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[1] A Mimosa with orange juice, plus Pomegranate, Pink Grapefruit and Mango Mimosas (photo © Pampered Chef).
[2] Transfer the juices into carafes before adding them to the ice bucket. Amazon has four 750ml carafes for less than $30.
[3] A Grapefruit Mimosa is special when made with pink grapefruit juice. Here’s the recipe from A Classic Twist.
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For New Year’s Eve and other festive occasions, many people enjoy a glass of bubbly, or a cocktail made with sparkling wine.
We love self-service: Less work for the host.
So we are thankful to Pampered Chef for this idea—and for all of their wonderful kitchen accessories that make entertaining so much easier.
The Mimosa is a popular cocktail that has been on cocktail menus for some 93 years.
A related drink, the Buck’s Fizz, was first served in 1921 at London’s Buck’s Club, made by a barman named McGarry.
It was invented as an excuse to begin drinking early; hence no hard spirits but a blend of sparkling wine and orange juice. The ratio was two parts Champagne to one part juice.
No one knows if a bartender in Paris named Frank Meier knew about the London drink, but the Mimosa appeared circa 1925 at the Hôtel Ritz in Paris. It was named for the color of yellow mimosa blossoms*.
Less potent than a Buck’s Fizz, the Mimosa has more juice: equal parts orange juice and Champagne or other dry, white sparkling wine.
Below:
> Classic Mimosa recipe.
> Mimosa garnishes.
> Create a Mimosa cocktail party bar.
> 12 more Mimosa recipes
Elsewhere on The Nibble:
> More history of the Mimosa.
> The history of cocktails.
> Affordable and delicious alternatives to Champagne.
> 10 uses for orange juice beyond drinking it.
> The year’s 9+ Champagne and other bubbly holidays.
> The year’s 50+ cocktail and spirits holidays.
RECIPE: MIMOSA COCKTAIL
A classic Mimosa has just two ingredients. Ideally, use a Champagne flute or a tulip Champagne glass.
Ingredients per drink:
Dry sparkling wine, chilled
Fresh orange juice, chilled
Optional garnish: orange wheel
Preparation
1. POUR 3 ounces of orange juice into a Champagne flute, followed by 3 ounces of sparkling wine.
2. GARNISH and serve.
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MIMOSA GARNISHES
Orange wheels or slices, especially blood orange./li>
Other citrus: lemon, lime wedges, or grapefruit wheels or wedges (ideally red grapefruit).
Fresh berries: whole raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, or sliced strawberries on a pick, or floating in the bubbly.
Tropical and exotic fruits: kiwi slice, mango cube, pineapple cube, pomegranate arils.
Fresh herbs: sprigs of basil, culinary lavender sprig, mint, rosemary, or tarragon.
Rims: colored sanding sugar, edible glitter or “confetti,” sparkling sugar, or a mixture of sugar and citrus zest (the different types of sugar).

[4] Ready to party—Mimosa party, that is (photo: The Nibble).
READY TO PARTY WITH A MIMOSA COCKTAIL PARTY BAR?
For parties, have some fun with it and let your guests make their own Mimosa variations.
Juice. In addition to orange juice, offer three variations: grapefruit, and pomegranate juices (photo #1). For something special, substitute blood orange juice for conventional orange juice and pink grapefruit juice for white.
Tip: The best juices make the best cocktails. Fresh-squeezed is preferred. Check out brands like Evolution Fresh, Florida’s Natural, Natalie’s Orchard Island, Uncle Matt’s Organic, and Trader Joe’s Fresh Squeezed.
Carafes. You’ll want carafes or pitchers for the juice(s). Here’s a nice four-pack for less than $30 (be sure to get the 750ml size).
Sparkling Wine. Unless you’re flush with extra cash and want to impress guests, don’t use Champagne: Its nuanced flavors will get lost in the juice. There are excellent bubblies at half the price, and given that the drink is half orange juice, the toasty nuances of Champagne will be overwhelmed.
Garnishes. Provide a selection of garnishes.
RECIPE: MIMOSA COCKTAIL BAR
Ingredients For 8 Drinks
1 bottle (750 mL) chilled Cava, Prosecco, or other dry sparkling wine
4 bottles juice (24 ounces each), chilled: mango nectar, orange, pink grapefruit, pomegranate
Club soda and ginger ale for non-alcoholic options
Optional: grenadine for those who want to shake some in the orange or grapefruit juice
Garnishes: orange wedges, strawberries, red seedless grapes, all notched for the glass rim
Preparation
1. SET up the “bar” with glasses, napkins and garnishes. When ready to serve…
2. OPEN the wine bottle(s) and juices and place them in an ice bucket filled with ice cubes (the larger the cubes, the slower they melt).
12 MORE MIMOSA RECIPES
Apple Cider Mimosa
Beer Mimosa
Blood Orange Mimosa x Aperol Spritz Mashup
Blueberry Mimosa
Cranberry Mimosa
Deconstructed Bellini & Other Cocktails
Grapefruit Mimosa
Mimosa Cocktail Bar
Mimosa Ice Cream Float
Passionfruit Mimosa
Rosé Champagne & Grapefruit Mimosa
Smoking Blood Orange Mimosa
Sorbet Cocktails
[5] You don’t have to wait for the holidays to enjoy a Cranberry Mimosa. Here’s the recipe (photo © Taste Of Home).
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*Some shrubs have pink or purple blossoms.
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