The storied Seelbach Cocktail is a glitzy sipper worthy of celebration! The marriage of bourbon whiskey, champagne, orange and cocktail bitters is a festive way to toast anything, from weekend fun to the holidays or the new year.
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About this Seelbach Cocktail recipe
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.
Typically, the classic champagne cocktail stars 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! It’s an unexpected combo, yes, but it’s one that’s both robust and delicate at once.
Meet the Seelbach Cocktail. My local ladies-only whiskey club introduced me to this cocktail for our holiday party one year, and it’s too delicious not to share with you. I mean, bourbon and champagne? Yes please! This drink is similar to a French 95, which is a whiskey variation on the French 75, a drink that’s usually made with gin, lemon juice and champagne.
It’s perfect for special occasions like New Year’s Eve or the Kentucky Derby. And if you love a little Gatsby glamour, this cocktail has an interesting tale. Some say it’s been served at the old Seelbach bar 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.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s super simple. With three boozy ingredients and a few drops of bitters, it’s a cinch to put together.
- Champagne is always elegant but champagne cocktails take this sparkling wine to new, bubbly heights. Effervescent bubbles add to the experience.
- Bourbon adds a depth of flavor that any whiskey lover will adore. If you’re a Manhattan fan, you’ll love this drink.
Tools & glassware
You don’t need a lot to throw this cocktail together. You’ll want a basic bartending set * with a cocktail shaker * and a jigger for measuring out ingredients. You could also use a mixing glass.
Champagne drinks work best in a flute — the long, narrow shape gives its signature bubbles a longer distance to travel, which keeps your drink fizzy for longer.
A channel knife can help you get the best orange twist garnish. Here are a few of my favorite accessories when I’m mixing drinks with bubbly:
champagne accessories
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Ingredients
The Seelbach cocktail is a quirky yet elegant mix that’s a little bit Manhattan and a little bit bubbly. It’s very simple to make, too.
👇 For full measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card. It’s all there waiting for you!
Start with your bourbon. Bulleit or Maker’s Mark are great for something sweeter and lighter, but Woodford Reserve and Old Forester have a lovely depth. Here’s your Bourbon 101 if you want some more tips for bourbon shopping. Cointreau, or any orange liqueur like triple sec, adds a hint of citrus flavor for balance.
Then, pick out a champagne you love. It’s also fine to use Prosecco, Cava or whatever sparkling wine you desire. The key is to grab one labeled “brut” or “dry” — the whiskey and orange liqueur add sweetness, so you don’t need a sweet sparkling wine here. Be sure to chill it ahead of time for the best bubbles.
To finish it off, a dash of bitters adds color and deep flavor. Grab Angostura bitters and Peychaud’s bitters * for even more layers of flavor. A little piece of orange peel makes the best garnish, but lemon zest can work too.
Don’t miss Champagne 101 where you can learn more about which bottles to buy.
Instructions
Ready to make your own Seelbach cocktail? Here’s how:
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In a cocktail shaker * filled with ice, combine bourbon and orange liqueur. Shake gently to chill the ingredients.
Next, strain the mixture into a champagne flute. Top it with a few drops of each kind of bitters — Angostura bitters * and Peychaud’s bitters *. Gently pour champagne over top. Garnish with an orange twist.
Tips & tricks
- Chill your ingredients. Champagne should be cold for the crispest bubbles. The whiskey and triple sec should be cold too — refrigerate them in advance or shake with ice.
- Twist the garnish around the rim of the glass to express the oils before dropping it in. This adds more orange flavor.
- Use a dry sparkling wine. The whiskey and orange liqueur have sweetness already, so a “brut” (AKA dry) will have the best balance of flavor.
Food pairings
Champagne goes well with savory foods and cheese. Serve up something just as elegant like a cheese board or a round of charcuterie cups.
Bourbon drinks go well with bourbon treats! Try these classic Kentucky bourbon balls or a bourbon ginger cake. You could also serve bubbly treats like champagne cupcakes.
FAQ
You can but you’ll want to do some trial and error with non-alcoholic ingredients — the recipe may need some tweaking. Pair a zero-proof whiskey like Ritual whiskey alternative paired with a zero-proof orange liqueur like Lyre’s Orange Sec. For the champagne, sparkling water, ginger ale or an alcohol-removed sparkling wine could work. You can also use non-alcoholic aromatic bitters and non-alcoholic New Orleans bitters.
Whiskey and champagne might sound odd, but it’s a delicious combination. Think the deep, woody and caramel notes of whiskey paired with the effervescent and fruity vibes of champagne.
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The Seelbach Cocktail
ingredients
- 1 ounce bourbon whiskey
- ½ ounce orange liqueur such as Cointreau
- 4 dashes Angostura bitters
- 4 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
- 4 ounces brut champagne or other sparkling wine, like Prosecco or Cava
- 1 twist orange zest for garnish
instructions
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine bourbon and orange liqueur. Shake gently.1 ounce bourbon whiskey, ½ ounce orange liqueur
- Strain into a champagne flute. Top with bitters, then champagne.
- Garnish with an orange twist.1 twist orange zest
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nutrition information
amount per serving:
More sparkling wine cocktails
If someone is not into champagne, this Kentucky mule cocktail has a similar bourbon-y bubbly punch without the champs and with more sweetness.
Katie says
I was craving something like this and just needed the permission to make it. Thanks 💕 I’m enjoying a 2 oz bourbon/8 oz champagne because the champagne is non-alcoholic, and it’s perfect. Add the bitters when I want, but even just the bourbon & bubbles alone is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for inspiring me to give it a try!
Susannah says
Hey Katie! I’m so glad to hear you are loving the Seelbach! Thanks so much for sharing your tips for making yours.