The air in your automobile tires exerts a pressure of 28 to 36 pounds per square inch. The bubbles in a bottle of Champagne exert 95 psi. The next time you're feeling stressed, will you go for a drive or pop a cork? If you answered the latter, you're sure to enjoy Champagne Cocktails by Anistatia Miller, Jared Brown, and Don Gatterdam. No strangers to the chronicling of the good life, Idaho-based Miller and Brown are the authors of Shaken Not Stirred: A Celebration of the Martini; Gatterdam is the Manhattan-based director of custom publishing for the Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado folks. In 114 splashily colorful pages effervescently topped with sparkling quotes and liquid lore, readers and sippers will discover more than 100 recipes combining that jewel of the vintner's art with the craft of the mixologist.

Whether you fancy the purity of the Classic Champagne Cocktail--that alliance of sparkling wine and bitters that Esquire called one of the Ten Best Cocktails of 1934--or lean to the adventurous Mrs. Beeton's Champagne Cup--the one with the fresh borage sprigs--you'll be won over by this breezy treatise. Garnishing the pages of recipes and bartender's advice (citrus twists dropped in the glass tend to dissipate the bubbles quicker; ingredients should go into the drink in ascending order of expense) are wine wisdom and witticism from such diverse sources as Thackeray and Austin Powers, Babette's Feast and Absolutely Fabulous. To be fair, some of the potions are pretty funky--one of the ingredients in a Red Ambrosia is Hawaiian Punch, and mixing up a Gloria should allow you to use up that bottle of lychee liqueur you've been saving for just the right occasion. And while there is a short chapter featuring lists of the top sparkling producers worldwide, a concoction such as the "Diabolitan" featuring anisette, gin, and liqueurs of strawberry and pear might be budgetarily better-suited to Cooks than Krug. Yet where else could one discover the difference between a Mimosa and a Buck's Fizz while learning how to shear the neck off a bottle with a cutlass? No matter whether you're pouring a Spanish cava, a German sekt, or something French, you'll find it in the pages of Champagne Cocktails. --Tony Mason


"As entertaining and unique as the cocktails themselves."


"This beautifully photographed book is a cool compendium of bubbly-based drinks...Refreshingly informative..."

Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publish, Wine Spectator
"As entertaining and unique as the cocktails themselves."

Book Description
Upon tasting Champagne for the first time, Dom Perignon called out to his assistants,"Come Quickly, I'm Drinking Stars!" So if Champagne is heaven in a glass, why mix it in a cocktail? It's simple: Champagne is the pinnacle of the winemaker's art, while the cocktail is the crowning jewel of the mixologist's craft. When combined, the result is a beverage unrivaled in decadence, pleasure, and inspiration. Champagne Cocktails proudly presents more than 100 traditional and nouveau concoctions--from Bellini to the Southern Belle to the Mambo King--plus toasts, jokes, and celebrity lore. Also featured are party tips, recipes for complementary foods, a listing of Champagne and sparkling wine producers, and a directory of the world's posphest Champagne lounges. The Champagne connoisseur will toast these finer points of culture and fizziology, while the novice will delight in adding a new sparkle to the day. AugustRefreshing Summertime FunSirius Stargarita1oz tequila (chilled)4oz Champagnegarnish with a lime twistA cool summer cocktail, it has all the sparkle of a tropical night. The sweet spiciness of the tequila comes alive amid the bubbles. SeptemberAn Late Summer BreezeMetro1 splash cranberry juice1 splash Rose's Lime Juice1 dash Cointreau1oz vodka4oz Champagnegarnish with an orange twistWith a blush like a harvest sunset, this crisp cocktail will pleasantly satisfy a late summer thirst. OctoberA Sparkling Halloween BrewBetelguese1oz Stoli Vanil vodka1tbs vanilla liqueur1tbs Rose's Lime Juice1oz white zinfandel wine2oz ChampagnePronounced beetle-juice, it's the name of a stellar constellation as well as this stellar cocktail, which recalls Dom Perignon's famous words upon first tasting Champagne: "Come quickly, I am drinking stars!" NovemberFresh idea for the Thanksgiving FeastAmericana1tsp Bourbon1dash Angostura Bitters5oz Champagnegarnish with a fresh pear sliceLike Thanksgiving, the Champagne Cocktail was born in America. A touch of Bourbon, made from a blend of corn and rye, makes this the perfect cocktail to toast a bountiful harvest. DecemberColorful ChristmasMelony1oz melon liqueur4oz ChampagnePoinsettia1oz Cranberry Juice4oz ChampagneTo complete the festive look of these two sparkling holiday cocktails try a red sugar rim on your Melonys and a green sugar rim on your Poinsettias. January The ultimate cocktail for ushering in the millenniumMoulin Rouge1oz ice cold vodka4oz ChampagneThis cocktail toasts both Czar Peter the Great who declared January First as New Year' Day and Dom Perignon who discovered the perfect celebratory drink.

About the Author
Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown are the authors of Shaken Not Stirred: A Celebration of the Martini and run the award-winning Shaken Not Stirred website at .Don Gatterdam is director of Custom Publishing for M. Shanken Communications, Inc. (publishers of Wine Spectator, Cigar Aficionado, and Food Arts), and serves on the board of directors for the American Institute of Wine and Food.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Upon tasting Champagne for the first time, Dom Perignon called out to his assistants, "Come Quickly, I'm Drinking Stars!"

So if Champagne is heaven in a glass, why mix it in a cocktail? It's simple: Champagne is the pinnacle of the winemaker's art, while the cocktail is the crowning jewel of the mixologist's craft. When combined, the result is a beverage unrivaled in decadence, pleasure, and inspiration.

Champagne Cocktails proudly presents more than 100 traditional and nouveau concoctions--from Bellini to the Southern Belle to the Mambo King--plus toasts, jokes, and celebrity lore. Also featured are party tips, recipes for complementary foods, a listing of Champagne and sparkling wine producers, and a directory of the world's posphest Champagne lounges.

The Champagne connoisseur will toast these finer points of culture and fizziology, while the novice will delight in adding a new sparkle to the day.

About the Authors:

Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown are the authors of Shaken Not Stirred: A Celebration of the Martini. Don Gatterdam is direct of Custom Publishing for M. Shanken Communications, Inc. (publishers of Wine Spectator, Cigar Aficionado, and Food Arts), and serves on the board of directors for the American Institute of Win and Food.

FROM THE CRITICS

New York Times

This entertaining guide begins with a brief history of Champagne and moves swiftly to the recipes, from classics like the Bellini to new concoctions like the imperial duo, made with Champagne and Cognac.

Associated Press

Champagne Cocktails delves into the bubbly and comes up with all sorts of interesting nuggets...A book you keep on hand and sip from occasionally when you want to think about - or learn how to experience - the good life.

Sante

Champagne Cocktails takes an adoring and amusing look at the history of the world's favorite wine. This is an indispensable guide to Champagne mixed drinks...a timely profile of the millennium's drink of choice.

Cheers

This book is chock full of anecdotes about famous champagne lovers, the bubbly's legends, and the kinds of cocktails that once swung a nation...you'll feel more confident putting some sparkle into your libations.

Marvin R. Shanken

As entertaining and unique as the cocktails themselves. Read all 7 "From The Critics" >

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING