Drink in History: The Mimosa

This classic brunch cocktail is the perfect company for eggs benedict or your favorite omelet. 

You can’t go out to brunch without seeing or ordering a Mimosa. The drink made up of just two ingredients is the refreshing combination enjoyed by many on a Sunday morning. There are even brunch spots that serve one complimentary or offer bottomless mimosas.

The champagne and orange mixture has been known to have different origins. In 1921, at Buck’s Club in London, the Buck’s Fizz was invented. It was a drink made up of champagne and orange juice, like the Mimosa, but it has more sparkling wine or champagne. A Mimosa contains equal parts of orange juice and champagne. It is believed that a bartender in 1925 at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, created the mimosa.

Another account says director Alfred Hitchcock invented the beloved drink in San Francisco in the 1940s. The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink claims that Hitchcock was the one to popularize the Mimosa as a brunch drink in the country.

Regardless of what version is true, a Mimosa will always be the go-to brunch drink for millions of people. Here is a simple recipe for the staple cocktail.

Mimosa Cocktail

Mimosa

Ingredients: 

• 1 Bottle of Champagne
• 3 Cups of Orange Juice

Preparation: Pour the Champagne into the flutes, filling each glass about halfway full. Pour the orange juice on top to fill each glass and serve.