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The manhattan meets bubbly with a twist of orange in this sparkling bourbon champagne cocktail.
This bourbon champagne cocktail is inspired by the marriage of two classic cocktails, a manhattan and a tall glass of spiked bubbly. It’s got the toasty warmth of bourbon, accented with orange liqueur, a splash of orange juice, champagne, and of course, maraschino cherries.
Forever on the quest for the perfect cocktail to ring in the new year, this one is perfectly suited to the friends that I always celebrate with on New Year’s Eve.
One, a manhattan connoisseur, has his favorite cocktail down to a science…the right bourbon, just a smidge of sweet vermouth, a dash of bitters, one large cube, and a fancy maraschino cherry.
It’s no surprise that his wife, my longtime friend and one time roommate, and I like to toast the new year in the same way. Our preference to say goodbye to the previous year and hello to all of the possibilities ahead is with a tall, cold glass of champagne, preferably spiked with a splash of booze or juice.
So what better way to toast with these friends than with a cocktail they’ll both enjoy? I didn’t go full manhattan here, instead using one ounce of good bourbon and a couple of those fancy maraschino cherries for garnish.
Next, comes the sparkle in the form of a boozy mimosa…a splash of orange juice, a half ounce of Grand Marnier, and of course, champagne!
Put it all together and wow, we have ourselves a bourbon champagne cocktail fit for the last celebration of the year! Happy New Year!
Tips for success
- Always use top quality ingredients for the best tasting results (including those fancy maraschino cherries).
- There’s no need to shake the liquor over ice if you’re using cold champagne. It certainly won’t hurt, but no need for extra step.
- My preference for the orange liqueur is Grand Marnier, but Cointreau or triple sec can be substituted.
- Wrap a twist of orange peel around the cherries for a festive garnish.
- Serve the bourbon champagne cocktails in flutes or coupe glasses for an elegant presentation.
More Festive Cocktails
- Sparkling Orange and St-Germain Cocktail
- Pomegranate Martini
- Ginger Apple Cocktail
- Raspberry Shrub Cocktail
- Cranberry Ginger Fizz Cocktail
The manhattan meets bubbly with a twist of orange in this sparkling bourbon champagne cocktail.
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz Grand Marnier
- splash of orange juice
- Champagne (prosecco or cava can be substituted)
- maraschino cherries and orange twists, for garnish
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Combine the bourbon, Grand Marnier, and a splash of orange juice in a champagne flute.
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Top with champange and garnish with an orange twist and maraschino cherries.
- Always use top quality ingredients for the best tasting results (including those fancy maraschino cherries).
- There’s no need to shake the liquor over ice if you’re using cold champagne. It certainly won’t hurt, but no need for extra step.
- My preference for the orange liqueur is Grand Marnier, but Cointreau or triple sec can be substituted.
- Wrap a twist of orange peel around the cherries for a festive garnish.
- Serve the bourbon champagne cocktails in flutes or coupe glasses for an elegant presentation.
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