Three Lit Whiskey & Champagne Cocktail

Berry liqueur, scotch whisky, and sparkling wine come together for an easy, elegant cocktail made with three ingredients for the perfect bubbly champagne toast on New Year's eve. Originally published December 2018. Last updated March 2022.

I thought I'd share with y'all what I'll be sipping on this New Year's Eve a little early in case you want to test drive it during Christmas break. This whiskey champagne cocktail has a surprising little flavor twist but is as easy to make as one, two three. Seriously. The result is pretty but potent--and perfect for a party. Or for sipping on your couch on a Thursday night. This is a judgement-free zone, love. Whiskey is typically thought of a man's drink but please don't shy away from this one, ladies!

If you love unique whiskey drinks, try these too:

• Brown Sugar & Pineapple Whiskey Sipper
• Bubbly Bourbon & Berries
• Kentucky Bourbon Mule Cocktail

What You'll Need for this Recipe

The beauty of this recipe truly lies in its simplicity. Just three whiskey champagne cocktail ingredients:

• Dry Champagne
• Raspberry Liqueur (My personal favorite is Chambord.)
• Whiskey (Just use your favorite for sipping!)

Grab a jigger and a bar spoon, as well. If you don't have a jigger, a shot glass will do. And a butter knife or dinner spoon can work in place of a bar spoon here.

While this isn't an entirely new type of cocktail, I first combined whiskey and champagne on a whim last New Year's Eve and fell in love. Since then, I've played with different elements like bitters, lemonade, etc. and landed on the version you see here. The result is perfect, in my opinion, but this whiskey champagne cocktail is not for the faint of heart. It's beyond lit (hence the name "three lit") and will get you there pretty quick! That's because there's no mixer or ice diluting the three boozy ingredients in it, which are whiskey (I used a blended scotch here but also love Uncle Nearest 1856 in this cocktail. Here are other options), dry champagne, and a splash of raspberry liqueur--Chambord, specifically.

A lot of whiskey champagne cocktails are made with bourbon, which is also a great combo. If that sounds good to you, too, this bubbly bourbon cocktail is another recipe you might want to check out! As y'all might know, whiskey is my liquor of choice. If you run into me out at a bar, I'm likely sipping it neat, with club soda or, if I'm feeling something fruity, a splash of Chambord.

How to Serve this Drink

Aside from the bottle being gorgeous, Chambord pairs well with whiskey. It pairs well with champagne, too, so I thought, why not all three? The result looks almost identical to the blushing bride cocktails I made for a couple of bridal showers earlier this year but the taste is completely different--no floral notes here.

I recommend serving in champagne flutes, as pictured, but a coupe glass would also look lovely. Check out these cylinder flutes for a different look, too! If you want to be a little extra (why not?), throw in a couple of fresh raspberries for instant fanciness. Frozen raspberries will also work and add more chill to the drink, which is great since there's no ice.

Last thing: are y'all whiskey fans or no? Let me know in the comments below AND, if not, tell me what kind of spirits you want to see me work with. I'd love to create more of exactly what you're looking for. 🙂 Sharing is caring so be sure to pin this strong champagne cocktail and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!

P.S. more champagne cocktails you should try:

• Hibiscus French 75
• Pomegranate & Champagne Cocktail
• Citrus Sparkler

How to Make a Whiskey Champagne Cocktail