This cherry champagne cocktail recipe is an elegant and easy drink to serve at brunch or as a welcome drink and it's pretty perfect for Valentine's Day.
Put the cherries, water and sugar into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil until the cherries are soft, about 10 to 15 minutes. Take the pan off of the heat and let sit for an hour.
Strain the simple syrup through a fine mesh sieve, use a spoon to press down on the cherries to get as much juice out of them as possible.
Let cool to room temperature and place in an airtight bottle and store in the fridge.
To make the cherry and champagne cocktail
Dip half of the outside of a champagne glass into water and press into sugar to create a half rim.
Pour one ounce of the cherry simple syrup into the champagne glass and top up with chilled champagne.
Garnish with a twirl of lemon zest.
Notes
It's so easy to make your own cherry simple syrup, but if you are short on time you can also buy it.
The recipe for the cherry simple syrup makes about a cup. This is easily halved or doubled depending on your needs.
Let the cherries sit in the simple syrup for up to an hour to really allow them to release their flavors.
Allow the simple syrup to cool to room temperature before sealing it and storing n the fridge.
Be sure to chill your champagne in the fridge before serving, warm champagne is never a good thing.
Nutritional values are based on one cocktail and are an estimate only.