berry puree. Combine puree and liqueur in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend. Add Barefoot Bubble to shaker. Gently roll contents from end to end to combine. Strain into chilled champagne flute. Garnish with sprig of thyme.

New Year’s Sparkler

1 ounce SKYY Infusions Passion Fruit

1-1/2 ounce Pomegranate Juice

3-1/2 ounce Champagne

5-6 Fresh Raspberries Garnish

Place vodka and juice in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into chilled champagne flute. Top with champagne. Garnish with skewered raspberries placed vertically into champagne glass.

Stoli Angel Elixir

Created by Charlotte Voisey, Eldridge, Rose Bar

1 ounce Stoli Gala Applik

3 Strawberries

Vanilla Sugar Sprinkles

Rose Sparkling Wine

Edible Gold Dust Garnish

Pink Rose Petal Garnish

Muddle strawberries with vanilla sugar in bottom of mixing glass. Add Stoli Gala Applik with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled champagne flute. Top with rose sparkling dessert wine. Garnish with edible gold dust and pink aphrodisiac rose petal.

Bitter Bubbles

1 ounces X-Rated Fusion Liqueur

1/2 ounce SKYY Infusions Passion Fruit

1/4 ounces Campari

Champagne

Lemon Twist Garnish

Place X-Rated Fusion Liqueur, vodka and Campari in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into chilled champagne flute. Top with champagne. Garnish with fresh lemon twist.

Bessito

Originally served at Asia De Cuba, New York

1 ounce X-Rated Fusion Liqueur

1 ounce Grapefruit Juice

Champagne

Place ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled champagne flute. Top with champagne.

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

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