10 ideas for making the perfect mimosa bar
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div>From stemware to garnish, these details will make your morning cocktail pop.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Have you ever turned down a mimosa? Of course not! There’s no better way to kick off your weekend (or any Wednesday, circumstances permitting) than with a socially acceptable blend of champagne and fruit juice shortly after you and the sun rise from your night’s sleep. T
here’s just something about that healthy little dose of Vitamin C combined with bubbles that screams “The day is young, and so are we!”
When hosting a brunch, a mimosa bar is an absolute crowd pleaser. It makes hosting easy as each guest can create a custom cocktail that pleases their individual taste buds, and the possibilities for impressing your guests with fancy accoutrements are endless.
Related: The Best Champagne for Mimosas
10 Fun Mimosa Bar Ideas
Try these mimosa bar ideas for your next soiree, then sit back and enjoy the glasses raised in your honor for being such an epic host.
1. Organize by flow
To avoid crowds and guests bumping elbows, start by arranging your mimosa bar to best fit the natural flow of brewing this cocktail. Have the glassware arranged and stacked on the left side first (with elevations if necessary).
Next come the champagne options, on ice of course. To the right of that, place the fresh juices and any mixers or syrups, chilled. Finally, the nice garnishes.
2. Use high-quality glassware
No one wants to sip their mimosa out of plastic drinkware, so make it a party with fancy champagne flutes or champagne coupes — but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a ton on new crystal stemware.
“I love going to my local Goodwill or thrift stores to find cool vintage glassware,” says John Wilhelm, beverage manager at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess and a two-time finalist at the Arizona Last Slinger Standing cocktail competition. “This would be perfect for taking the experience to the next level.”
And no, you don’t need matching sets.
3. Create some consistency
Decanting your favorite juices from their plastic, store-bought bottles into matching glass vessels is one of the easiest ways to take a mimosa bar to the next level, says Steve Bales, creative director of Bold Catering & Design in Atlanta. . “These small, but impressive touches will have your guests wondering if they’re having brunch at a friend’s house or at the Four Seasons.”
4. Choose your bubbles wisely
Since you’ll be adding so much flavor from other ingredients, you don’t have to break the bank on your sparkling wine by buying expensive champagne brands like Moët & Chandon or Veuve Clicquot.
“Instead, find a nice Italian Prosecco, Spanish Cava, or American sparkling wine,” says Andrew Erickson, the head bartender at Italian hot spot Culaccino outside of Nashville. “You can also enjoy a sparkling wine cocktail with other options such as sparkling rose, Lambrusco or Moscato d’Asti.”
5. Offer a non-alcoholic option
Don’t leave those who follow a sober lifestyle out of the fun of the mimosa bar. There are plenty of non-alcoholic sparkling “wines” available for tasty mocktails.
“You can use sparkling water to trade in champagne,” says Wilhelm. “There are also some great sparkling options like Fever Tree’s Elderflower Tonic Water or Lime & Yuzu Soda that could replace the champagne.”
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
6. Keep it cold
Keeping the champagne cold is crucial to a mimosa bar’s performance, and a sterling silver champagne bucket is a classic option, especially for multiple bottles.
“If you’re hosting a smaller crowd, or want to have just one bottle at a time, a champagne bucket ice mold is a great option,” says Bales. “Adding elements such as flowers, fresh herbs or fruit slices to the ice mold can really elevate this look and turn it from a functional item into a work of art. Not only does the ice mold keep the bubbly cold, but it can also act as an eye-catching centerpiece for your mimosa bar.”
7. Make the juice as enticing as the bubbles
Orange juice is expected, but why stop there? “By adding other juices like cranberry, grapefruit, pomegranate, or even a peach puree, your guests can create a cocktail worthy of their taste buds,” says Bales. Offer several options so that each guest is sure to find one that pleases their taste buds.
Related: Peach Bellini
8. Do you have trimmings?
Do you want to be assured of beautiful photos? Often, photo-worthy cocktails come down to the garnishes chosen.
“No mimosa bar is complete without colorful garnishes like orange wedges, blueberries, fresh rosemary or thyme, and strawberry slices—the options are endless,” says Bales.
9. Add edible decor
Why a regular mimosa bar when you can have one that sparkles?
“You can find many different colors of edible glitter to match the theme of your party,” says Wilhelm. “I like to use a company called Fancy Sprinkles, and they have a lot of options to choose from for any occasion: gender reveal, wedding, bachelorette party, holiday party, and more.”
Edible flowers are another option to add an elegant touch to your mimosa.
10. Give it a southern twist
Give your mimosa bar a touch of southern hospitality with some hard liquor.
“Incorporates fresh Southern juices and spike with local bourbon,” says Anthony Caporale, director of Spirits Education at the Institute of Culinary Education. “Then add mint leaves to muddle, garnish, and serve in julep cups.”
Related: Grapefruit-Rosemary Mimosas
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Read the original article on Southern Living.