Paris, France · 1925

Mimosa

Also known as Champagne Orange Juice, Buck's Fizz

A simple, fizzy mix of champagne and orange juice that goes down easy and tastes like morning in a glass.

orangechampagnebrunchbubblylightfruityrefreshingsimpledaytime

ABV

Difficulty

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip is bright and juicy from the cold orange juice, cut immediately by the dry, bubbly bite of the champagne. It stays light and fruity through the middle, finishing clean with just a little citrus zest and toast from the wine.

Who will like it

Great for people who like light, fruity, low-alcohol drinks that go down easy without any bitterness or bite.

When to drink

This is a daytime drink through and through — pour it at brunch or any morning celebration where you want something festive but easy.

Ordering tip

Ask for dry champagne or prosecco if you want it less sweet, and request a splash of orange bitters if you want to add a little depth.

Ice: NoneTemp: ColdCost: $2–$5Glass: FluteBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This is a straightforward, easy-drinking cocktail that leans hard into juicy orange flavor backed up by dry, toasty bubbles. It is light, crisp, and very refreshing, with almost no bitterness and only a mild tartness to keep it from tasting like plain fruit juice. You won't find much depth or shifting flavors here — it is built for easy sipping, not for contemplation.

Finish: The finish is short and clean, leaving just a hint of orange zest and dry yeast on the tongue.

Primary tastes

sweetfruity

Secondary

sourfloral

Aroma

fresh orangetoasted yeastcitrus blossom

Sweetnessmoderately sweet
The orange juice brings a good amount of sweetness, softened just a bit by the dry wine.
Sournessmild acidity
A light tartness from the orange juice and the wine's natural acidity gives the drink a little bite.
Strengthlow alcohol
The champagne gets diluted by the juice, making this a light drink you can sip over a long morning.
Refreshingvery refreshing
Cold, fizzy, and citrusy, this is about as refreshing as a cocktail gets.
Complexitystraightforward
This is a two-ingredient drink that tastes exactly like what it is — simple and direct.

Recipe

Make it at home

Built · Flute · equal parts on Champagne. Dry Champagne or Prosecco; Brut recommended to balance the juice

Before you start

Make sure your champagne and orange juice are both cold before you start — this drink relies on chilled ingredients, not ice, to stay refreshing.

Ingredients

ChampagneBase SpiritDry Champagne, Prosecco, or Cava; Brut recommended90ml
Orange JuiceJuiceFresh squeezed is best; avoid pulp-heavy store-bought juice90ml
Orange BittersoptionalBittersAdds a layer of aromatic complexity to tie the two ingredients together1 dash

Garnish: Orange wedge, Orange twist

Tools

Champagne Flute · Serving
Holds the drink and keeps the bubbles intact as long as possible
At home: White wine glass
Jigger · Measuring
Measures the orange juice so you don't overpower the wine
At home: Small measuring cup or shot glass
Bar Spoon · Mixing
Gently stirs the juice and wine together without destroying the carbonation
At home: Long iced tea spoon or chopstick
Citrus Juicer · optional · Other
Extracts fresh orange juice if you aren't using store-bought
At home: Squeeze by hand

Steps

1
Take a chilled champagne flute and pour in 90ml of cold orange juice. If you're using the optional orange bitters, add 1 dash right on top of the juice.
!Filling the glass with juice first makes it easier to control the pour and prevents the champagne from foaming over.
2
Tilt the flute at a slight angle and slowly pour 90ml of cold champagne down the side of the glass. Pouring slowly keeps the bubbles calm so the drink doesn't foam up and spill over the rim.
!Pouring the champagne too fast or dropping it straight into the juice will make it bubble over the top of the glass.
3
Take a bar spoon and give the drink one or two gentle stirs from the bottom to mix the juice and wine together. Stop as soon as they look combined — stirring too much will flatten the bubbles.
!Stirring vigorously kills the carbonation and leaves you with a flat drink.
4
Garnish with an orange wedge on the rim or drop a thin orange twist right into the glass. Serve it right away while it's still cold and fizzy.

