A great Champagne cocktail - for those not having a dry January!

Well Christmas and New Year's is done for another year, and as always it was extremely busy at ARIA Restaurant.  Around this time customers interest turns to Champagne - it's still a traditional way to celebrate good times and special occasions.


Here's a simple but classy Champagne cocktail I found myself making a lot of this last month.  For those of you who still have the energy to enjoy a tipple in January - try this out and you'll see why it's so popular.


It's an old school cocktail that's easy to prepare at home or when your out. It's the delicious 'Classic Champagne Cocktail', which was created in the early 1800s. Here's what you need to make it:


Ingredients:

• Dash Angostura Bitters
• 1 x sugar cube
• 100ml Champagne (or Sparkling Wine)
• 20ml Cognac (optional)
• Lemon twist garnish

Method:  

• Coat sugar cube with bitters and place in bottom of Champagne flute.  If your after a bit of an extra kick start then add 20ml Cognac into the glass. Top with Champagne or sparkling wine. Lemon twist to garnish.  
• The sugar cube and bitters offers a nice contrast as it dissolves in the bottom of the glass. The lemon citrus garnish is really important too.

For the festive period I've been drinking the NV Veuve Fourny 'Grande Réserve' Premier Cru Brut from Avize in Champagne.  It represents such good value and is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir.  It has an attractive complexity and creaminess (from the pinot) yet maintains a freshness with notes of green apple and citrus whilst it maintains pinpoint acidity.


Click here to get your hands on a bottle. ($59 per bottle)


Wishing you good cheer and all the best for 2012!