Seem to be some slightly discrepant stories of authorship. A link mentioned below describes the lyrics as being by "G.C.H.", but the music is down as for Alfred Lee.

I also spotted this first link, so thought it would be of interest. George Leybourne's daughter was married to Albert Chevalier, whose own stage career started in straight acting in 1877, but who turned to the variety stage (that developed out of the music halls) in the early 1890s. In this piece (Harvey's Song Sheet covers), it says "Leybourne Christopher's" song. However, George Leybourne seems to be the gentleman.

"Music Halls proliferated throughout the 1850s and 1860s and the most important figure was the singer. Singers, mostly male, performed quick-moving racy ditties, pertinent comments on contemporary events and the occasional sentimental ballad. They were the pop idols of their time - paid over £100 per week, provided with carriages and horses by Music Hall proprietors, idolised by audiences and saved for posterity on innumerable sheet music covers. It was said that Leybourne Christopher's 'Champagne Charlie' was subsidised by the champagne shippers to the extent of £20 a week.

The songs had specific appeal for urban audiences - often sharp, cynical and anti-authoritarian; delighting in songs which cut the new police force down to size, against income tax, the penny post, the omnibus, the aesthetic movement; songs about scandals involving public figures. During this 'golden period' of Music Hall, the wealthier patron became hooked, and his regular attendance was reflected in the form of the numbers, their subject matter (hence the countless songs on champagne and fine wine) and the costumes of the performers.

The Music Hall declined in the 1870s but not before Victorian music publishers contributed to the success of popular sheet music with the development and use of lithographic printing instead of engraving, which was an expensive process. The lithographic process meant as many as 4,000 prints could be run off before quality started to deteriorate and for the first time in the history of printing, a true reproduction of colour was achieved by careful registration and skilled workmanship, the artists themselves pooling their technical knowledge with the printers.

GEORGE LEYBOURNE had a magnificent voice, stage presence and magnetic personality combined with great elegance. This glamour was well-exploited by his manager who encouraged him to affect the full dress and manners of 'the swell' in both public and private. His best known songs include Champagne Charlie, Cool Burgundy Ben, The Flying Trapeze and Up in a Balloon."

There's another link through Berkeley which would probably yield the full lyric, but it doesn't seem to be available at the moment.

Shoh slaynt,

Bobby Bob