Classic Brunch Drinks and Recipes

Classic Brunch Drinks and Recipes

A champagne brunch is nice. Very nice. But there are several other classic brunch drinks from which to choose.

There's a wide selection of time-honored brunch drink recipes and brunch punch recipes below, but don't forget champagne. It still rules.

Here are some of the most time-honored brunch cocktails:

Classic Brunch Drinks: Cocktails

Bloody Mary Recipe for 6

There are many Bloody Mary recipes, but none varies from another very much. Still, this is a really good one.

2 1/2 cups tomato juice
2 1/2 cups Spicy V8 juice (or the like)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
> 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (or to taste)
Salt and pepper
Ice cubes
6 celery stalks

Chill all the liquid ingredients. In a large pitcher, stir together the juices, vodka, Worcestershire, and hot pepper sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste. Fill the pitcher with ice and stir. Strain into glasses and garnish with a celery stalk.

Virgin Mary: Omit the vodka.

Ramos Fizz Recipe for 2

This is a light and frothy cocktail, reminiscent of lemon-lime sherbet. It is best prepared in smaller batches.

1/2 cup gin
4 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoon lime juice
4 teaspoons sugar
2 (pasteurized) egg whites
4 teaspoons heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon orange flower water*
1 1/2 cups crushed ice
Club soda (about 2/3 cup)
Ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients but the club soda and nutmeg in a blender. Blend for a minute or two, until frothy. Divide the mixture into 2 highball glasses, top with club soda, and sprinkle a little nutmeg on top. Serve immediately.

*If you've never heard of orange flower water before, don't worry. It's inexpensive and easy to find in nicer liquor stores like Beverages and More and online on Amazon and other sites.

Mimosa Recipe for 6

The best mimosa recipe is the one made with fresh squeezed orange juice.

2 cups fresh squeezed orange juice
2 cups quality champagne or sparkling wine

Chill the ingredients. Fill 6 (8-ounce) champagne flutes or white wine glasses with 1/3 cup orange juice each. Top with an equal amount of champagne or sparkling wine. Stir once.

Bellini Recipe for 6

The famous original Bellini recipe was made only with prosecco, (Italian sparkling wine) and pureed white peaches.

3 ripe peaches, peeled and pitted
Fine sparkling wine or champagne, chilled

Puree the peaches in a blender. Divide the peach puree into 6 (8-ounce) champagne flutes and top with sparkling wine or champagne. Stir once.

Baby Bellini: Substitute sparkling apple cider for the sparkling wine.

More Brunch Drinks: Punch

Steak is one of the few foods that do not pair well with champagne or champagne-type cocktails. So if steak is on the brunch menu, consider serving Sangria Wine, a wonderful outdoorsy drink guests love. (Just scroll down a bit to find the Sangria recipe.)

For large groups it may be more practical, and entirely appropriate, to serve punch. If you'd like to reflect the essence of the classic brunch drinks, you can serve one of these Champagne Punch Recipes or Brunch Punch, below.

Brunch Punch

This punch is very much like the Bloody Mary recipe, but made with rum instead of vodka. Serve it out of a pitcher or two, if you like, instead of a punch bowl.

3 quarts tomato juice
1 liter (about 4 1/4 cups) light or dark rum
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup fresh lemon or lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Sliced lemons or limes for garnish

Chill all the liquid ingredients. Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl or other large container. Float an ice mold or small block of ice. Float thin-sliced lemons or limes for garnish.

Tips for making ice molds are here under "Presentation Tips."

More brunch menu ideas to go with Brunch Drinks

Surprise me with another party idea from Great Party Recipes.