Why choose between a glass of bubbly and a cocktail when you can have the best of both worlds? These champagne and bubble-licious cocktails are perfect for celebrating the season across Atlanta -- a little fizz, a little spice, something naughty and something nice.
Sparklehorse | Empire State South
999 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30309; 404-541-1105, empirestatesouth.com
Why choose a champagne-based cocktail? "Champagnes and sparkling wines have a lower alcoholic content, so cocktails with them make for a great aperitif or a way to maintain [your weight] in this over- indulgent time," Kellie Thorn, beverage manager for Empire State South and Hugh Acheson's other ventures told us about this time last year. Her Sparklehorse uses a dry sparkling wine, plus Cavados, Curacao, simple syrup, lemon juice, Earl Grey Bitters, vanilla extract and an orange twist.
White Peach Bellini | Seed Kitchen and Bar
1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, Ga. 30068; 678-214-6888,
This OTP destination currently has seven, yes that's right, seven champagne cocktails on offer. Of course we picked the peach cocktail because Georgia. It's a simple one too: white peach puree and sparkling wine. Visit Seed to try this or one of their more complex champagne cocktails.
Provencal | Watershed on Peachtree
1820 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30309; 404-809-3561, watershedrestaurant.com
This nod to a fave French foodie region will carry you away before the first sip: Uncle Val’s botanical gin, lavender, limoncello, grapefruit, lime and Prosecco.
I-75 | Ray's Restaurants
Atlanta, Alpharetta and Sandy Springs, www.raysrestaurants.com
Available at Ray’s at Killer Creek, Ray’s in the City and Ray’s on the River, the I-75 features Tanqueray Gin, prosecco, basil, lemon, lime and house-made cucumber ice cube.
Scarlet Belle | The Southern Gentleman
3035 Peachtree Road NE, Suite A208, Atlanta, Ga. 30305; 404-939-9845, thesoutherngentlemanatl.com
Brian Graham's Scarlet Belle combines cranberry oleo saccharum with prosecco and lime swath for garnish. Oleo what? We'll just say cranberries infused with sugar. The lime swath helps to balance the cocktail between sweet and sour.
Persian Rose | Divan
3125 Piedmont Road, Atlanta, Ga. 30305; 404-467-4297, www.divanatlanta.com.
For your intown Persian dining pleasure, look no further than Buckhead where Divan offers the Persian Rose: gin, champagne, honey water, rosewater, cardamom water and saffron water.
The American Royale | Umi
3050 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30305; 404-841-0040, umiatlanta.com
You say grapefruit, the French say "pamplemousse." Aperol, Crème de Pamplemousse, lemon, Hillinger Sparkling Rose, and Chinese Bitters. Don't call anything off!
The Ladder's Sway | The General Muir
1540 Avenue Place, Suite B-230, Atlanta, Ga. 30329; 678-927-9131, thegeneralmuir.com
This brandy forward concoction takes its name from the poem "After Apple Picking" by Robert Frost. Unaged apple brandy, house made honey cinnamon liquor, amaro nonino, lemon juice, orange citrate bitters, topped with cava. Thanks go to well read head bartender Jessi Noreault.
Tobago Toddy | ONE. midtown kitchen
559 Dutch Valley Road NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30324; 404-892-4111, onemidtownkitchen.com
We suspect Melissa Davis, beverage director at ONE likes to stay warm. Plantation Pineapple Rum, orgeat syrup, Allspice Dram, pineapple juice, a squeeze of lemon, and ground allspice. Top it off with boiling water and let the cold winds blow.
Christmas in Cape Cod | The Optimist
914 Howell Mill Road NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30318; 404-477-6260, theoptimistrestaurant.com
Sensing a theme with these holiday drinks? Cranberries along with cranberry juice, rosemary, orange peel, house citrus vodka and, of course, sparkling wine, are all familiar seasonal flavors found in Beverage Director Lara Creasy's appropriately named Christmas in Cape Cod. Find these champagne cocktails at other Ford Fry restaurants: “Poinsettia” at JCT. Kitchen and Bar (cranberries); “On Comet, On Cupid” at King + Duke(cinnamon and cranberries; “Hey Good Lookin’” at St. Cecilia (pear and lemon); Champagne Cocktail at Marcel (VSOP Cognac).
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