Seelbach
Bourbon, orange liqueur and plenty of bitters topped with Champagne.
Built in glass · Champagne flute · Easy · about 2 minutes · about 19% ABV
Ingredients
- 30 ml Bourbon
- 15 ml Triple sec / Cointreau
- 7 dashes Angostura bitters
- 7 dashes Peychaud's bitters
- 120 ml Champagne or sparkling wine
- Orange twist (garnish)
Method
- Ice the glass
- Pour 30 ml bourbon into the glass
- Pour 15 ml Triple sec / Cointreau into the glass
- Add 7 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Add 7 dashes of Peychaud's bitters
- Top with 120 ml champagne or sparkling wine
- Stir once
- Garnish
About the Seelbach
The Seelbach was presented in 1995 as a lost pre-Prohibition drink from the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville. Its creator, Adam Seger, later admitted he had invented the story, but the drink remains a modern classic.
The sparkling family. Champagne cocktails go back to Jerry Thomas's 1862 book, where a sugar cube and bitters were dropped into a glass of sparkling wine. The French 75, the Kir Royale and the Bellini, created in Venice in the 1940s, made sparkling drinks the symbol of celebration.
Seelbach FAQ
What's in a Seelbach?
30 ml bourbon, 15 ml triple sec / cointreau, 7 dashes angostura bitters, 7 dashes peychaud's bitters, 120 ml champagne or sparkling wine, garnished with orange twist.
How strong is a Seelbach?
About 19% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 2.9 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is stronger than a glass of wine.
Should I shake or stir a Seelbach?
Neither. Build it straight in the glass over ice, then give it one gentle stir.
What glass do you serve a Seelbach in?
A champagne flute, about 180 ml. Chill the glass first and serve without ice. No champagne flute? Use a small wine glass.
