Mimosa
A fruity, sweet and bubbly wine & sparkling cocktail ∙ Build ∙ 2 min ∙ 5.8% ABV ∙
A Mimosa is a brunch cocktail of equal parts chilled sparkling wine and fresh orange juice, built directly in a flute.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Pour Orange juice 75 ml into the flute glass and gently pour Prosecco extra dry 75 ml
- Stir gently
- Garnish with an orange twist (opt.)
Tips
- Stick to a dry or extra-dry sparkling wine; with the orange juice, anything sweeter makes the drink sugary.
History
The Mimosa is a sparkling-wine-and-orange-juice cocktail, originally made with champagne. Its origin is not firmly settled, though most accounts trace it to the Ritz Hotel bar in Paris, where bartender Frank Meier is widely credited with serving it around 1925 under the name "champagne orange." Meier's 1936 book, The Artistry of Mixing Drinks, includes the recipe, though he marked his own inventions with a special symbol and did not use it for this drink, leaving his claim to the creation uncertain.
The drink is named for the bright yellow flowers of the mimosa plant, Acacia dealbata, which its color resembles. It is closely related to the Buck's Fizz, a champagne-and-orange-juice drink that appeared in London a few years earlier and is traditionally made with a higher proportion of champagne to juice.
A less-favored story credits Alfred Hitchcock with creating or popularizing the drink in San Francisco in the 1940s, though this version is considered less likely than the Paris account.
FAQ
What alcohol is used for a Mimosa?
Sparkling wine, typically a dry Champagne, cava, or Prosecco. This recipe uses an extra-dry Prosecco, mixed with fresh orange juice in equal parts.
How do you make a Mimosa?
Pour 75 ml fresh orange juice into a chilled flute, gently add 75 ml chilled Prosecco, and give it one gentle stir. An orange twist is optional.
What is the difference between a Bucks Fizz and a Mimosa?
Very little: both are sparkling wine and orange juice. The Buck's Fizz appeared in London a few years before the Mimosa and traditionally uses more champagne than juice, while a Mimosa uses equal parts.
What is the difference between a Bellini and a Mimosa?
The fruit. A Bellini is Prosecco with white peach purée; a Mimosa is sparkling wine with fresh orange juice. The purée makes the Bellini thicker and sweeter, while the Mimosa is thinner and more tart.
Can one Mimosa get you drunk?
One is unlikely to get most people drunk. It is half orange juice and comes in at about 5.8% ABV, similar to a light beer. Several rounds over brunch add up quickly, though, because it is so easy to drink.
What is the best juice for a Mimosa?
Freshly squeezed orange juice, which this recipe calls for; it is brighter and less sweet than bottled juice.
Do you pour Champagne or orange juice first in a Mimosa?
Orange juice first. Then pour the Prosecco gently on top and give it one gentle stir.
