"Top with champagne"

[garnishgirl]

Hi there,

 

This is my first post here at eGullet, but I figured you guys would be the ones to ask! I'm a big fan of sparkling wine cocktails, and I just made my first one out of the Death & Co cocktail book (Bitter French). In the recipe it just lists "champagne" without giving a quantity, and I feel like this is pretty common. But after reading all the careful discussion of various spirits and techniques in the book, it struck me as odd that they'd leave this so vague. Is there a standard amount of sparkling wine you're meant to add in these recipes? Maybe a certain level the flute should be filled to?

 

Thanks for your input!

[EvergreenDan]

"Top" and "splash" are hideously-vague instructions. You are left to your own to interpret. Generally, I think about the typical glass that would be used and the volume of the other ingredients, plus any ice.

 

For sparkling wine cocktails, you might differentiate between something like a Kir Royale, where a small amount of flavoring/sweetening (cassis) is used with a large volume of wine versus a cocktail where the wine is just used to add a effervescence (including mouth feel) and a small amount of acidity and wine aroma.

 

The best bet would be to add a small amount of sparkling wine, taste, and add more until you are happy. Your pleasure is what really matters most after all.

[FrogPrincesse]

It is vague indeed. I generally use about 2 oz. More and the cocktail feels diluted down, less and the champagne doesn't make enough of an impact.

[garnishgirl]

Thanks guys! Glad I'm not the only one who feels like it's a bit too vague. I also tend to add about 2 oz. and taste, but sometimes that doesn't fill the flute and I wonder if the recipe is meant to contain more. But like Dan said, all that matters is that you like it!

[tanstaafl2]

Long been a particular annoyance to me with various cocktail recipes. If it is based on the "typical" glass used by a particular person or bar then we aren't all going to have the same thing. Elucidation of the quantity recommended, whatever the ingredient is, is always my preference!