A mimosa

cocktail A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink. Most commonly, cocktails are either a combination of spirits, or one or more spirits mixed with other ingredients such as tonic water, fruit juice, flavored syrup, or cream. Cocktails vary widely across ...

consists of champagne (or other sparkling wine) and chilled citrus juice, usually orange juice. It is often served in a tall champagne flute at brunch, at weddings, or as part of business or first class service on some passenger railways and airlines. The mixing ratio varies.

History

The cocktail is named after the yellow-flowered mimosa plant, '' Acacia dealbata''. The origin of the cocktail is unclear, and was originally called a "champagne orange". Some credit the Paris Ritz's bartender and cocktail writer Frank Meier for making the mimosa cocktail; however, Meier's 1934 book on mixing drinks, which has a special symbol for his inventions, does not use it for the mimosa. The mimosa can be considered as a variant of the cocktail called Buck's Fizz, or vice-versa. The International Bartenders Association simply says the mimosa is "Also known as Buck’s Fizz". The mimosa became popular in the United States in the 1960s. A news article published in the ''

Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper i ...

'' wrote about

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

drinking a mimosa, introduced to her by Earl Mountbatten of Burma after his visit to the south of France.

Variations

Buck's Fizz is essentially the same cocktail, said to have been invented in 1921 in London. Some sources draw a distinction, saying the Buck's Fizz specifically uses twice as much champagne as orange juice while the mimosa should use equal proportions, that a Buck's Fizz should be served without ice and a mimosa should include ice, or that a Buck's Fizz should be served in a

flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

or coupe and a mimosa should be served in an ordinary wine glass. However, some sources give instructions for making mimosas that clearly do not fit these characterizations. Other ingredients are sometimes added, such as Grand Marnier or orange bitters. The ''

poinsettia The poinsettia ( or ) (''Euphorbia pulcherrima'') is a commercially important flowering plant species of the diverse spurge family Euphorbiaceae. Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834 ...

'' is cranberry juice with champagne (sometimes with vodka and/or Cointreau). The ''lemosa'' is lemonade with champagne, with a small amount of blueberry syrup. The ''Vermosa'' is apple cider with champagne, notably served in Vermont, United States. Apple cider with champagne and brandy is called an ''apple crisp''. The ''flirtini'' is made with pineapple juice, champagne and vodka. The ''megmosa'' is a similar type of cocktail, composed of equal parts champagne and grapefruit juice. The ''sherbet mimosa'' consists of champagne and a scoop of sherbet, instead of orange juice. The ''lychee rose mimosa'' consists of champagne with lychee and rosewater. The ''Hawaiian mimosa'' consists of rum, champagne, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cherry juice.

Popular culture

''National Mimosa Day'' is an unofficial holiday observed on May 16.

References

{{Wine cocktails Cocktails with Champagne Cocktails with orange juice Cocktails with Prosecco