Serve

Serve it right away in a chilled flute so the bubbles stay lively. No ice goes in the glass — the drink stays cold from the chilled ingredients.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Champagne

ChampagneProsecco
Match
Common availability
Champagne → Prosecco: Makes the drink slightly sweeter and fruitier with less yeasty toast notes.
ChampagneCava
Match
Common availability
Champagne → Cava: Keeps the drink dry and adds a slightly more earthy, citrus-driven character.

Swap options for Orange Juice

Orange JuiceTangerine Juice
Match
Specialty availability
Orange Juice → Tangerine Juice: Sweeter and more fragrant than standard orange juice with a softer acidity.
Orange JuiceGrapefruit Juice
Match
Common availability
Orange Juice → Grapefruit Juice: Adds a sharp, bitter edge that makes the drink much less sweet and more tart.

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Similar cocktail

Buck's Fizz

Buck's Fizz uses a 2:1 ratio of champagne to orange juice, making it drier and stronger.

Match

Buck's Fizz tastes drier and more wine-forward because the champagne takes the lead, whereas the Mimosa is juicier and sweeter with the orange up front.

In common: Sparkling wine and citrus juice, Brunch staple, Low ABV

Ingredients

Both share

Champagne, Orange Juice

Both drinks use the exact same ingredients, but Buck's Fizz pours twice as much champagne as juice, while the Mimosa uses equal parts.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Bright orange flavor, Dry bubbly texture, Light and refreshing

How Buck's Fizz differs

Drier mouthfeel, More wine-forward taste, Less juicy sweetness

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Bellini

A Bellini uses peach purée instead of orange juice, giving it a softer, stone-fruit flavor.

Match

The Bellini is softer and richer on the palate with mellow peach, while the Mimosa is sharper and brighter with fresh citrus acidity.

In common: Sparkling wine base, Brunch staple, Fruit-forward

Ingredients

Both share

Champagne

Only in Mimosa

Orange Juice

Only in Bellini

Peach Purée

The Mimosa gets its fruit from orange juice, while the Bellini gets it from peach purée, changing the fruit character entirely.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Fruity and sweet, Bubbly and light, Low alcohol

How Bellini differs

Softer stone-fruit flavor, Thicker mouthfeel, Less bright acidity

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

French 75

The French 75 adds gin and lemon juice, making it much stronger and sharper.

Match

The French 75 hits harder with gin and tastes more sour and botanical, while the Mimosa stays soft, sweet, and easy-drinking.

In common: Champagne base, Citrus notes, Celebratory

Ingredients

Both share

Champagne

Only in Mimosa

Orange Juice

Only in French 75

Gin, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup

The French 75 brings gin, lemon, and sugar into the mix alongside the champagne, turning a light juice drink into a proper cocktail.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Dry champagne bite, Citrus brightness, Festive bubbles

How French 75 differs

Noticeably stronger, Sharper sourness, Botanical gin notes

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

The Ritz Paris claims to have invented the Mimosa around 1925, naming it after the yellow mimosa flower. A nearly identical drink called the Buck's Fizz was created in London in 1921, so the true origin is disputed, but the French version popularized the name used today.

Creator: Ritz Paris
Era: 1920s
IBA: Contemporary Classics
Data version: IBA Contemporary Classics
Confidence

The IBA specifies equal parts champagne and orange juice; the British Buck's Fizz uses a 2:1 ratio, which some people prefer for a drier drink.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

Chill both the champagne and orange juice in the fridge overnight before making.
Pour the orange juice first to keep the champagne from foaming over the glass.
Use brut champagne to balance out the natural sweetness of the orange juice.
Add a dash of orange bitters to give the drink more depth without extra effort.

Avoid

Common mistakes

Using cheap, overly sweet sparkling wine will make the drink cloying.
Stirring too hard will kill the bubbles and leave it flat.
Using heavy pulp orange juice makes the texture chunky and unpleasant.