Seelbach Bourbon Champagne Cocktail (French 95)

The storied Seelbach Bourbon Champagne Cocktail is a glitzy cocktail worthy of celebration! The marriage of bourbon whiskey, champagne, orange and cocktail bitters is a festive way to toast both the holidays and the new year. Cheers!

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You can never have enough champagne cocktail recipes up your sleeve, if you ask me.

Champagne is delicious on its own, of course, but using it as an ingredient in cocktails takes it to the next level.

This elderflower French 75 cocktail is always a huge hit. i’m also a fan of my Champagne cocktail bar (with homemade sugar cubes to boot!). Bubbly is always so fun for parties!

Whiskey Champagne Cocktail

Typically, champagne cocktails star vodka or gin as their base, and are topped with bubbly champagne. But have you ever wondered if there is a whiskey champagne cocktail? Well… there is!

The last two years, my local ladies’ whiskey club served the Seelbach Bourbon Champagne Cocktail for our holiday party.

It’s too delicious not to share. I mean, bourbon and champagne? Yes please! An unexpected combo, yes, but it’s one that’s both robust and delicate at once.

This drink is essentially a French 95, which is a variation on the French 75, a drink made with gin, lemon juice and champagne.

History of the Seelbach Champagne Cocktail

This cocktail has an interesting tale.

Many report it’s a cocktail that’s been served at the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville, Ky. — the very one in The Great Gatsby — since the 1800s or early 1900s.

But The New York Times reports that tale is a fake made up by the Seelbach Hotel bartender who invented the cocktail in the 1990s.

Whatever the story — this drink is a lovely, festive sipper.

How to make a seelbach bourbon champagne cocktail

It’s quirky but elegant mix that’s equal parts Manhattan and champagne cocktail. Here’s what you’ll need:

• champagne or sparkling wine
• bourbon whiskey
• triple sec
• an orange
• Angostura bitters
• Peychaud’s bitters

First, pick a prosecco or champagne or cava or whatever sparkling wine you desire. Stuck? Here’s your Sparkling Wine 101.

Then, pick your bourbon. Bulleit for something sweeter and lighter, but Woodford Reserve and Old Forrester are great too.

Here’s your Bourbon 101 if you want some more tips for bourbon shopping. 

Lastly, you’ll need to pick up an orange, triple sec (Cointreau is my favorite) and cocktail bitters.

Specifically: Angostura bitters and Peychaud’s bitters.

I wanted you to have at least one more cocktail to consider for your holiday gatherings this weekend. Or you can save the Seelbach Bourbon Champagne Cocktail for New Year’s Eve. 

If you have whiskey drinkers in your family who are also champagne drinkers, they will love this one. Everyone needs some champagne cocktail inspiration, after all! Cheers, y’all!

(And if they’re not into champagne, this Kentucky mule cocktail recipe serves all the bourbon-y bubbly punch without the champs.)