Champagne Cocktail

I am a sucker for sparkling wine, and the quintissential champagne cocktail is called simply that, the Champagne Cocktail. The recipe is ridiculously simple: soak a sugar cube in bitters, top with champagne, and garnish with a lemon twist. I've updated my own recipe to use orange bitters and an orange twist, which I think adds a lovely, fragrant dimension to this simple but delicious concoction. You could try other types of bitters as well; it's a nice blank canvas. Either put the sugar cube on a plate and let a few drops soak in, or hold it to the top of the bottle and invert the bottle for a couple of seconds.

As for what champagne to use, people go both ways; some insist that you should never, under any circumstances, consume cheap champagne, whereas I am of the opinion that there are no circumstances in which any champagne should be left unconsumed. Besides, I'm still at a point in my life where, if I was lucky enough to have a bottle of expensive champagne, I wouldn't want to corrupt it with anything else. So I say make it with the good stuff if you've got it, but it's a great way to dress up cheap champagne and turn it into something special.

History: The original recipe appeared in Jerry Thomas' Bon Vivant's Companion (a book you'll be hearing more about) in 1862. It was apparently Bette Davis' favorite drink. She is quoted as saying, "There comes a time in every life when the only thing that helps is a glass of champagne." Sounds like she might have been in grad school too.

Champagne Cocktail

1 sugar cube

Several dashes orange bitters

Sparkling wine

Orange twist

Soak the sugar cube with 2-3 dashes of bitters. Drop it into a champagne flute. Top with sparkling wine. Rub the orange peel around the edges and drop it in. Sip and feel glamorous.