Pairing a carefully-crafted dish with breakfast alcoholic drinks can take your meal to the next level. A classic mojito or spicy bloody Mary can be the perfect complement to an array of eggs, bacon, fruit, waffles and the rest of your favorite breakfast foods. If you’re throwing a brunch party or attending a friend’s, you want to be prepared with some delicious cocktails.
We’ve put together a complete guide to the best brunch cocktail recipes, so you and your friends can kick off the day in the best way possible — with brunch, of course!
A Few Brunch Basics
The typical brunch usually occurs between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., so a vast range of dishes can complete brunch meals. This meal is a combination of breakfast and lunch, and brunch menus or buffets at restaurants usually offer options for both — for example, you could order a club sandwich and a plate of eggs benedict.
When you prepare brunch at home, consider gathering your loved ones on a weekend when more people can attend. Craft a menu of everyone’s favorite breakfast and lunch foods. A small buffet will encourage your guests to fill their plates with the foods they know they’ll enjoy. A good idea is to offer a variety of savory and sweet dishes.
A significant feature of brunch is the alcoholic drinks. While you may not normally sip on a cocktail with breakfast, brunch allows you to enjoy your favorite beverage with your toast and sausage. Be sure to mix up at least a couple of drink options for your guests — better yet, offer them a drink station where they can make their own.
Whether you’ve hosted several brunches before or it’s your first time giving it a go, knowing a few brunch drink ideas can make the process easier so you can enjoy the event with your family and friends. Pick out a few breakfast cocktails to try as you make your brunch menu to see which options pair best with the dishes you plan to make. To help you out, we’ve gathered several brunch cocktail recipes.
23 Best Brunch Drinks to Impress Your Friends
If you’re preparing brunch at home, complementing your meal with a flavorful cocktail can elevate the tone and add elegance to the occasion. A signature drink can make any event more festive — if you’re known for loving tequila, creating a signature margarita for your friends to enjoy can be a fun and memorable choice.
Still stumped on what to serve? These brunch cocktail recipes will impress your guests every time.
1. Mimosa
What’s brunch without mimosas? Prosecco, orange juice and just a splash of orange liqueur give mimosas their bubbly, citrusy taste. These drinks are full of sparkle, making them the perfect refreshing addition to your sweet or savory dish.
Use one part orange juice and two parts prosecco for the base of your drink. Top it off with the orange liqueur for additional flavor and a subtle kick.
2. Bellini
Treat your friends and family to fresh flavor with a delicious bellini. This is an excellent summer drink that rivals the mimosa. Adding a fresh peach garnish and frozen peaches lend it a fruity flavor that makes it perfect during the warm seasons.
To make a peach puree, remove the pit and skin of a few peaches and blend them until the mixture is smooth. Fill your glass with one-fourth cup of puree. Top it off with champagne or prosecco for the final touch.
3. Vodka Sunrise
Try a vodka sunrise for a layered drink that tastes as good as it looks. This drink is a spin on the classic screwdriver with grenadine. Capture the sweet bliss of summer with the vibrant colors of red, orange and pink.
Make a batch of the orange juice and vodka in a pitcher beforehand. When your guests arrive, fill their glasses with the mixture and top them with grenadine. As the red liquid falls, it’ll create a sunset of colors that will impress your friends in taste and sight.
4. Bloody Mary
Perfectly seasoned and spicy, a classic bloody Mary is a delicious drink that pairs with savory egg dishes, such as omelets or huevos rancheros. The best part of making a bloody Mary is that you have complete reign over which garnishes you serve with it — go simple with a few sticks of celery or fill it to the brim with olives, bacon strips and onion slices.
To make this drink, you need tomato juice, vodka, celery salt, pepper, lemon juice, tabasco sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Chill your vodka and tomato juice first. Then, stir it with ice. Add your other ingredients and stir or shake them in a cocktail shaker gently. Before serving the drinks, rim the glasses with salt.
5. French 75
Many brunch alcoholic drinks can add a classy twist to your brunch gathering, and the French 75 is one of them. This recipe calls for simple syrup, champagne, lemon juice and gin. It has a botanical, tangy and bubbly taste that elevates occasions.
For eight servings, shake one-and-a-half cups of gin, one-half cup of simple syrup and three-fourths cup of lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. When you’re ready to treat your guests, strain the shaken mixture over each glass and top them off with champagne. Finish the drinks with delicate lemon twists for an air of sophistication.
