Learn how to make a champagne cocktail bar for a party with colorful, flavorful sugar cubes plus brandy and your favorite bubbly. The experience of customizing this cocktail will be so fun for guests!
My friend Katie and I recently put on the Bright Blog Bash, an early holiday party to get our friends in the spirit of the season.
With a party theme like ‘making spirits bright,’ there was a little pressure to design an awesome cocktail that would suit lots of tastes.
Katie and I deliberated for weeks about whether we should have punch or cocktails at the Bright Blog Bash and then it hit me. How do you make spirits bright? You add color and flavor to your drinks and make it super fun for your guests.
I remember the first time I ordered a champagne cocktail. I was with a group of friends at a fun restaurant in Raleigh, and we each ordered a champagne cocktail.
The server came by our table with glasses partly filled with brandy, a bottle of champagne and an array of colored sugar cubes soaked in bitters of all kinds of flavors.
The server filled our glasses with champagne and dropped our choice of sugar cube into each drink. (I think between everyone in our group we tried them all!)
We marveled at the glasses as we watched the sugar cubes dance, bubble and fizz. I remember thinking how beautiful they were.
I’d kind of forgotten all about that experience but it came flooding back during my cocktail brainstorming.
Most champagne cocktails are made with sugar cubes soaked in Angostura cocktail bitters
, brandy and champagne, but a while ago I took a stab at making homemade sugar cubes for lavender champagne cocktails.
I have been dying to try some other flavors to create a cocktail experience like the one I’d had at that restaurant. The Bright Blog Bash seemed like a perfect opportunity.
I decided to make homemade sugar cubes in four flavors: Angostura bitters (slightly orange-flavored), lemon, rose and lavender. I colored, flavored and molded the sugar cubes myself.
I used mini fondant cutters to get the star shapes. I also chose to use vodka instead of brandy to let the flavors come through more strongly.
Our guests really had fun dressing up their champagne!
If you’re hosting a holiday or New Year’s Eve party, these would be really fun cocktails to let your guests have fun with. Your guests can select their own flavor, combine flavors or just drink plain champagne.
In lieu of champagne, you can use prosecco or sparkling wine, or even non-alcoholic sparkling cider for any non-drinkers in your crowd.
This is a very versatile drink, and you will enjoy coming up with fun flavors to make! You can use any leftover sugar cubes in hot or iced tea for something a little different!
Thanks for following along with all the Bright Blog Bash fun this week!
Many thanks to our sponsors for their contributions and to Sara Logan Photography for all the gorgeous photos this week! Have a great weekend. // susannah
Click below to learn how to design your own Champagne Cocktail Bar!
Champagne Cocktail
ingredients
Homemade Sugar cubes
- Granulated sugar 1/4 cup per flavor
- ½ teaspoon water
- Flavorings such as Angosturra bitters, lemon juice, lavender extract or rose water
- Liquid food coloring
- Egg white
- Fondant cutters
Cocktail
- 1 ounce brandy or vodka
- 4 ounces champagne
- 2 sugar cubes
instructions
Homemade sugar cubes
- In a medium bowl, combine sugar, water, a few drops of flavoring and 1-2 drops food coloring. Stir until color is evenly distributed. Mixture will be crumbly.
- Dip the edge of a spoon in the egg white, then add a couple drops to the mixture. The color will even out and the mixture will become smooth and slick. (It’s almost like the perfect consistency for building a sandcastle.)
- Drop the sugar mixture onto a piece of parchment paper. Using a flat spatula or the back of a spoon, pat into desired thickness. (I chose 1/4 inch or so.) Use fondant cutters to cut desired shapes or a knife to cut squares. Place the cut pieces onto a piece of parchment. Let dry for 2-3 hours. Store in a cool, dry place in an airtight container up to 6 months.
Champagne Cocktails
- Fill glasses with brandy or vodka.
- Top with champagne.
- Drop in 1 or 2 sugar cubes. Serve immediately.
notes
recommended products
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nutrition information
amount per serving:
(Photos // Sara Logan Photography)
Anne @ Unique Gifter says
This looks fabulous! I’ll have to do some experimenting so I can figure out how to replace the egg whites.
I can’t wait for Christmas time!
Meghan @ Cake 'n' Knife says
Such a cute and fun idea!! Love the sugar cubes!
Melissa says
Love this! And champagne goes with everything. And you know, this would be a brilliant idea at a wedding, too.
LEE @ Modern Granola says
What an adorable idea! Love this.
Jenna @ A Savory Feast says
This is such a fun touch to add to a holiday party. Those bubbly drinks look so festive!