Mimosas are such a classic brunch cocktail! They are ridiculously easy to make, and I have shared a few tips below, including making them for a party, the best wine to buy, and my favorite orange juice to use. The best mimosa ratio is equal parts sparkling wine and orange juice. Use this ratio when making one mimosa cocktail or when serving a crowd. One bottle of sparkling wine will make eight mimosas.
Key Ingredients
Sparkling wine: I use chilled, dry sparkling wine for mimosas. Choose wine you genuinely enjoy. You don’t need to break the bank (I spend $20 to $35 for sparkling wine we use to make mimosas). Use Champagne, Cava (from Spain), an American sparkling wine, or dry Prosecco (from Italy). We used brut Champagne in our video. Cava and Prosecco are usually the least expensive. Orange juice: I love fresh-squeezed orange juice for cocktails like mimosas. It tastes fresher, lighter, tarter, and more delicate than anything in the store. That said, when we’re in a pinch, we’ll use the “Simply” brand of orange juice. Optional: Add a splash of liqueur and make Grand Mimosas with Grand Marnier, or add a raspberry flavor with Chambord.
How to Make a Mimosa
When making a mimosa, always add the sparkling wine first, then top with orange juice. This way, the cocktail mixes as you pour and won’t make a sticky mess at the top of the glass. You can watch me do this in our video. I slightly tilt the glass as I pour the sparkling wine and slowly add the orange juice to prevent the mimosa from overflowing. If you plan to add an optional liqueur (like Grand Marnier), add this to the glass first, then add the sparkling wine and top with orange juice.
How to Make Mimosas for Brunch
Mimosas are the perfect crowd-friendly brunch cocktail. Before your guests arrive, place your sparkling wine and orange juice in the fridge to chill. Then, make the mimosas individually if your guests want one, or just before serving, slowly pour a bottle of sparkling wine into a pitcher and top with 3 cups of chilled orange juice. With our 1:1 mimosa ratio, one bottle of wine makes 8 mimosas. Just remember that if you use the pitcher method, wait to do this until the last minute because you will lose some carbonation.
Mimosa Cocktail Variations
Add a splash of cranberry, pineapple, or pomegranate juice. Replace some of the orange juice with blood orange or grapefruit juice. Add a tablespoon of peach or strawberry puree to the bottom of each champagne flute. Add chopped fresh fruit like strawberries, blueberries, and orange slices. Add a tablespoon of liqueur like Grand Marnier or Chambord (for a French-inspired mimosa).
Mimosa mocktail: To make a non-alcoholic, virgin mimosa, substitute the sparkling wine with sparkling soda or flavored water. Non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice is also popular. For another zero proof cocktail, see our sparkling grapefruit mocktails. For the best mimosa, use a dry sparkling wine, not sweet. Look for “dry” or “brut” on the bottle. This recipe will work with Champagne, Spanish Cava, Prosecco, and an American sparkling wine. Use something you enjoy. 3 cups (750ml) chilled orange juice, we recommend freshly squeezed orange juice 1/2 cup (120ml) Grand Marnier, optional for Grand Mimosas 2For Grand Mimosas, add one tablespoon of Grand Marnier to each glass before adding the wine and orange juice.
