Cooking Lesson #1147: The Bubbly Soyer au Champagne Cocktail

…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar

credit: diffordsguide.com

How you doin’? If you have any leftover New Years Champagne in the fridge, this is a cocktail to try before it goes completely flat.
 
Soyer au Champagne is a luxurious cocktail that combines cognac, orange liqueur, maraschino liqueur, Champagne and vanilla ice cream (yes, I said vanilla Ice cream). All this creates a delightful blend often likened to an adult ice cream float. It's typically served in a tall stem cocktail glass and is perfect for special occasions or non-special occasions—any time really.
 
Soyer au Champagne is unique due to combining Champagne with ice cream, creating a dessert-like drink. It has a rich history dating back to the 19th century and is often associated with the creator and famous chef Alexis Soyer.
 
The cocktail first appeared on the menu at the Washington Refreshment Room in London in 1851, during the Great Exhibition.  Alexis Soyer wanted to introduce intricate mixed drinks to Victorian England. The drink has evolved over time, with variations including the addition of different liqueurs and garnishes—Champagne and vanilla ice cream remains a constant. Soyer au Champagne remains a popular choice for those looking to enjoy a festive and indulgent cocktail or a complex, yet sparkling dessert.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yields:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients 
1 scoop vanilla ice cream (I prefer Ben & Jerry’s)
1/2 ounce cognac or brandy
1/2 ounce orange curaçao liqueur
1/2 ounce maraschino liqueur
Brut Champagne, to top
Orange slice or cocktail cherry, to garnish
 
Directions

1. Read the recipe all the way through before starting. Measure all ingredients and have at your side.
2. Scoop the vanilla ice cream into a large glass (like a cocktail, coupe or large martini glass).
3. Add the cognac (or brandy), orange curaçao and maraschino liqueur.
4. Top with Champagne.
5. Garnish with an orange slice or cocktail cherry.

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ChefSecret:  A sparkling wine can only be called Champagne if it’s produced in the Champagne region of France and according to strict production rules. Sparkling wine producers in other regions can’t even say that they use the “Champagne method” to create their products; they have to say, “traditional method.”
There are about 4,300 Champagne producers in the Champagne region, many of them small family-run operations. To visit most of them, you need to venture into the countryside for several days. There you get to meet the growers, see the vineyards and visit the production and tasting rooms.
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Quip of the Day:  Why did the Champagne bottle need a map? It was trying to find its way to the party without getting corked!
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