6. Sangria
If you and your friends are wine enthusiasts, why not make a pitcher of delicious sangria? A simple fruity sangria uses chardonnay, orange juice, grapes and a pear. This recipe will make four breakfast cocktails for you and your closest friends, but you can double or triple it as needed.
Fill a large pitcher with a bottle of wine and two cups of orange juice. Measure three-fourths cups of grapes and halve them. Cut your pear into thin slices and mix your fruit into the pitcher. Place the pitcher on the table when your guests arrive so everyone can refill their glasses as they please.
7. Irish Coffee
One of the best pairings for brunch is a classic alcoholic spin on your morning coffee. Coffee, Irish whiskey and whipped cream create a soul-warming beverage that gives your morning a boost.
Prepare the coffee the way you enjoy it every morning — just make sure to brew enough for your guests. Use a light, flavorful whiskey like Jameson and whipped cream. For a more authentic taste, try your hand at homemade whipped cream. Whip sweet, fresh cream until it forms stiff peaks.
This fruit drink from the ’80s is a combination of orange juice and peach schnapps, giving it a sweet aroma and taste. All it takes is one part peach schnapps and two parts orange juice, making it one of the easiest brunch cocktails. Top this drink with a variety of garnishes to coordinate with the rest of your meal — mint sprigs and orange slices can take this orange marriage from basic to beautiful.
9. Mulled Red Cider
Warming spices, honey and citrus slices blend to make a fall-themed brunch cocktail, perfect for a crisp morning.
Choose your favorite red wine and mix it with six cups of apple cider, one ounce of orange juice and one ounce of honey. Place this mixture in a stockpot and add an orange slice, lemon slice, five cloves and three cinnamon sticks. Wait for the mixture to simmer and serve warm. Keep the cider on low heat until there’s none left.
10. Mojito
A refreshing mojito is a great way to start the day.
Begin by muddling four mint leaves with simple syrup in a tall glass. Place a cucumber slice inside and lay crushed ice on top. Combine one ounce of lime juice, one-and-a-half ounces of rum and four ounces of club soda. Stir the mixture together and garnish it with a mint sprig.
To shake things up, dice your favorite fruit instead of cucumber for a customized and fruity mojito for your friends and family.
11. Watermelon Champagne
To kick off a poolside brunch, a watermelon champagne cocktail embodies summertime and fresh beginnings. Prepare by blending four-and-one-fourth cups of watermelon cubes until smooth. Strain the mixture and refrigerate it for about half an hour.
After it’s chilled, combine one-fourth cup of vanilla vodka, one-and-one-half ounces of lime juice and one-eighth cup of triple sec. Pour this mixture into four glasses and top with champagne. Using sparkling wine instead of champagne can elevate this recipe to a sophisticated companion to your food.
12. Red Wine Spritzer
A red wine spritzer is as bold and beautiful as it is tasty. This drink requires a crisp seltzer and your favorite red wine. Fresh summer berries and sparkling water give this cocktail a fruity and refreshing taste.
Wash one-half pint of raspberries and one-half pint of blackberries. Divide the berry mix into six glasses and pour the red wine on top. Allow the glasses to sit for about 10 minutes before topping with sparkling seltzer and serving to your guests.
13. Frozen Mudslide
A frozen mudslide is the perfect sweet dish to pair with savory breakfast or lunch items. This drink can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like. Make this the first drink of your meal or the last sip after brunch.
Begin by decorating the inside of the glass with chocolate syrup. Make an intricate design or have fun with a chocolate swirl. Layer your glass with ice, vodka and Irish cream liqueur. Garnish with a cherry or piece of chocolate.
14. White Russian
If you’ve already had your morning coffee, you can still enjoy the taste without the caffeine in this tasty treat. Pair vodka with heavy cream and coffee liqueur for a rich and creamy beverage that resembles a latte.
For the perfect cocktail, prepare two parts vodka, one part cream and one part coffee liqueur. Mix the vodka and liqueur over ice before pouring the cream on top. The cream makes this drink heavy, so for a less rich flavor, you can swap the cream for milk.
15. Blackberry Champagne Mule
This vodka-based cocktail is a favorite for its fruity taste and ginger flavor. If you’re planning an outdoor brunch to enjoy the warm summer weather, you can’t go wrong with this refreshing option.
Muddle one-fourth cup of blackberries with eight mint leaves and fresh lime juice from half of a lime in a cocktail shaker. Combine one-and-one-half ounces of vodka. Fill with ice cubes and shake. Strain the mix over ice and top with two ounces of ginger beer and champagne.
This drink pairs well with protein-based dishes. Grilled chicken salads and savory quiches can enhance the flavor of this sweet and savory beverage.
