Cheap but nice tasting champagne

poochel

Another idea instead of adding strawberries to champagne/asti/prosecco/whatever is to add wild hibiscus flowers in syrup to the glass. It doesn't matter how cheap and nasty the champers is as the syrup and the flower really mask the taste. The bubbles in the champagne cause the flower to open up and then when you've drunk the drink you eat the flower. It has a really unusual and delicious raspberry/rhubarb taste.

I think lakeland sell them in small jars, or the people who make them do large party jars which would be more appropriate for a large do.

http://www.wildhibiscus.com/category3_1.htm

I got some of these for christmas and they've been a real hit every time I've served them with some cheap asti! Really unusual.

bambam_2

Agree with the prosecco idea nice light clean tasting fizz and cheap. Try doing Kir Royale(sp?) - using a small amount of creme de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur). Or if using prosecco you can try and get some italian white peach juice and make up Bellinis

morlandbanks

I'm not sure if they still do it, but Asda used to do 'Charlemaine' (sp). My mum always bought it at Christmas and it was only something in the region of £3 for a huge bottle. I know it's hard to believe, but as someone that's had my fair share of real champers in the past, it's actually really nice! Especially if you like your bubbles not to sharp. I hope they still do it, because I fancy a drop now!

belfastgirl23

I agree on prosecco. Tesco are doing a deal on it at the minute and it's reduced I think to less than £5 (normally around £7ish). Although well worth trying the Sainsburys one too, personally I like it better. As the others say, it is a different drink so isn't cheap champagne

Optimist

Have a look here http://www.superplonk.com/home/home.asp you can do a search on fizzy and retailers.

I would go for Cava myself Spanish champagne by any other name.

Noctu

Another vote for Asti here! Mmmmmmmmmmmm

Alan50

Go for the Marks and Spencer bucks fizz (£4.00) its a nice drink without seeming cheap...most peaple like the marks quality and would be happy to try it!.
Tesco,s have Tattinger at £18.98 well worth the buy for your personal use before the event...normal price £28.98....we will be drinking this tonight...lol

The French say: 'love champagne-love life'

Have a great time

Alan

Guinea_2

Jay-Jay wrote:

Asti is very sweet and to be honest I would be able to tell the difference before it hit my mouth. If you want a cheap alternative to champagne then a Cava is going to give a dryer flavour which is still distinguishable from champage but closer than asti. (Sorry Pink Butterfly, I'm sure your Asti was lovely at your wedding )

If you want champagne then most supermarkets do their own. Sainsburies do a very nice one and Tesco do one too for about £11 a bottle (ish). Asda are doing Berringer (a sparkling rose) for about £5/6 a bottle which is actually very nice and a littel bit different for a wedding. I served champagne at my wedding but also had the Berringer which totally fooled my guests into thinking that they were drinking pink champage. I think though that the atmosphere at a wedding helps you get away with murder when it comes to drinks

Thanks for that! The Berringer sounds great as our theme is pink (oh, and blue!) and fooling people in to thinking we have pink champagne would be great! Excellent idea. I will be off to Asda tomorrow!!:T

maypole

Hello there

If you go for CAVA look out for the Cava Medium Dry, Cava Brut is the VERY dry one and I think not so nice.

Fruitcake

Cheap but tasty arrival drink, sparkling Perry or Cider, UK produce of course. You will be suprised how many people say, "that's nice, what is it?"
Think what your guests are going to remember most about your wedding, what they had to drink or what the bridal gown looked like.

Anyway, "bridal" comes from the old English traddition of selling beer (ale), at the wedding party to raise funds to pay for the bride's dress, hence the name "bride-ale gown." So, hows about bitter and brown ale splits then?

Fruitcake

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