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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.
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.
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
Add orange juice to a champagne glass.
Top with sparkling wine.
Slowly pour cranberry juice down one side of the glass so it sinks to the bottom.
Gently squeeze lime slice over top.
Garnish with lime slice.
Ingredients
Directions
Add orange juice to a champagne glass.
Top with sparkling wine.
Slowly pour cranberry juice down one side of the glass so it sinks to the bottom.
Gently squeeze lime slice over top.
Garnish with lime slice.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Prosecco in place of the sparkling wine to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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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: A rum cocktail made with coffee, dark crème de cacao, simple syrup, whipped cream, and cocoa powder
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: A Campari cocktail made with orange juice and an orange slice
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 2023-10-02.
