Summer is here and that means it’s a good time for refreshing cocktails. What’s more refreshing than chilly bubbles?
A glass of white, bubbles or none, is always a refreshing choice but this summer try a sparkling wine cocktail while sipping outdoors.
6 Sparkling Wine Cocktails To Make
1. Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail
Pomegranate is in these days, even outside of its typical autumn season. This gorgeously colored cocktail makes the perfect summer sipper and is quick and easy to throw together.
- 4 cups crushed ice
- 2 cups pomegranate juice
- ½ cup ginger ale
- ¼ cup brandy
- 1, 750 ml bottle Champagne
Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and pour into tall narrow flutes or glasses either allowing ice into the glasses or through a strainer for no ice. You can garnish with pomegranate seeds if they are available in your area. Yields 8 drinks.
2. Sparkling Spanish Punch
Punches, like many 70’s era drinks, are making a comeback. This delicious Spanish sparkler includes fruit, spice, sweetness and cava.
- 10 clementines
- water
- cup sugar
- 1 ½ cups Spanish brandy
- 1 ½ cups amontillado sherry
- 1/12 cups cold cava
- nutmeg
Peel 2 clementines and separate the sections. Place each portion in the section of a muffin tin (for small muffins) and then fill until ¾ full. Freeze until solid. Peel the rest of the clementines making sure to get rid of all of the pith. Place the peels and sugar in a large bowl. Muddle until sugar is infused with the oils from the peels. Allow to stand for at least 90 minutes. Juice clementines to get 1 cup liquid and add to peels and sugar, stirring until sugar dissolves. Strain over punch bowl and toss the peels. Add brandy and sherry to the bowl and stir well. Pop the ice cubes into the bowl, grate a little nutmeg over the top and enjoy!
3. Mother’s Ruin
Another punch, this one is a little easier to make for those nights when you want to put something together quickly to enjoy with the sunset.
- ½ cup sugar
- ¾ cup cold club soda
- 1 ½ cups gin
- 1 ½ cups freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. Prior to squeezing cut three thin wheels and set aside.
- ¾ cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ cups sweet vermouth
- 2 ¼ cups chilled Champagne
- ice
In a large pitcher, stir the sugar with the club soda until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the rest of the still liquids. Refrigerate until chilled. Transfer to a large bowl prior to serving, gently stir in the Champagne and then float the grapefruit wheels on the surface. Serve in punch glasses over ice.
4. Caribbean Dragon
This green drink includes a surprising flavor of pineapple and strawberry – perfect for summer sipping!
- 1 shot guanabara juice (you can find this at your local bodega or hispanic grocery store)
- 1 shot Midori
- Champagne
Pour the shot of juice in a champagne flute, add the midori, then fill the glass with Champagne.
5. Blue Miami
Don’t let the color fool you – you’ll delight in the delicious, summery flavor of oranges when sipping on this simply champagne cocktail.
- 1 shot Cointreau
- 1 shot Blue Curacao
- Champagne
Pour the shot of Cointreau in a champagne flute and follow it with the curacao, then fill the glass with Champagne.
6. The Dash
This offering, using hypnotiq is a gorgeous lavender and sure to impress any summer guests looking for a great sparkling cocktail.
- 2 parts Hpnotiq Harmonie
- 1 part champagne
- ½ part gin
- dash lemon juice
Shake all but the champagne and strain into a glass, then add the champagne.
Things To Remember When Making Sparkling Wine Cocktails
- Soda water is the same as seltzer. Club soda is the same as those two. Tonic water is different and while some cocktails call for it, do not use it to replace soda water, seltzer or club soda. Tonic has a distinct taste from the quinine used in it that can destroy a cocktail it’s not meant to be in.
- Always stir sparkling wine gently, otherwise you’ll make it too flat.
- There are LOTS of interesting things to do with ice. Freeze it into cubes with a berry in it, make it in muffin tins with lemon or lime wheels, or freeze it in a fun-shaped container before throwing it in your punch bowl. Want it to be perfectly clear when frozen? The trick is to boil the water first, then freeze it.
What’s your favorite sparkling summer cocktail? Tell us in the comments!