Grand Mimosas

Boozy brunches mean one thing: Orange juice and champagne are waiting in the wings, anticipating their moment to become the inevitable mimosa. It’s expected and, honestly, starting to become a little ho-hum. But grand mimosas are like the elevated, sophisticated cousin to mimosas, adding orange liqueur (like Grand Marnier, hence the name) to brighten the drink with sweet citrus and a smidge more alcohol. Who could say no?

Save this elevated brunch cocktail for special gatherings like birthdays, college graduations and bridal shower brunches. I like to batch the cocktail ahead of time so it’s really easy to serve—just wait to add the bubbles until you’re ready to pour.

What are grand mimosas?

A grand mimosa is a fancy brunch cocktail made of orange juice, champagne and Grand Marnier. Grand mimosas are just like regular mimosas, but the splash of Grand Marnier (or triple sec, a kind of orange liqueur) adds more sweetness, fruitiness and even more alcohol.

Ingredients for Grand Mimosas

• Champagne: Use cheap champagne for grand mimosas. The orange juice and Grand Marnier will overpower the nuances of any nice champagne. The best champagnes for mimosas include a few $12 Proseccos, fruity rosés and even a canned bubbly.
• Triple sec: Whether it’s triple sec, Cointreau or Grand Marnier, orange liqueur is used in everything from margaritas to orange desserts. Although it’s not required to make mimosas, a splash of triple sec brings a sweet citrusy flavor that complements and enhances the orange juice.
• Orange juice: There’s nothing fresher than homemade orange juice, but if that’s a little too much work, spend the extra few dollars on one of the best orange juice brands at the store.
• Orange slice garnish: It’s optional, but orange slices make a great garnish that complements the elevated appeal of grand mimosas.

Directions

Step 1: Pour in the champagne

Slowly pour the champagne into a champagne flute or wine glass—not too quickly or it’ll fizz over.

Step 2: Add the triple sec and orange juice

Pour the triple sec and orange juice into the glass. Garnish with an orange slice or other edible decorations as desired.

Recipe Variations

• Try other juices: While mimosas classically use orange juice, you can substitute any other fruit juice, even juice mixes! Try our summery strawberry mimosas or wintery cranberry mimosas for a Christmas brunch.
• Make mimosas without triple sec: Leave out the triple sec altogether, or substitute another orange liqueur like Grand Marnier, which has a richer, more intense orange flavor.
• Try other liqueurs: A liqueur like Chambord (raspberry), Licor 43 (vanilla), St. Germain (elderflower) or Chinola (passion fruit) can play the same role as triple sec while adding another dimension to your mimosas.

Can you make grand mimosas ahead of time?

Yes, you can make grand mimosas ahead of time, but wait to add the champagne until serving. Otherwise, it’ll lose its fizz and your grand mimosas will be much less lively.

To make batched grand mimosas ahead of time, pour 3 cups orange juice and 3/4 cup triple sec into a pitcher and store it in the fridge. Just before serving, slowly pour in a 750 mL bottle of champagne, then gently stir it—it’s best to do this slowly or you’ll have a very messy fizz-over.

Grand Mimosa Tips

What do you serve with grand mimosas?

Elevated brunch cocktails, like grand mimosas, are best paired with complementary (re: elevated) brunch recipes. I always think of quiche Lorraine and smoked salmon strata as fancier brunch mains. There are also the upgraded versions of classics, like million-dollar bacon, iced blueberry lemon muffins and a croissant breakfast casserole. Set out French pastries (bakery-bought is totally fine) and mixed fruit with lemon-basil dressing to complete the table.

What are some grand mimosa garnishes?

Grand mimosa garnishes include edible flowers, dehydrated citrus slices, sprigs of mint or thyme, or frozen berries, which double as ice cubes. Speaking of ice cubes, try these mimosa ice cubes that form a flower out of frozen orange slices and orange juice.

Watch How to Make Grand Mimosas

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