Classic Champagne

The Classic Champagne Cocktail is a timeless blend that exudes elegance and sophistication, making it a perfect choice for celebratory occasions. Here's how to craft this delightful drink:

Instructions:

1. Place the sugar cube in a Champagne flute.
2. Saturate the sugar cube with the Angostura bitters.
3. Add the Cognac.
4. Gently pour the Champagne into the flute.
5. Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.

This cocktail offers a harmonious blend of sweetness from the sugar, aromatic complexity from the bitters, and the rich depth of Cognac, all elevated by the effervescence of Champagne. It's an ideal aperitif to commence any celebration with style.

Background:
The origins of this recipe are shrouded in mystery but its journey into cocktail history is interesting. In 1889, a New York journalist organised a competition among New York bartenders: to create a new cocktail. The top prize, a gold medal went to a Mr John Dougherty who won the competition with a drink he called Business Brace. He said he had discovered the recipe 25 years previously in the southern states of the US. The original recipe included a small amount of spring water. What baffles is how he won the competition given he discovered the cocktail rather than authentically created a new one!