Cherry Champagne Cocktail Recipe

A Cherry Champagne Cocktail is easy to throw together and instantly makes any celebration feel a bit more festive. You only really need a handful of ingredients to whip up a drink that looks fancy but goes down refreshingly smooth.

Honestly, I love how the sweet cherry plays with those crisp bubbles—it’s just a great balance, you know?

When I make this cocktail, I try to keep everything straightforward and not overthink the flavors. It’s perfect for a small get-together, or even if you’re just hanging out at home and want something a little special.

Cherry and champagne together just feels like a treat, but it’s not fussy or anything.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the ingredients, the gear I reach for, and the steps that make this drink come together fast. I’ll also try to describe the taste—sometimes that’s the most important part, right?

Cherry Champagne Cocktail Recipe

I gravitate toward this drink when I’m after something light, bubbly, and just fruity enough to keep things interesting. Champagne and cherry together make for a crisp sip with a touch of sweetness.

It’s one of those drinks that’s easy to make but still feels like you put in some effort for guests or a little celebration.

Equipment

• Champagne flute or tall glass
• Small measuring jigger or shot glass
• Bar spoon or just a regular teaspoon for stirring
• Small knife for slicing garnishes
• Chopping board
• Ice bucket or cooler for keeping champagne cold
• Bottle opener (if your sparkling wine has a cork)
• Small plate for garnishes

I keep my tools right on the counter so I’m not scrambling mid-pour. Chilled glasses really do make a difference—I usually toss them in the fridge before I start.

Ingredients

• 4 oz chilled champagne or dry sparkling wine
• 1 oz cherry brandy
• 1 fresh cherry (pitted) or maraschino cherry for garnish
• 1 tsp cherry syrup (optional, if you want it sweeter)
• Ice (optional, for chilling before serving)

I always lean toward a dry champagne, since the cherry brandy brings enough sweetness. If I’m using sparkling wine, I pick one that’s crisp and clean.

The garnish is mostly for looks, but it does add a nice little pop of flavor too.

Instructions

• Chill your champagne or sparkling wine for at least 2 hours before you start.
• Pour the cherry brandy into the bottom of your flute.
• If you’re adding cherry syrup, toss it in now.
• Top it off slowly with champagne so it doesn’t foam over.
• Give it a gentle stir with a bar spoon—don’t go wild, just enough to mix without killing the bubbles.
• Drop in your cherry garnish.
• Serve right away while it’s still cold and fizzy.

I like to pour the champagne down the side of the glass to keep the fizz under control. The drink’s definitely at its best straight after you mix it.

Notes

Fresh cherries, in my opinion, give a lighter, more real cherry flavor compared to maraschino, but either one does the trick. If I’m craving more cherry, I just splash in a bit more brandy.

You can use pretty much any sparkling wine here, but drier ones seem to play best with the sweetness. If you’re in the mood for something sweeter, try a demi-sec champagne or just add a bit more cherry syrup.

If you want to skip the alcohol, swap in chilled sparkling water or a non-alcoholic bubbly and use cherry juice instead of brandy. It’s a lighter drink, but still pretty refreshing.

Tasting Notes

So, when I take that first sip, the gentle sweetness from the cherry pops out immediately. It just sort of melts into the crisp bubbles of the champagne.

Honestly, the balance is light and pretty refreshing. Nothing too heavy or syrupy.

There’s this soft fruit aroma that hits me before I even taste anything. The cherry is up front, but then the champagne sneaks in with this faint toasty scent—kind of unexpected, but I like it.

On my tongue, the carbonation really brings the texture to life. It’s smooth, but there’s a little bite from the dry champagne that keeps things interesting.

The cherry flavor doesn’t just vanish either; it lingers for a few seconds after each sip. Not in a bad way, though—more like a gentle reminder.

The color catches my eye, too. That pale pink hue looks super inviting in the glass.

It somehow makes the drink feel festive, but not over-the-top or anything.

Flavor notes I notice:

• Sweet cherry at the start
• Light citrus from the champagne
• Subtle almond-like hint from the cherry syrup
• Clean, dry finish