Player's Passion

Player’s Passion is a smooth-talking drink: champagne, cognac and Alizé, the passion fruit liqueur made with French cognac, poured together into a champagne saucer. It is golden, fizzy and fruity, with a lot more strength than its light color suggests.

The drink is a close relative of the Thug Passion, the Alizé and champagne mix Tupac Shakur sang about in 1996, which made Alizé a fixture in nightclubs for years afterward. This version doubles down on the cognac. Alizé already carries some, and the extra two ounces give the drink a warm, oaky backbone. The passion fruit brings tart tropical sweetness, and the champagne lightens and lifts it all. The older directions poured the champagne first, which makes it foam over once the heavier spirits go in, so we have reordered the steps to finish with the bubbly.

Glass: Champagne saucer | Strength: Strong | Serves: 1 | Prep Time: 2 minutes

Bartenders tip: This recipe makes a generous eight ounces, more than most champagne saucers hold, so use a large coupe or cut everything in half for a standard glass. A dry brut champagne balances the sweet Alizé, while a demi-sec will make it cloying. Chill every bottle well ahead of time, and stir with one gentle turn so you keep the bubbles.