Asking Bartenders – Popular Sparkling Wine Cocktails

Asking Bartenders – What Is The Most Popular Sparkling Wine Cocktail That You Make?

After surveying a variety of Bartenders from across the globe, I’ve compiled a more comprehensive list of what the most popular Sparkling Wines Cocktails really are.

It seems that no matter where you are in the world, there are 3 commonly enjoyed Sparkling Wines Cocktails that keep coming up, the Aperol Spritz, the French 75 and Mimosa.

1st Place – Aperol Spritz

Initially, the original Spritz Cocktail was created in Veneto in the 1800s, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that still wine was swapped out for Prosecco.

35mls of Aperol, 60mls of Prosecco, a Touch of Soda Water, and Garnished with a slice of Orange or an Olive. It’s normally served over ice in a lowball glass or a wine glass.

2nd Place – French 75

30mls of Gin, 15mls of Lemon Juice, 2 Dashes of Simple Syrup, 60mls of Champagne, Garnished with a Lemon Twist, and finally drop in a sugar cube (normally brown sugar) or and watch the reaction in the Champagne Flute glass.

The French 75 predates World War I, with a close recipe likely being created in 1915 in the New York Bar in Paris, now renamed Harry’s New York Bar.

‘The combination was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm field gun.’

The original Cocktail consisted of Champagne, Sugar, Lemon Juice and Ice, it was during the 1920s that Gin was added, creating the first modern French 75.

The Cocktail made its first appearance on the silver screen in the movie Casablanca in 1942 and is spoken of twice in the John Wayne films A Man Betrayed (1941) and Jet Pilot (1957).

3rd Place – Mimosa

75mls of Champagne and 75mls of Orange Juice, sometimes Garnished with a Cherry, Strawberry, Orange Slice/Twist and sometimes a drop of Grenadine is added. Served in a Champagne Flute.

The Mimosa is very often enjoyed with a delicious elegant Brunch, a wonderful combination of a breakfast orange juice and the mid-afternoon glass of Champagne. You can also often find this Cocktail at Weddings, as a passenger on airlines or railways.

The Mimosa is very similar to the Buck’s Fizz, which was invented in London in 1921, the only difference is the Mimosa has an equal part Champagne and Orange Juice, were as the Buck’s Fizz uses 2 parts Champagne and 1 part Orange Juice.

The name Mimosa is derived from the yellow-flowered mimosa plant, Acacia dealbata. We don’t really know when the Cocktail was first created, but it was first called ‘Champagne Orange’.

Apparently, Queen Elizabeth II was one to enjoy a Mimosa or two, it is said Earl Mountbatten of Burma introduced the Cocktail to the Queen after his visit to the south of France.

The Results of the Survey

Aperol Spritz – 35.5%
French 75 – 15%
Mimosa – 12.5%
Kir Royale – 10%
Bellini – 10%
Hugo Spritz – 7.5%

French 125 – 2.5%
Twinkle – 2.5%
Sparkling Bahama – 2.5%
Rossini n Bellini – 2.5%
Negroni Sbagliato – 2.5%

The Bartender’s Comments

You can see what all the Bartenders have to personally say about the most popular Sparkling Wine Cocktails, some just give simple straight to the point answers, and some go into a little more detail.

So here are the answers to all the Bartenders I personally asked. Along with their bars and country.

England

Hello! Yes, of course! I would say Aperol spritz now in summer with sparkling wine and Old Cuban with Champagne 🍾 – Bruno Gattino – Bartender at Cahoots, London

We have in our place a twist on French 75 or Aperol Spritz. I would say that they are the main way that we use sparkling wine. – Mattia Cavola – Senior Bartender at Inception Group, London

Hello Oliver, Sure, the classic section will be Aperol Spritz, French 125 and Twinkle (the last two are on our list). – Lara Tosatto – Senior Bartender at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

Hi Oliver. Especially with this heat we do without a doubt the Aperol Spritz as the highest sparkling wine cocktail seller – Bernardo Pinheiro – Head bartender at Eastcheap Records

Dubai

It’s the Aperol Spritz. It’s very refreshing and has a very bitter-sweet zesty profile about it. – Zayne Osbourne – Bartender at Radisson (in Dubai Damac Hills)

Yes, of course. Kir Royale, Bellini, Campagne Cocktail, Aperol Spritz, North End, Paris Sunset – Friday Edogiawerie – Bartender, Mixologist

Yes, of course. Basically, we go for classic cocktails when it comes to sparkling wine. – Wilfred Menezes – Bartender at Rumba Cuban Bar and Kitchen

Kir Royal / Mimosa – Sherif Elqattan – Mixologist at The St. Regis Downtown

Thanks for reaching out. Since I’m working in a beach bar, we mostly sell corny Aperol Spritz and Bellinis, as well as our own signature sparkling wine cocktails. – Argen Zhanykulov – Bartender at February 30

Rosini n Bellini – Leslie Misango – Bartender at Carnadubai by Dario Cecchini

Hi Oliver. Congrats for your article! Well.. as per my experience 2 cocktails take the lead on that question. The French 75 & Aperol Spritz. Besides, I have my own signature sparkling cocktails. Best of luck. – Carlos Ponce – Mixologist

The cocktail is Aperol spirits. Sparkling Wine, Aperol and soda water – Collins Nganda – Bartender LSB – LOCK, STOCK, & BARREL JBR

Hi, sure. French 75 – Danilo La Monica – Head Bartender presso The Arts Club Dubai

Gotta be the Hugo cocktail with Atto Primo Prosecco – Jonathan (Miranda) Jensen – Senior Bartender in Salmon Guru Dubai #24 of 50 world best bars

I would say Bellini although there’s a lot like for the Kir Royale, Mimosa, French 75 etc – Allan Mugerwa – Mixologist/ Bartender at Eataly At The Beach JBR

For me, The old Cuban is the best. And French 75 also. – – Khalil Abou Yahya – Bartender

Greece

Mimosa – Chrysa Gravani – Bartender at COSTA NAVARINO

Aperol Spritz! – Vasilis Vasiliou – Bartender at Noēma – Athens

Turkey

Aperol Spritz and Hugo Spritz. Thank you so much. I wish you the best for your article. Take care of yourself – Mert Can Ozturk – Bartender / Flair Bartender – Istanbul

India

If it’s classic then I will go with Mimosa. Otherwise, we also make Sparkling Bahama as our signature cocktail, which has in-house tropical vermouth and top up with Sparkling wine – Manish Phatak – Bartender – Mumbai

Malta

Hugo Spritz. Elderflower liqueur 45ml, Sparking wine 90ml, Soda 30 ml, Mint leaves and lime – Surendra (Suraj) Singh – Senior Bartender Hugo’s terrace

Abu Dhabi

Aperol Spritzer – Nuwan Nishanda Irasinghe – Head Bartender / Mixologist

Italy

Hi Oliver. It will be a pleasure. I write for you in this order the 3 popular Sparkling wine Cocktail that I have made in my bartender life: 1. Spritzes, 2. Negroni Sbagliato, 3. Kir Royal – Gianluca Massa – Head Bartender presso il Bio Bar del RistorArte Vegetariano e Vegano Il Margutta – Rome

Saudi Arabia

Franch 75 – Kadek Buderasa – Bartender di Michelangelo Mamo

Morocco

Yes, of course. The best of them according to me are Blini and Mimosa🥂 – Abderahim Belyout – Bartender

United States of America

Hi Oliver. I will be grateful to reply. So the most popular I would say the Champagne cocktail – Alessandro Bacco – Bartender – Miami, Florida