MIMOSA DRINK RECIPE

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

The Mimosa is a classic cocktail that has been the beloved star of weekend brunches for decades. Made with just two ingredients—Champagne and Orange Juice—the Mimosa is simultaneously simple yet sophisticated.

But the popularity of the Mimosa isn’t just confined to lazy Sunday brunches. It’s also a staple at weddings, bridal showers, and basically any occasion where you want to add a little sparkle.

So, grab your party hat and let us show you how to make a classic Mimosa. 

How To Make a Mimosa

What You’ll Need

• Jigger or Measuring Instrument 
• Champagne Flute

How to Mix

1. Measure and pour Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice* into a Champagne Flute.
2. Top up with Chilled Champagne.
3. Sip and enjoy!

The History of the Mimosa Cocktail

The Mimosa cocktail is believed to have been created by a bartender working at a Paris hotel in 1925. The cocktail first appeared in print in a cocktail book published by the same bartender in 1936.

The Mimosa rose to popularity in the U.S. during the 1960s. Although Sunday brunch was already a beloved tradition in the U.S., the Mimosa wasn’t initially part of the mix. It was the Bloody Mary that was the drink of choice for brunch.

The turning point came when London celebrities brought the Mimosa cocktail into the limelight. In 1966, a London reporter found a famous English movie director at a hotel, enjoying Mimosas and smoking a cigar. This article was widely reprinted in American newspapers, and the director’s subsequent visit to New York further popularized the drink.

Soon after, the Mimosa quickly gained traction in New York nightclubs and beyond. By the early 1970s, it was being served alongside the Bloody Mary at brunches in various establishments, and by 1977, it had become a brunch staple in New York.

Today, Mimosa cocktails are enjoyed not only at brunches, but also bridal showers, birthdays and weddings all around the world. Cheers to that!

Tips for Making the Perfect Mimosa

• Make your own Orange Juice
  To make the perfect Mimosa, start with Fresh Orange Juice. The difference between store-bought juice and homemade juice is night and day.

  If you have a Centrifugal Juicer, it will aerate your juice, creating a frothy texture that will take your drink to a whole new level.

  No Centrifugal Juicer? No problem. A hand-held Mixer can also add air to your juice, and a standard Citrus Press works great too. The bottom line is to always use Fresh Orange Juice wherever possible.

  Watch this video where Rico shows how you can get more juice out of your juice.

• Choose your favorite bubbles
  If you don’t have Champagne, you can use Cava, Prosecco, or Sparkling Wine instead. Any of these will work just fine. 

Variations of a Mimosa Cocktail

• Bucks Fizz
  To be fair, the Mimosa cocktail is a variation of the Bucks Fizz, which is said to have been invented in London during the early 1920s. Both drinks use the same two ingredients but in different measurements. Here’s how to make a Bucks Fizz cocktail.

• Absolut Mimosa
  A Mimosa cocktail with a Vodka twist. This Mimosa variation follows the same recipe as above but with the addition of Absolut Vodka. And it hits the spot. Watch the video on this page to see Drink ExpertElyse Blechman make an Absolut Mimosa. Alternatively, check out our Absolut Mimosa recipe.