French Sparkle Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 12/10/21
French Sparkle Cocktail

The Spruce / Loren Runion

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The French sparkle is a delightful raspberry and mango Champagne cocktail that's sure to add a bright touch to any celebration. It's designed for meant-to-impress occasions. Yet, for all its sophisticated sparkle, you'll have the secret satisfaction of knowing it's one of the easiest drinks to concoct.

This recipe was created by Chambord to promote Chambord-Flavored Vodka. It was a brilliant vodka released in 2012 that featured the unmistakable taste of the same black raspberries found in the famous liqueur. Unfortunately, it was a short-lived product, though you might still be able to find it at a few liquor stores.

You can still enjoy the French sparkle, though. It simply requires an adaptation and there are a couple of options. The easiest is to use another raspberry-flavored vodka; Absolut, New Amsterdam, Smirnoff, and Svedka are just a few brands that offer the flavor. Any will pair wonderfully with the mango nectar and sparkling wine for an invigorating, fruity cocktail that's sure to please your guests.

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce raspberry vodka

  • 2 ounces mango nectar

  • 1 ounce Champagne

  • Mango slice, for garnish

  • Black raspberry, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    French Sparkle Cocktail ingredients

    The Spruce / Loren Runion

  2. In a cocktail shaker, shake the vodka and mango nectar with ice.

    vodka and mango nectar with ice in a cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Loren Runion

  3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Strain cocktail into a chilled cocktail glass

    The Spruce / Loren Runion

  4. Top with Champagne.

    Top cocktail with Champagne

    The Spruce / Loren Runion

  5. Garnish with a mango slice and a black raspberry.

    French Sparkle Cocktail

    The Spruce / Loren Runion

Tips

  • As with any cocktail that calls for Champagne, you do not necessarily have to pour that particular sparkling wine. It's simply the best-known, but there are many great options that can actually save a little money.
  • Italy's Prosecco is a fantastic choice that's known for vivacious bubbles and Spain's Cavas are excellent as well (both tend to be less expensive than French Champagne). This drink would also work very well with a sparkling rosé, which is known for hints of strawberry flavors that are lovely against raspberry and mango.
  • Mango nectar is relatively easy to find at grocers. It tends to be sold in 12-ounce cans and can be found with other nectars near the fruit juices.
  • For party service, you can certainly mix up a large batch of the vodka-nectar combination ahead of time. Store it in the refrigerator until needed. Always add the wine at the last minute so your guests can enjoy the full sparkle.

Recipe Variations

  • As an alternative to the raspberry vodka, mix up the French sparkle with clear vodka and Chambord. For this adaptation, try 1 ounce of vodka, 1/2 ounce of Chambord, and 1 1/2 ounces of mango nectar.
  • If you skip the mango nectar, you will have a cocktail called Champagne and Chambord.

How Strong Is a French Sparkle?

Most raspberry vodkas are bottled at 70 proof and sparkling wines tend to be around 13 percent ABV. Using those two numbers, the French sparkle mixes up to an alcohol content around 10 percent ABV (20 proof). That's a delightfully relaxing strength for a casual cocktail.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
122 Calories
0g Fat
9g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 122
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 10mg 50%
Calcium 14mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 39mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)