Founding Fathers Friday Cocktails - James Madison

We interrupt our regular "His & Hers" Friday cocktails to bring you Founding Fathers cocktail Fridays!  Ramping up to the 4th of July, we will reintroduce you to 4 Founding Fathers (who were also the first 4 presidents of The United States of America) and their preferred libations/cocktails.  

First up, James Madison (1751-1836).  Also know as the "Father of the Constitution," Madison helped to co-write the Federalist Papers, promoted the Bill of Rights, and created the Democratic-Republican party with the current president, Thomas Jefferson, before being elected as the 4th president of The Untied States of America in 1808, serving two terms.

More importantly, he shared a love of French wine (along with Thomas Jefferson) but his preferred libation was an effervescent wine know commonly as Champagne.  In fact, it was noted in Mark Will-Weber's book, "Mint Juleps with Teddy Roosevelt: The complete History of Presidential Drinking," that Madison once said champagne, "was the most delightful wine when drank in moderation, but that more than a few glasses always produced a headache the next day."  Hopefully, the below Champagne cocktails, won't leave you with the same results.

Classic Champagne Cocktail
1 sugar cube
several dashes Angostura bitters
chilled Champagne
lemon twist for garnish

Dissolve the sugar cube with Angostura bitters in the bottom of a champagne flute.  Top with champagne and garnish with lemon twist.

Americana (by Darren Bartley @JP Wine bar)
1 sugar cube
3 dashes Peychaud's bitters
1 oz bourbon
4 oz chilled Champagne
1 tablespoon chopped or sliced canned peaches

Sprinkle the bitters over the sugar cube. Pour the bourbon into a chilled flute and top with the Champagne. Add the sugar cube and peaches'?

Southside Royale
2 oz gin
3/4 oz simple syrup
3/4 oz lime juice
chilled Champagne

In a cocktail shaker, filled with ice, pour in gin, simple syrup and lime juice.  Shake until chilled, strain into Champagne glass.  Top with chilled Champagne.

Mimosa
2 oz fresh squeezed orange juice
4 oz chilled Champagne

Pour oj into Champagne flute and top with Champagne.