Black Flannel Academy

Champagne Cocktail

bitter · Brandy · Cognac · Orange · Sparkling · Spice · Sweet · Wine
Champagne Cocktail cocktail photograph
Photo: Champagne cocktail - Portal, Clerkenwell, London (4356768748) (cropped).jpg — Ewan Munro from London, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized for display; photo remains under its stated license.

Sparkling wine carries bitters, sugar and a little Cognac; the dissolving cube can change sweetness over the serve.

IBA published specification · 1 reference serve.

Glassware

Champagne glass

Technique

Build

Ice

None in serving glass

Garnish

orange zest and maraschino cherry

Preparation effort

Low

Ingredients & measurements

Ingredient mL US fl oz Source measure / qualification
Chilled Champagne 90 3.04 90 ml Chilled Champagne
Cognac 10 0.34 10 ml Cognac
2 dashes Angostura bitters — — 2 dashes Angostura bitters
Few drops of Grand Marnier (optional) — — Few drops of Grand Marnier (optional)
1 sugar cube — — 1 sugar cube

Converted equivalents are rounded for display; use one measurement system consistently. Dashes, spoonfuls, fruit counts and unspecified top-ups remain source measures. A blank equivalent does not mean zero.

How to make it

Wet the sugar cube with bitters in the glass. Add Cognac and optional orange liqueur; pour Champagne slowly.

Glass: Champagne glass. Ice: None in serving glass. Garnish: orange zest and maraschino cherry.

Flavor & balance

  • Sweet (supporting): Sweeteners, fruit or sweetened modifiers round the attack and add weight; product sugar varies.
  • Bitter (supporting): Cocktail bitters or coffee contribute a bitter accent; a small dose need not dominate.

Assess sweetness, bitterness and tactile drying separately. These flavor expectations are based on recipe structure, not measured tasting scores. Actual products, ice and dilution will change the result.

Preparation & batching

Service complexity: low. Batchability: spirit components only.

  • Measure and label the chosen product specification; chill appropriate glassware.

Add carbonated ingredients at service; do not shake or store the finished fizzy drink as a still batch. Workload is an editorial assessment; no labor timing or storage validation is claimed.

Spirit & ingredient choices

Style Role Evidence level Qualification
S040 — Cognac supporting documented Named ingredient fits this style family; confirm the chosen product identity.
S082 — Non-potable Bitters seasoning documented Named ingredient fits this style family; confirm the chosen product identity.
S058 — Citrus Liqueur supporting documented Named ingredient fits this style family; confirm the chosen product identity.

Recipe notes & variations

For a Black Flannel variation, change one component at a time and record the selected product, proof, sweetener concentration and dilution. Compare it with this reference before naming or publishing the variation.

Sources & further reading

  • International Bartenders Association — checked 2026-09-18. Recipe identity and published ingredient specification; editorial sensory and workload assessments are not source tasting results.

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