Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams.

I fought the crowds the day after Christmas to get these saucer champagnes (on sale) for tonight. One of my all-time favorite cocktails is this Champagne-Grand Marnier Cocktail. I stole it from P.F. Chang's which is a lousy restaurant but their cocktails kick ass.

I always use Veuve Clicquot because I like it and it's what I tend to have on hand. But any brut should work. You can try it with Prosecco but that may be too sweet due to sugar content. Perhaps just remove the cube.

Champagne-Grand Marnier Cocktail

sugar cube
2-3 drops bitters
1 oz. Grand Marnier
3 oz. chilled champagne

First, rim a flute or saucer champagne glass with sugar (sanding or fine sugar is best) - run a half lemon or orange around the glass and dip in sugar. Put sugar cube in glass and add bitters. Next add Grand Marnier and top with chilled champagne. Delish! But it packs a punch so be warned. I have made up some of my best songs after a couple of these cocktails. And a particularly memorable phone call.

A variation on this cocktail is to use 1/2 oz. cognac and 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier.

I used to order champagne cocktails when I was young and I didn't know what to order. It's perfect for a night like tonight. Another favorite that I discovered this summer an elegant old classic, The Negroni.

The Negroni

1 oz. good gin
1 oz. sweet vermouth
1 oz. Campari

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass 3/4 filled with cracked ice. Add a splash of soda water if desired. Garnish with a half slice of orange.

I actually prefer to make it like a martini - shaken with ice until it's very cold and strained into a martini glass, without the soda, garnished with orange peel. If you like Campari and gin, you will love this.

What's your favorite cocktail recipe?

Be Safe. Don't Drink and Drive.