When I hear Classic Mimosa, I immediately think of a festive breakfast or brunch! This cocktail, made of Champagne or sparkling wine and orange juice, simply makes these meals more enjoyable. You don’t even need ice cubes.

Some claim that a bartender at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, created the mimosa in 1925 and others say director Alfred Hitchcock invented this drink in San Francisco in the 1940’s. This last theory popularised the Mimosa as a brunch drink, which is known worldwide.

The difference between a Bellini and a Mimosa

Both have precious bubbles like champagne or another sparkling wine as base, but a Mimosa contains a juice while a Bellini is traditionally made with only peach puree or a peach schnapps.

A Mimosa usually has equal parts of the 2 ingredients, but we like it bubblier and add ⅓ orange juice and ⅔ Champagne. If you are new to this cocktail, start with an equal ratio and add more juice to make it sweeter, and you will soon learn your exact preferences after a few tries.

Related: Making cocktails at home

Variations of Mimosa

Champagne or sparkling wine will always be the base to this cocktail, but you can add any of the following juices and don’t forget that there are lots of non alcoholic sparkling cocktails too.