7 best Brunch Cocktails
WRITTEN: BY SCOTT VAN DORT
Brunch has become more than just an abbreviation for breakfast and lunch, it’s a weekend ritual. It’s a time to hang out and catch up with friends or share some quality time with your special someone.
Some say brunch came about when big stars making trips between NYC and LA would stopover in Chicago for a late morning meal. And since most restaurants were closed on Sundays, fancy hotels were the first to pioneer our new favorite meal. Soon restaurants all over hopped on the bandwagon and suddenly everyone, not just A-list celebrities, could enjoy decadent spreads and morning cocktails like a Bloody Mary or the Mimosa.
Today, there are trendy brunch spots in every city offering three different kinds of avocado toast or buffet-style brunches with all the breakfast classics. Search “brunch near me” and you’ll find plenty of options to fit exactly what you’re in the mood for.
Some brunch restaurants even offer Mimosa or Bloody Mary bars, where you can create your own concoctions. Here you can mix and match your favorite fresh juices and champagne for a unique Mimosa and garnish your Bloody Mary with extras like pickles, olives, and celery. Oh, and don’t forget the bacon!
Not a fan of the Mimosa or Bloody Mary? No problems. There is a plethora of other great cocktails that are perfect for brunch. No matter what drink you choose, brunch is about celebrating the weekend…and getting the perfect photo for social media!
But for the best brunch in town, we suggest hosting your own get-together! Invite a few friends over, fry some eggs, flip some pancakes, and mix some drinks yourself.
Need some help selecting cocktails? We got you. Below, you’ll find a list of the 7 best brunch cocktails!
Mimosa
The Mimosa has been the beloved star of weekend brunches for decades.
Named after the bright yellow, fragrant flower, the Mimosa cocktail is made with just two ingredients – Champagne and Fresh Orange Juice.
Served in a Champagne Flute, not only is the Mimosa delicious, it’s also one of the easiest cocktails to make. And as simple as it is, sipping one of these at brunch feels oh-so-sophisticated.
Read our tips on how to make the perfect Mimosa.
Bloody Mary
If there was only one cocktail synonymous with brunch, it would be the Bloody Mary (although the Mimosa comes close in second place). Be it at home, a restaurant or a café, the Bloody Mary is a brunch essential and one of the best, if not THE best, savory cocktails that exists.
To be honest, it drinks a lot like a spicy vegetable juice with its mouth-watering blend of savory Tomato Juice and a spicy kick from Worcestershire Sauce and Hot Sauce. Then there’s the smoothness of Absolut Vodka.
While most people garnish their Bloody Mary with a Lemon Wedge and a Celery Stick, others like to be more adventurous putting Bacon, Oysters, Green Olives, Pickles, Lime Wedges, Horseradish or entire Pancakes into their cocktails.
Everyone has their own favorite way to enjoy a Bloody Mary. How do you like your Bloody Mary? Discover our Bloody Mary recipe right here.
Pimm’s Cup
The Pimm’s Cup holds a special place in the hearts of Brits and is the star of many English summer events like the Chelsea Flower Show, Henley Royal Regatta, Royal Ascot, and Wimbledon.
With its playful mix of zesty Lemon-Lime Soda and unique sweet blend of Pimm’s No. 1, the Pimm’s Cup delivers a fresh burst of citrus and herbal deliciousness.
The Cucumber and Mint add a cool, crisp twist, while the Strawberry and Orange bring a sweet and fresh fruitiness. The Pimm’s Cup is an oh-so-sippable cocktail perfect for brunch outside in the sun during the spring or summer.
Discover our recipe for a delicious Pimm’s Cup.
French 75
Also known as a 75 Cocktail or a Soixante Quinze (Seventy-Five) in French, the French 75 is an elegant drink that will immediately make any brunch gathering a sophisticated affair.
This classic cocktail that dates to the 1920s is made with Gin, Fresh Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Champagne (or Sparkling Wine) and Lemon Twist. Bright, zesty and delicious, if you want to impress your friends, serve them a French 75 and watch your casual get-together turn into a celebration.
Because when there’s bubbles, there’s always something to celebrate. Here’s how to make a French 75 cocktail.
Screwdriver
It’s not brunch if there’s no OJ. Like the Mimosa, the Screwdriver is a classic two ingredient cocktail that’s loved at cafes, bars and homes across the world.
Made with Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice and Absolut Vodka, the Screwdriver works wonderfully at brunch any time of year. After all, OJ and brunch were made for one another. Here’s how to make a Screwdriver cocktail.
Tom Collins
Drinking Lemon Juice at brunch is like a ray of morning sunshine, with its tangy twist giving your taste buds a zesty wake-up call.
The Tom Collins is a Gin-based cocktail that mixes Fresh Lemon Juice together with Gin, Simple Syrup, and Soda Water, and is then garnished with a Cherry and a Lemon Wedge. So fresh, so satisfying, it’s an indisputable classic.
Tom Collins is the perfect sipper for a perfect brunch in the sun. Discover our Tom Collins recipe.
Bellini
Brunch and Bellinis – a match made in heaven.
Invented in Venice, Italy, the Bellini is a brunch-time classic that brings pizzazz to any get-together.
Our preferred Bellini is the Absolut Bellini, which takes the traditional combination of Peach Purée and Champagne but then adds Absolut Vodka to the mix to create a brunch cocktail that’s impossibly good, balancing sweetness and fizz perfectly.
Simple to make and wonderfully elegant, here’s how to make an Absolut Bellini cocktail.
Oh! And don’t miss the video below where Rico shows how to make your own Peach Purée.
Cocktail recipes by ingredient
Top ten drinks for any occasion
Lemon Drop Shot
Absolut Citron, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Lemon, Sugar, Superfine, Ice Cubes
Cosmopolitan
Absolut Citron, Triple Sec, Lime Juice, Cranberry Juice (sweetened), Orange Zest, Ice Cubes
Bloody Mary
Absolut Vodka, Tomato Juice, Lemon Juice, Hot Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, Ground Black Pepper, Garlic Salt, Lemon, Celery
Appletini
Absolut Vodka, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Apple Liqueur, Apple Juice, Ice Cubes
Long Island Iced Tea
Absolut Vodka, Light Rum, Gin, Tequila Blanco, Lemon Juice, Triple Sec, Cola, Lemon, Ice Cubes
Amaretto Sour
Amaretto, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Egg White, Maraschino, Orange, Ice Cubes
