The mimosa cocktail is an elegant drink, a refreshing and bubbly champagne cocktail recipe that has become a favorite as an aperitif cocktail , at brunches, and at celebrations around the world. You'll be amazed at how it's prepared ! It's a very simple cocktail to make , as it's made with a simple mix of bubbly champagne and fresh orange juice . And it offers a slightly sweet taste that everyone loves!
The origin of this cocktail dates back to the luxurious Ritz Hotel in Paris in the 1920s, where it was created by bartender Frank Meier. It takes its name "mimosa" from its colour: its bright yellow reminds us of the mimosa flower (it is only because of the similarity of colour that it takes its name, it does not include any flower among its ingredients).
It is a perfect cocktail for any occasion, from weekend aperitifs to wedding receptions or celebrations such as the upcoming San Juan. Do you dare to try this versatile cocktail that always impresses?
Things you should know to prepare this cocktail
The mimosa cocktail is one of the simplest to prepare, you just have to keep in mind:
- The ratio of Champagne to orange juice is 1:1 , meaning equal amounts of Champagne to orange juice. In the recipe, I suggest 750 ml because it is equivalent to a standard bottle of Champagne, but you can vary the quantities as long as you stick to a 50% Champagne to 50% orange juice ratio when making the cocktail.
- Orange juice, like champagne, should be kept as cold as possible . This helps maintain freshness and bubbles.
- You can strain the juice or not , it depends on your personal tastes and whether you want to serve it with more or less body (personally, I prefer the cocktail without lumps and, therefore, I prepare it strained).
- Can you use store-bought orange juice? Yes, you can. In fact, it is common to use store-bought juice (although you know that I prefer the care of "homemade" juice) . If you do it this way, it is super important: Make sure it is of very good quality, with a good concentration of natural juice and no added sugars.
- You can choose a cava or sparkling wine that you like , I recommend a brut so that it is not extremely sweet, but if you prefer it sweeter you can use the one of your choice. The good thing is also that it does not have to be one of the best on the market - when mixed with the juice, the impact will be lost).
- Make sure the champagne bucket or bowl you're going to prepare it in is chilled. To do this, you can fill it with water and ice cubes, and remove the ice just before you start preparing the cocktail.
- The mimosa cocktail is traditionally served in a champagne glass or flute. If you like, you can decorate the glass with a sugar rim or a cut slice of orange.
Recipe: How to prepare the mimosa cocktail
Ingredients (for 1.5 L of cocktail, 6 glasses)
- 750 ml of champagne (brut champagne or cava)
- 750 ml of strained orange juice (or unstrained, according to your preferences)
Preparation
- Make sure both the champagne and orange juice are chilled.
- In a large bowl*, pour the champagne.
- Add the orange juice, pouring gently to avoid losing the bubbles.
- Stir gently with a cocktail spoon, and serve in champagne glasses.
- You can decorate the glass with a slice of orange.
*If you want, and if it's for just a few people, you can prepare the cocktail directly in the glasses. In this case, I suggest placing the glass on a kitchen scale, so you can measure the amount of cava and juice you add each time, ensuring a 1 to 1 ratio of the ingredients in each glass.
Recipe variations:
From the mimosa cocktail you can make other similar cocktails using other types of fruit:- Strawberry Mimosa : Add a touch of strawberry puree for an extra fruity flavor (I personally love this!).
- Tropical Mimosa : Replace the orange juice with pineapple or mango juice.
- Blueberry Mimosa : Use cranberry juice instead of orange juice for a different twist.
- Mimosa Grenadine : Add a splash of grenadine for a distinctive color and flavor.
- Rosé Mimosa: If you want to add a special and festive touch to your mimosas, rosé champagne can be a lovely option. It provides a pink color and a fruity flavor that may surprise more than one person.
I hope you'll be inspired by this easy-to-make cocktail recipe. It's refreshing and really delicious. Those bubbles will thrill all your guests!
