Sunday brunch is becoming more and more popular in the United States. A half breakfast half lunch hybrid, brunch dishes combine all of our favorite dishes in the same place. One of the staples of a Sunday brunch buffet is cocktails — usually as a “hair of the dog,” which refers to the morning consumption of an alcoholic beverage to take the edge off of a hangover.
1. Bloody Marys
Probably the most well-known “hair of the dog” and favorite brunch cocktail is the Bloody Mary. Though it’s a classic, it’s the only brunch cocktail that calls for vodka. The origins of the drink are disputed; some say that is was invented in 1921 by a Parisian barman, and others claim that it was invented during the Prohibition and promoted by the tomato juice industry.
What you’ll need: Ingredients vary, but here is a traditional recipe list. Tomato juice, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, horseradish, celery, olives, salt and pepper, lemon juice, and celery salt.
2. Mimosas
Another one of the most famous brunch cocktails is the mimosa. This drink usually made as a mixture of champagne and orange juice. Many people believe that the name for the drink actually comes from the name for a flower, the Anglophone European name for the yellow flowers of Acacia dealbata. A similar variation of the drink is called the “Man-mosa” which is made from fruit juice and whiskey.
What you’ll need: Champagne or sparkling wine of your choice (or whiskey), and orange juice.
3. Bellinis
Bellinis are similar to mimosas in that they are part sparkling wine and part fruit juice, but in this case the bellini calls for peach rather than orange juice. It is believed that the bellini was invented sometime in the 1930’s or 1940’s in Italy. It apparently became popular at Harry’s Bar in Venice, which was frequented by the likes of Sinclair Lewis, Upton Sinclair, and Ernest Hemingway.
What you’ll need: Champagne or sparkling wine, and peach juice.
Do you have any other Sunday brunch ideas, for cocktails or otherwise? Feel free to let us know in the comments. References.