Taste profile
Balanced, light, soft, and smooth.
Wine & SparklingEasyMargarita glass
Cocktail guide
Death in the Afternoon
Death in the Afternoon combines Absinthe, Champagne in a cocktail served in a margarita glass. It is a strong fit for brunch, date night and feels right at home in a well-stocked cocktail rotation.
Best for
Best for brunch, date night.
Quick tags
Drunk
Quick fact
Death in the Afternoon, also called the Hemingway or the Hemingway Champagne, is a cocktail made up of absinthe and Champagne, invented by Ernest Hemingway. The cocktail shares a name with Hemingway's 1932 book Death in the Afternoon, and the recipe was published in So Red the Nose, or Breath in the Afternoon, a 1935 cocktail book with contributions from famous authors. Hemingway's original instructions were: "Pour one jigger absinthe into a Champagne glass. Add iced Champagne until it attains the proper opalescent milkiness. Drink three to five of these slowly."
3.9 from 8 ratings
Rate it if you tried it
Ingredients
Everything in the glass.
How to make it
Build it step by step.
- 1Easy as you like, pour the absinthe into a chilled glass, top with champagne.
- 2Must be drunk mid afternoon for the optimum effect.
Method
Built
Finish
No garnish note saved yet.
Taste map
Strength
Balanced
Sweetness
Light
Sourness
Soft
Bitterness
Smooth
Read: Death in the Afternoon is a easy alcoholic cocktail for brunch with Absinthe, Champagne.
Texture and serve cues
-Has citrus
✓Has bubbles
-Creamy texture
-Frozen style
Best for
Best for brunch, date night.
Glassware
Margarita glass
More to know before you make it
A fuller read on the drink.
Flavor read
Expect a balanced profile with support from Absinthe, Champagne.
Best pairing
Works well with brunch dishes, salty snacks, and lighter daytime food.
Serving style
Serve in a margarita glass and aim for a easy prep that still feels polished in the glass.
Where it fits
Death in the Afternoon sits comfortably in the wine & sparkling cocktail tradition, with an approachable style for home bartenders.
Background
Why this cocktail keeps showing up.
Death in the Afternoon, also called the Hemingway or the Hemingway Champagne, is a cocktail made up of absinthe and Champagne, invented by Ernest Hemingway. The cocktail shares a name with Hemingway's 1932 book Death in the Afternoon, and the recipe was published in So Red the Nose, or Breath in the Afternoon, a 1935 cocktail book with contributions from famous authors. Hemingway's original instructions were: "Pour one jigger absinthe into a Champagne glass. Add iced Champagne until it attains the proper opalescent milkiness. Drink three to five of these slowly."
Reference cards
Base spirit
Wine & Sparkling
Category
Cocktail
Alcohol
Alcoholic
Glass
Margarita glass
Method
Built
Updated
March 11, 2026
Sources and extras
Read the background source
Reference note: Death in the Afternoon (cocktail)
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Let the bottle call the direction and keep the list tight.
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