In early times, champagne was a holy drink, produced by monks and sipped during mass. It took something as monumental as the conversion of a monarch to Christianity in 496 before champagne really began to take off as a celebratory drink. Although its sacredness was compromised, a secular population soon grew to worship it.

At some of the most important celebrations in history, champagne has been the beverage of choice; the sound of soaring corks accompanying the victory cries of French revolutionaries in 1789, the golden-necked bottles arriving spectacularly by balloon at the Paris exhibition of 1900.

At times of emotion, the bottle of choice is almost always champagne, whether Everest has been conquered, a son or daughter christened or a Grand Prix Race won. Even the promise of success is enough to ease the cork from its snug-fitting neck, as ships are launched with its blessing, never mind if they are the QEII or the family dingy.

Never one to miss out on a luxury, Hollywood has embraced the golden nectar: the sunset deepens as the dashingly handsome hero raises a glass of champagne in toast to the glamorous woman by his side. Such is the stuff of dreams and Hollywood films. Champagne has become part of a cliché, but still it’s a clichéd life style that few would choose to resist.

Of course, the success of champagne is also a triumph of marketing, but the myth and magic that has rolled through the centuries is stronger than any protests that it is just another drink. In any case, it will always be an exclusive drink, solely produced in the Champagne region of France. Some other makers of sparking wine may call theirs ‘champagne’, but this is not typical and many countries limit the use of the term to wines that come from the Champagne region.

So why not treat yourself, your partner or your friends to a special night out with one of the world’s most luxurious drinks? There is really no need to wait for an occasion or even to linger in a cocktail bar. All the world’s most hip cities now have exclusive venue to get you fix of bubbly. Whether it’s a champagne bar in London, New York or Paris, with mottos such as ‘gold is the new black’ they offer plenty fashionable liquid excess as gilt sparkles under the ambient lighting and corks are skillfully eased by practiced bar staff.

Cocktails bars might have been good enough for James Bond, but if you want to live like a monarch (or a revolutionary) then champagne bars are the places to be. Cheers, or to use a more old-fashioned phrase, bottoms up!