Nucleus Mimosa

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Cocktail History

The Nucleus Mimosa is a brunch cocktail that was created at The Nucleus, a brunch restaurant in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Similar to the classic Mimosa, the recipe is also made with sparkling wine and orange juice, but it adds in cranberry juice for more tartness and a lovely ombré color.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Sparkling Wine: This is a carbonated wine made with white or red grapes. We used Villa Bellezza Winery Brillante because it has a light and airy flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Prosecco in place of the sparkling wine.

Orange Juice: This is the liquid juice of an orange. We typically use fresh orange juice instead but chose Simply Orange Juice because it’s high quality and lower in sugar content than most alternatives.

Cranberry Juice: This is the liquid juice of cranberries. We used Simply Orange Cranberry Cocktail because it’s the closest option to fresh cranberry juice.

Lime Slice: This is a slice of lime that has been cut into a half wheel shape.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Measuring Cup: This is used to carefully pour juice into the glass. We used the OXO Steel Angled Measuring Jigger.

Tasting Notes

The Nucleus Mimosa features aromas of citrus and dry wine and has the delicious combined tastes of orange juice and sparkling wine with just a bit of tartness from the cranberry and lime.

Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: While more so about presentation than flavor, the two unique additions make the Nucleus Mimosa one of the most delicious variations of the go-to brunch cocktail we’ve had yet. We both really liked it!

Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.

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Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.

Take Our Quiz →

Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“As with any other Mimosa, I definitely enjoyed this drink. The Nucleus, a local brunch restaurant, goes above and beyond with their presentation in this one. Layering drinks is usually a pretty fun time, especially when it’s as easy as this one was, and we had a great time making, photographing, and drinking it.”

Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I don’t drink much orange juice, but I will when the reward of getting slightly buzzed at brunch is in it for me. This Mimosa in particular tastes very similar to the classic, but its presentation is *chef’s kiss* There’s a reason it’s become so iconic at The Nucleus in our hometown. When you see a waiter walk by with a tray of these beauties, it’s hard to resist ordering one. And now you can make it from the comfort of your own home!”

Recipe

AuthorSips From Scripts

Yields1 ServingPrep Time5 mins

Ingredients
 4 oz Sparkling Wine
 4 oz Orange Juice
 1 oz Cranberry Juice
 1 Lime Slice

Method
1

Add orange juice to a champagne glass.

2

Top with sparkling wine.

3

Slowly pour cranberry juice down one side of the glass so it sinks to the bottom.

4

Gently squeeze lime slice over top.

5

Garnish with lime slice.

Ingredients

Ingredients
 4 oz Sparkling Wine
 4 oz Orange Juice
 1 oz Cranberry Juice
 1 Lime Slice

Directions

Method
1

Add orange juice to a champagne glass.

2

Top with sparkling wine.

3

Slowly pour cranberry juice down one side of the glass so it sinks to the bottom.

4

Gently squeeze lime slice over top.

5

Garnish with lime slice.

Nucleus Mimosa

Make It a Mocktail: Use Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Prosecco in place of the sparkling wine to try a booze-free version of this drink.

Shop Glassware & Tools

Find collections of cocktail glassware and bartending tools we recommend for your home bar in our Amazon shop.

Riedel 4441/55 Extreme Rose/Champagne Wine Glass Set of 4
Riedel 4441/55 Extreme Rose/Champagne Wine Glass Set of 4
Riedel Extreme Rose/Champagne Wine Glass Set of 4; Clear crystal construction | Dishwasher Safe
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Riedel Extreme Rose Wine Glass, Set of 2, Clear,11.36 FL OZ
Riedel Extreme Rose Wine Glass, Set of 2, Clear,11.36 FL OZ
This is the ideal glass from which to enjoy typically tart, dry Rosé wines; The Extreme glasses derive their name from their extreme contours
$50.03 Amazon Prime
Riedel Ouverture Wine Glass, 12 Count (Pack of 1), Red & White & Champagne
Riedel Ouverture Wine Glass, 12 Count (Pack of 1), Red & White & Champagne
Pay for 8 get 12; 4 – Red Magnum 12-3/8 oz capacity; 4 – White Magnum 9-7/8-oz capacity; 4 – Champagne Flute 9-1/8 oz capacity
$124.95 Amazon Prime
OXO SteeL Angled Measuring Jigger
OXO SteeL Angled Measuring Jigger
Patented angled surface allows you to read measurements from above; Eliminates the need to fill, check and adjust measurements
$10.00 Amazon Prime

More Brunch Cocktails

If you like this brunch-inspired cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:

Mocha Rum Toddy Cocktail Recipe

Mocha Rum Toddy: A rum cocktail made with coffee, dark crème de cacao, simple syrup, whipped cream, and cocoa powder

Wisconsin Bloody Mary Cocktail Recipe

Wisconsin Bloody Mary: A bacon vodka cocktail made with Worcestershire sauce, Bloody Mary mix, a celery stick, a meat stick, a cheddar cheese curd, a pickle spear, a green olive, and Tajín

Garibaldi Cocktail Recipe

Garibaldi: A Campari cocktail made with orange juice and an orange slice

French Toast Flip Cocktail Recipe

French Toast Flip: A sherry, Scotch, and apple brandy cocktail made with maple syrup, allspice syrup, egg white and yolk, orange and fig bitters, and ground cinnamon

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-03-19.

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