16. Brunch Punch
Create a delicious drink and allow your guests to serve themselves so they can enjoy it throughout the brunch at their leisure. This is an especially good option if you plan on serving brunch foods as a buffet.
Grab a large bowl and add ice, two liters of lemon-lime soda, two cups of orange juice, two cups of pineapple juice and a bottle of prosecco. For added flavor, add two cups of strawberries, two cups of raspberries and one cup of mint leaves. Place a ladle in the bowl for self-serving, and leave small dishes of garnish on the side. Your guests might enjoy extra berries, mint or sugar-rimmed glasses.
17. Strawberry Margarita
Margaritas are a classic drink, and a wide range of flavors make them perfect for any occasion. A strawberry margarita is a simple and delicious brunch drink with only five ingredients. Prepare serving glasses by rimming them with salt or sugar. In a blender, combine strawberries, lime juice, triple sec and tequila. When the mixture is completely smooth, turn off the blender and add more tequila or sweetener to taste.
18. Frozen Orange Prosecco
A frozen orange prosecco is the icy version of a mimosa. To make this a frozen delight, pour prosecco into an ice cube tray and freeze overnight. When you’re ready to make your brunch cocktail, place the frozen prosecco in a blender and crush it into small chunks.
Pour one cup of orange juice, some orange zest, one-half teaspoon of sugar and ice cubes into the blender. Blend the mixture to the consistency of your choice and split the drink among four glasses. Add a mint sprig and spoon to each glass and serve.
19. Sea Breeze
Whether you’re craving the beach or sitting poolside, this tropical cocktail is perfect for relaxing interactions and great conversations. This recipe is incredibly simple and takes very little preparation time. Combine four ounces of cranberry juice, one ounce of grapefruit juice and one-and-a-half ounces of vodka over ice. Stir to blend the liquid and add a lime wedge garnish. Enjoy these refreshing beverages all morning long.
20. Rosé Lemonade
A bottle of wine and fresh lemonade fuse to form a delightful cocktail. Although you can buy prepared lemonade, this recipe is extra refreshing when you make the lemonade at home.
Using one-fourth cup of sugar, simple syrup, one-fourth cup of fresh lemon juice and one cup of cold water, you can make a light lemonade that pairs well with one cup of rosé wine. This recipe will make two drinks, so double the recipe for a pleasant combination for four.
21. Breakfast Martini
An orange marmalade breakfast martini is a unique and flavorful drink. Use a cocktail shaker to combine lemon juice and marmalade. You may need to use a spoon to break the marmalade apart. Add ice, gin and orange liqueur and shake vigorously until the mixture is chilled.
Strain the liquid over a martini glass and add an orange peel garnish. Another unique garnish for this tasty sip is a cinnamon toast triangle. Make a few pieces beforehand and slice them so they can sit on the brim of the glass without falling in. This tasty combination is a beautiful blend of sweet and citrus.
22. Brazilian Breezer
This tropical combination is perfect for summer mornings and pairs well with fruits and salads. You’ll need to make two liters of coconut infusion to complete each glass. For this mixture, skin and slice one pineapple. Add your pineapple to a large jar with one bottle of rum and two bottles of tequila. After completing the infusion, you can store it for up to two weeks until the day of your brunch arrives. Keep the infusion out of direct sunlight and stir it daily.
When you’re ready to serve your guests, make each drink one at a time. To make one of these island dream drinks, begin by muddling four cucumber slices in a cocktail shaker. Add pineapple juice and the coconut infusion and shake. Strain the liquid into a glass and complete the drink with a pineapple slice, lime wedge and cucumber garnish.
23. Raspberry Prosecco Ice Pops
For a cool addition to your brunch, consider making prosecco ice pops. You can make eight to 10 ice pops with this recipe, depending on the size of your ice pop molds. For this treat, you need one-fourth cup of sugar, three-fourth cup of prosecco and three pints of raspberries.
Begin by simmering sugar and one-fourth cup of water over medium heat to make a simple syrup. Then, blend the simple syrup, prosecco, and raspberries in a food processor or blender until it forms a puree. Pour the mixture into ice pop trays and add sticks to make popsicles. Freeze them overnight or until they’re completely solid. You can prepare these delights up to two weeks before your brunch.
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Make Sunday brunch a tradition and ensure you have enough to drink by ordering select wine cases at a 10% discount. Craft a sangria, sip on rosé lemonade, or begin brunch with sparkling spritzer. Browse our wine collections and spirit selections so you can create the perfect cocktails for your next meal.
