What Is a Mimosa?
Updated: Mar. 20, 2019
What is a mimosa? It's a classic sparkling cocktail that's best served with brunch.
Here’s my answer—a mimosa is the best cocktail to accompany your favorite brunch recipes, or to sip the morning of a wedding, or to relax with on the beach. It’s simple, sparkling and delicious!
What Is a Mimosa?
It’s essentially a mixture of orange juice and sparkling wine—champagne if you’re feeling fancy.
The mimosa is typically served in a champagne flute. (Here’s how to get a sparkling clean glass every time.) First, you pour in the sparkling wine, then top with an equal amount of orange juice. If you have fresh oranges or strawberries on hand, they make an excellent garnish for the rim of the glass.
While this is the mimosa you’ll typically drink at home or at family get-togethers, professional bartenders sometimes add triple sec to kick up the flavor and the alcohol content. Just a splash of the orange-flavored liqueur is enough!
Because orange juice pairs so well with breakfast foods, mimosas are popular in the morning. Ever heard of a beermosa or “manmosa”?
How to Make a Mimosa
To make a mimosa in any batch size, use these proportions:
- 1 part champagne or sparkling wine
- 1 part orange juice
- ¼ part triple sec (I love Gran Marnier for its sweetness)
Gently pour the bubbly into your glass or pitcher. The more precisely you pour, the more carbonation will stay in your drink. Add the orange juice—no need to stir! Finally, top with the triple sec. If you have fresh fruit on hand, use it as a garnish.
You’re all ready to sip the cocktail that brunch dreams are made of. Cheers!
Find More OJ-Based Cocktails for Breakfast
Mango Orange QuencherServe this beautiful beverage at your next brunch in place of mimosas. Just chill the base an hour before adding the club soda. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Orange Blossom Mint RefresherI came up with this recipe because I'm not a fan of regular iced tea. This version has the perfect combination of freshness and sweetness, and the orange blossom water gives the tea a distinctive flavor. People always request the recipe. —Juliana Gauss, Centennial, Colorado
Honey-Citrus Iced TeaA frozen orange or lemon slice in the glass looks pretty and helps keep this refreshing punch nice and cold. Using honey instead of sugar adds a sweet touch. —Sheila Bradshaw, Columbus, Ohio
Orange LemonadeThis juice is a favorite at our place. I'll often double the batch and send a jar next door to my mother-in-law! I was looking for a way to sweeten lemonade without using more sugar when I came up with the recipe. —Wendy Masters, Grand Valley, Ontario
Belmont Breeze
It might be juicy, but it’s not too sweet. This flavorful refresher is the perfect drink for whiskey lovers to sip on. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Frozen Brandy Old-FashionedsBoth sides of my family are Midwestern, so our strong brandy tradition is evident in the slush we make for the holidays and in the Wisconsin old-fashioned cocktails we enjoy year-round. I decided to combine those recipes into something completely new. This goes very quickly at gatherings! —Stephanie Vaughan, Madison, Wisconsin
Pomegranate Ginger SpritzerConveniently, a pitcher of this non-alcoholic beverage can be made hours before holiday guests arrive. Add the club soda just before serving. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Sunshine Lime RickeyThis is my re-creation of the lime rickey sodas served at my favorite burger place. I even tried a version using my own homemade bitters. —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon
Orange Juice SpritzerHere’s a zippy twist on regular orange juice. It is not too sweet and is refreshing with any breakfast or brunch entree. —Michelle Krzmarzick, Torrance, California
Orange-Kissed CocktailGive bottles of your own mulled wine to family and friends. They'll love it! You might want to double the recipe and keep a bottle on hand for parties at home, too. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, WI
Orange-Apricot Mimosa PunchWe make this punch every year, and people love it! I usually triple this recipe for a bigger crowd and garnish the punch with an orange-tangerine ice ring made several days ahead of time. —Kathy McKay, Acworth, Georgia
Orange RazzletiniWe combined orange juice and raspberry rum to create this fruity martini. The sunny, bright color is appealing.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Basil Citrus CocktailFruity, fantastic and lighter in calories! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Strawberry MimosasHere's a tasty twist on the classic mimosa. To make refreshing strawberry mimosas friendly for kids or mamas-to-be, substitute lemon-lime soda or ginger ale for the champagne. —Kelly Maxwell, Plainfield, Illinois
Champagne Party PunchTo make this punch even more festive, float an ice ring in the punch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Mimosa FloatsEveryone needs a little treat at brunch! I wanted to kick things up a notch, so I added a scoop of ice cream to my mimosas. Sometimes I add chocolate, too.—Amy Lents, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Whiskey-Brandy SlushEven when it's cold outside, we like to serve this icy citrus drink for gatherings at our house. It is fantastic for parties and large gatherings, and it keeps well in the freezer. —Joan Shoebottom, Lexington, Michigan
Cranberry, Orange and Cardamom Infused WaterThis gorgeous infused water would make a great addition to your holiday dinner table. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
Bourbon SlushAt our parties, Bourbon Slush is definitely a favorite. Have fun experimenting with different teas when you make it. We like black tea, green tea and orange spice. —Darcene Sigler, Louisville, Ohio
Punch DelightWhen we celebrated my mother's 75th birthday, we wanted a punch everyone could enjoy. This delightful combination of lemonades, juice and soda was perfect and so easy to make. All our guests loved this yellow punch recipe. —Barbara Koehnke, Fremont, Wisconsin
Originally Published: November 13, 2018
