^{Sponsored post in partnership with Moët & Chandon.}

With Cocktails growing at over 7% in 2018, why not tap into this growing category by offering a Champagne-based cocktail using Moët & Chandon Ice Imperial, whilst also driving additional value into your venue.

Younger consumers continue to drink socially and tend to prefer being more adventurous with their beverages, with 30% of Generation X consumers choosing cocktails over more traditional spirit-based drinks. Moët & Chandon Ice Imperial significantly over-indexes with over 25-year-olds and boasts the highest brand awareness of the key Champagne houses, providing the consumers with a great alternative choice of cocktail.

With summer around the corner, thoughts turn to cool, refreshing glasses in warm sun…  If your tipple of choice is Champagne, then you want to make sure it hits the spot of flavour and chill factor. Luckily, Moët has you covered and who better to tell us about how and why than the man who invented the ‘Champagne on ice’ category.  Here, Chef de Cave Benoît Gouez introduces you to the…

The Moët Ice Impérial 1, 2, 3…

1. Why ‘Ice’?

When Moët & Chandon Chef de Cave Benoît Gouez noticed people drinking Champagne on ice (also known as a ‘piscine’) a few years ago, he became increasingly concerned how much this would break the balance of the, generally, Brut Champagnes they were choosing.

Proving their pioneering nature, in 2011 Moët & Chandon and Benoît created Ice Impérial - a demi-sec Cuvée deliberately produced to be served ‘on the rocks’.

2. The Ice Touch

Moët Ice Impérial Blanc NV has been vinified by Benoit Gouez to retain the fruitiness, richness and freshness of its Brut counterpart when served on ice.

“I select wines specifically for what they bring to the party,” he says.  “Around 20-30% of the assemblage is of selected reserve wines to round out the assemblage by enhancing its intensity, richness and consistency.  But it is the dominance of Pinot Noir and Meunier in the blend that really gives this Champagne a richness that the presence of ice actually amplifies.”

Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial Blanc NV is an assemblage of:

• 40-50% Pinot Noir - for its fruity intensity, and the integrating structure it confers on the dosage
• 30-40% Meunier - for its richness and wealth of flavour in mouth
• 10-20% Chardonnay - for a touch of sharp acidity, giving a refreshing finish

For Benoît, it is the dosage that is paramount for his Ice Cuvée.  “This has been deliberately and carefully chosen to give the wine its structure and personality, and to help create and maintain the Champagne’s perfect balance when it meets ice cubes.”  In Ice Impérial Blanc the dosage is 45g/l.

3. The Ice Serve

Benoît Gouez recommends using three sizable ice cubes, and a large glass - preferably a Cabernet one - for perfect Ice Impérial serve, creating just the right ratio between water and wine.