Tequila and champagne are both brilliant for any kind of celebration. Tequila promises a good party and an opportunity to take a few shots with friends. Champagne is recognised as the perfect drink to uncork when someone is celebrating their success. So why not have both? With the class and sophistication of a good champagne and the ability for tequila to liven up any party, the two seem like an obvious mix.
A little bit about Champagne
There are a few different types of champagne which all promise a different taste and experience. champagne comes from the Champagne region in France, and if there’s something the French are good at, it’s certainly making some of the best wines in the world.
Most champagne today is blended, which means it is non-vintage. Yet, due to regulations this doesn’t mean it isn’t as good as the finest top shelf red. It means that a variety of other champagnes and old vintages have been blended together with that year’s grapes. Due to the extremely favourable conditions of the champagne region in France this means that climates rarely change drastically year to year, and so the blend still creates some of the finest champagne even if it is not in a certain vintage.
The grapes used creates the type of champagne itself. The finest is Cuvée de Prestige and is, in fact, blended. This is where your finest moët & Chandon’s will be found. Blanc de noir is made from black grapes. If the skin is successfully removed, then the grape juice will still be almost completely white. Blanc de blancs is made from chardonnay grapes. Rosé Champagne was once discontinued but has since been brought back into production and in a big way, especially because of how well it compliments food.
A little bit about Tequila
The best thing about tequila is, without a doubt, the fact that if it is pure agave tequila it won’t cause a hangover. The word comes from the region, much like champagne, only Tequila is in Mexico. The volcanic soil proved especially fertile ground for the growing and cultivation of the blue agave which helps create the best tequilas in the world.
Tequila is quite a bit younger than champagne, champagne being cultivated by the 5th century, and tequila in the 16th, but this doesn’t mean it has any less prestige when it comes to a party!
So why mix them?
What could be more perfect than the marriage of two perfect drinks? Especially when it comes to a party! If you’re hosting and mixing drinks for people, wait until you see their initially shocked faces when you say you’ve mixed champagne and tequila, explain it to them, and watch their faces instantly change the second they take a sip from their champagne flute.
The initial thought would be that the tequila would ‘ruin’ the champagne, and this is why if you’re keeping to a budget it’s better to focus on a nice tasting tequila than champagne. This is because most people have bad memories of the ‘last time they had tequila’, or no memories at all, so to put your guests minds at ease you don’t have to by some Cuvée de Prestige and then the finest tequila you can find, instead focus on what they want. You could even work up their trust by starting off with a prosecco mojito or other prosecco cocktail, just to show how much the tastes of a bubbly drink compliments something heavier.
So, does the tequila ‘ruin’ the champagne? No! Quite the opposite. Mixing drinks is chemistry, and many may think it’s like mixing two volatile substances, but none of them have actually tried a successful cocktail made from the two. When done successfully, everything should be balanced out.
The harshness of the tequila will be mellowed by the champagne and the bubbles will be suppressed, creating a more enjoyable drinking experience. The flavours will compliment each other also, bringing out the best of each other. The richness of the champagne will be brought out due to the alcohol content of tequila, emphasising it, and any dryness will compliment the juices that served to create the tequila.
A cocktail of the two shows a ‘work hard, play hard’ attitude and is sure to impress. Also, if you’re celebrating New Years or Christmas or a wedding, then what better way than decide to do both? Are you going for a champagne party or a tequila party? Why choose! Have the best of both worlds at once!
Some recipes:
Of course, rule number one with any drink involving champagne is the glass you want to use, and that will always be a champagne flute. The champagne flute is designed so that the champagne’s bubbles react densely. With a wider rim, the champagne will dissipate faster and lose it’s taste quicker, which isn’t very good for garden parties!
This is still important even when mixing with champagne as when it is being mixed the bubbles won’t disperse as the drink won’t have settled. The bubbles are important in the complimentary relationship between the drink and the mixer, such as orange juice, or other alcohols, as it will emphasise the unique flavours and notes of the drink it is being mixed with.
Recipes
Two simple ones:
Ingredients:
2 shots of tequila
1 shot of Triple Sec
1 shot of Cranberry Juice
Champagne
Crushed Ice
Method:
All you have to do for this one is add the tequila, Triple Sec and Cranberry Juice to a mixer with crushed ice. Shake for 20 seconds. Distribute into champagne flutes. Then top it off with the champagne and enjoy!
Two:
Ingredients:
150ml Champagne
2 shots of tequila
2 shots of sugar syrup
2 shots of Campari
Orange zest for flavour
Crushed ice
For this one, add the shots of tequila, sugar syrup and Campari into a mixer with a small amount of crushed ice. Shake for 20 seconds. Fill the champagne flutes with the champagne. Add the mixture. Add the orange zest.
A more impressive one:
The Mexican 75 is a twist on an old classic, the French 75. Now, though, instead of gin and lemon juice you’ll be using tequila and lime juice.
Ingredients:
2 shots of lime juice (freshly squeezed)
4 shots of tequila (silver is better)
4 shots of agave nectar (if this isn’t possible, lime juice and a bit of lime zest will work just as well)
Champagne
Crushed ice
Add the lime juice, tequila, and agave nectar into a mixer and fill it halfway with crushed ice. Shake for 20 seconds. Strain the mixture into three champagne flutes. Fill each flute with champagne.
An old Classic:
A champagne margarita will go down brilliantly at any event.
Ingredients:
2 shots of tequila
2 shots of cointreay
2 1/3 shots syrup
4 shots lime juice
750 ml champagne
Lime wedges for taste
This recipe should make around 4 margaritas. Add ice to the glasses and divide the tequila amongst them. Top them off with the champagne and stir. Add some syrup to make it sweeter, then add the lime juice. If you want more tequila, add more! Squeeze the lime wedge in and add it to the top of the drink.
A quick and easy one:
The tequila sparkler is the fastest to make and great if you’re in a hurry to get more drinks out.
Ingredients:
All you need is 1 shot of tequila, some grapefruit syrup (to be made beforehand), 2 shots of champagne.
The grapefruit syrup has to be made beforehand and make sure guests know there’s grapefruit in it because there can be intolerances!
Grapefruit syrup:
Remove the grapefruit zest of 1 grapefruit with a peeler. Combine with the juice. Cover in sugar and water and boil in a pot. Dissolve the sugar by stirring in a figure of 8. Take off the heat. Cool. Strain into an airtight container and refrigerate.
Now that that’s done the rest is simple:
Add the tequila and grapefruit syrup to a champagne flute and top off with champagne. Measurements are a matter of taste for this. Add a segment of grapefruit to the glass.
A fruity one:
If you want something a bit more summery, then this will be the cocktail for you! Perfect for garden parties and days out on the beach.
Ingredients:
470 ml Fresh strawberries with no stems
½ shot of tequila
60 ml of orange juice
120 ml of lime juice
230 ml of ice
Champagne
Lime wedges
Strawberry slices
Blend the strawberries, orange juice, lime juice and ice. Half way through, add the tequila. If more is needed add after blending. Pour the mixture into a champagne flute, filling about two thirds of the glass. Add champagne until the glass is full. Add the lime wedges and strawberry to the top of the glass.
Tip:
Depending on whether you want your cocktails to be sweeter or more sour, wet the rims of the champagne flutes and then rub the rims in a pile of either sugar or salt. This also helps the look of the cocktail and ensures that it’s a drink to party with!
All of these recipes can be made with prosecco as well, if you’re looking for a cheaper option.
If you’re trying it out and don’t want to spend as much, save money on the champagne rather than the tequila to still get the best taste