Bubbling Over

I love a good glass of champange.  There's something so festive about popping the cork, the shape of the glass, the bubbles, it just screams "CELEBRATE!"  While I love drinking it by itself, I also enjoy a good champagne cocktail.  Check out this inspired champagne infusion bar from Jenna over at EAT DRINK PRETTY... I love the idea of the party guests mixing their own cocktail-- bellinis, mimosas, etc.

A few tidbits to keep in mind about champagne:

• 
  
  One bottle will yield about 5 average size servings.
• 
  
  The best champagne for mixing would be a Simple Brut, which is dry with little to no sweetness (the sweet will come from your mixer).
• 
  
  Extra Dry is not dry-- it is the sweetest of the champagne family.

Doesn't this Sparkling Champagne Punch look refreshing? 

1 12-oz can frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed.

4 cups white cranberry juice cocktail

1 750-ml bottle Brut champagne (try Extra Dry if you prefer a sweeter taste)

Garnish: fresh mint sprigs

Stir together lemonade concentrate and cranberry juice cocktail in a large pitcher.  Cover and chill at least one hour or up to 24 hours.  Stir in chilled champagne just before serving.  Garnish if desired.  Yields about 9 cups.  Note:  you can substitute club soda for a non-alcoholic version.

From Southern Living, June 2008.  Photo by Jennifer Davick.

For more champagne cocktail recipes, head over to thatsthespirit.com.

Cheers!