If I had to name my favorite easy cocktail recipe, this would be it. It’s simple, it’s elegant and it smells like a bouquet of flowers. If you want an easy drink to serve on a romantic evening, you need to check this one out.
I like this recipe so much I put it in my cookbook, Romancing the Stove. You’ll find it in the Quickies section–fast recipes for sexy occasions–with a whole lot of other easy recipes you’re sure to crave.
Why you’re going to love this two-ingredient rose water Champagne cocktail
With just two ingredients, it has got to be the easiest Champagne cocktail you’ll ever make. By adding just a trace of rose water to a simple and elegant glass of Brut Champagne or sparkling wine, you’ve turned a flute of Champagne into an aphrodisiac cocktail. Just like that!
The ingredients for this simple, sparkling cocktail are ones you can keep on hand. (I’m a firm believer that everyone should keep Champagne on hand.) And once you pick up a bottle of rose water, I’ll bet you’ll find dozens of uses.
Some notes on using rose water
Rose water is a liquid distillation from rose petals. It is that lovely floral note in a traditional, Turkish baklava. While it was used in Asia and the Middle East as a flavoring agent since at least the Middle Ages, it wasn’t known in the United States until the 1800s.
If you think rose water offers a sickeningly floral aroma you’ve probably experienced a bad – possibly synthetic – version of this faintly fragrant liquid flavoring. Good rose water should be subtle. It is pricier than you might expect, maybe $10-$12 for a bottle the size of vanilla extract. And it should be used sparingly for the ultimate enjoyment. I use it in the cake recipe in my first cookbook, Fork Me, Spoon Me.
Rose water is considered an aphrodisiac. The flower is associated with Aphrodite and according to Temptations: igniting the pleasure and power of aphrodisiacs, rose petals fueled countless Roman orgies.
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But rose water is also associated with health. In addition to its association with sexual health, this fragrant extract is antioxidant-rich. It’s also known to soothe sore throats. According to a 2011 study, it may also be a mood enhancer. What better to get you in the mood for love than an ingredient that puts you in a good mood?
Serving tips
I originally made this Champagne cocktail recipe because I wanted everyone to feel like they could make an exotic cocktail, even those who don’t know how to cook. All you need is chilled sparkling wine, rose water and a couple of Champagne flutes. (Here’s a link to the ones I use.)
Although I created it as a romantic drink, it’s a good drink choice for many occasions. Celebrate Mom with something delicious by serving her this homemade cocktail on Mother’s Day. Toast grads, new babies and longtime friends with this simple yet alluring drink. Or save the recipe for your next party. You won’t have to stand behind the bar all night mixing drinks and it’s much cheaper than getting a bartender.
I call this a Champagne cocktail but as an award-winning wine writer, I’m going to give you permission to use a less expensive wine. You’ll want to look for a Brut-style wine and I recommend choosing something in the $15-$25 range. You can also make this rose water Champagne cocktail with Prosecco but I prefer it with Champagne, cava or American sparkling wine.
Want more Champagne cocktail recipes? Check out the Cupid’s Kiss
Champagne with a Rose Water Kiss
Ingredients
- 2-4 drops high quality rose water
- 10 oz Brut-style Champagne or sparkling wine Cava works exceptionally well
Instructions
- Place 1-2 drops of rose water into each of two Champagne flutes. (Use an eye dropper to ensure the right amount.)
- Top each with 5 oz of Champagne or sparkling wine.
- Drink.
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Amy is considered a leading authority on aphrodisiacs. Her work in aphrodisiacs is quoted in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, Epicurious, Wine Enthusiast, Health and Playboy magazines. She speaks internationally on aphrodisiac foods and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac history and science to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. She is a frequent guest on relationship and lifestyle radio and podcast shows and has been interviewed by BBC and NPR radio, Cosmopolitan radio and popular podcasts including My Dad Wrote a Porno.
Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health researcher and writer as well as a wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is an MSN content provider. And she is also a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine.
Fun fact: Amy was the creator of the first ever comprehensive food and wine apps, Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet and Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard for Palm.
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