Apple Cider and Champagne

[Pumpkin Lover]

My sister and I are hopefully throwing a cocktail party in two weekends, and we've been tossing around ideas for an apple cider-champagne cocktail. We were inspired by an apple cider tea we had at the Wild Lily Tea Room. I'm wondering if this drink is as easy as just combining cider and sparkling wine, but do you all have any recommendations on how we could improve on this? Would steeping tea in the cider beforehand work flavor-wise with sparking wine? How about apple liqueurs/eau-de-vie?

[KatieLoeb]

Berentzen Apfelkorn and Champagne. A twist on an Apple Kir Royale.

Calvados and sparkling non-alcoholic apple cider like Martinelli's or Le Mousseux.

You could steep Apple-Cinnamon tea bags in good unpasteurized apple cider and then add that to Champagne for a more autumnal beverage.

[mbanu]

I'm a fan of making simple cocktails from high-quality ingredients. High-quality hard cider and champagne mixed together makes a wonderful drink.

[Pumpkin Lover]

mbanu, what hard ciders would you recommend?

Katie, the Calvados/sparkling apple cider idea sounds great. Thank you both

[jackal10]

Fresh apple juice and Champagne is delicious - a sort of apple bellini

[Marylisa L.]

Here at the restaurant, I've been serving a mulled cider mimosa for Sunday Brunch. Take a high quality cider.. barely heat it with clove, cinnamon, star anise (or whatever spices you like).. chill and mix with champagne. It's awesome!

Good luck!

[KatieLoeb]

mbanu, what hard ciders would you recommend?

Katie, the Calvados/sparkling apple cider idea sounds great. Thank you both 

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Pumpkin Lover:

I'd mix up a "test" cocktail or two first to see what proportions of Calvados you want to add to each drink. I'd start with one ounce of Calvados and fill with 4 oz. of cider. Taste. If it isn't "strong" enough for you then add a bit more to the next one. Also if it's too sweet put a squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of (unsweetened) cranberry juice in. If it's not sweet enough, then a splash of simple syrup or even a splash of 7-up. Play with it until it's to your taste and then write down your final recipe and make them all the same way.

[pamjsa]

In case you have guests who aren't champagne lovers (I know, but there are a few weirdos out there ), spiced cider with vanilla vodka and a splash of cream also makes a nice holiday drink.

[Rob Simmon]

I would try a European hard sparkling cider as a base instead of trying to blend cider with champagne. Maybe bourbon + cider + bitters? Or bonded applejack + cider + bitters? Infuse cinnamon in bourbon and mix with the cider?