We could all use some good news these days, so I’m here to alert you to the fact that we are now entering prime mimosa season.
The months of April, May, and June are simply brimming with opportunities to have a celebration that calls for a mimosa bar – we’ve got Easter, Passover, Arbor Day, Kentucky Derby Day, Memorial Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, end of the school year celebrations, and graduations. Oh, and let’s not forget any wedding or baby showers and random weekend brunches.
Setting up a DIY mimosa bar can be fun and affordable, so here’s all you need to know.
A do-it-yourself mimosa bar is simply a deconstructed and expanded presentation of the classic mimosa ingredients: champagne, orange juice, and a garnish. There are countless ways to riff on the classic drink and by setting up a bar, you allow guests to help themselves, customize as they like, and have a fun and colorful area for the decorating and picture-taking of their creative beverages.
So first of all, find a spot where you have plenty of room to set out ingredients, glasses, garnishes and napkins, such as a countertop, bar cart, side table, or buffet. A large ice bucket or metal beverage tub, or several small ones are perfect to keep all the bubbly and the juices nice and chilled.
Traditionally, mimosas are made with a Brut Champagne, but sparkling wines are just as good and much less pricey, so go with what you like and can afford. Prosecco and Cava are both excellent choices. (You can even offer non-alcoholic sparkling cider or sparkling waters like La Croix for those who don’t wish to drink alcohol.)
To figure out how much to buy, the general rule of thumb is that each 750ml bottle of sparkling wine will yield between 6-8 mimosas. Figure out how many people you’re hosting and how many drinks each guest will likely have, probably between 2 and 3, and calculate accordingly.
For the juice options, get creative and think outside the regular carton of OJ. Some of our favorites are pomegranate, mango, POG (pineapple, orange, guava), grapefruit, mixed berry, and passion fruit. You can use juices, nectars, and purees to offer a wide variety of flavors. Juices look extra pretty when presented in glass carafes.
Garnishes and extras really make a mimosa bar fun. Set out dishes of sliced fruits (think berries, lemons, limes, oranges, kiwis, and pineapple) and a few fresh herbs like mint leaves and rosemary sprigs. Honey or agave syrup and colored sugar crystals or candy sprinkles are perfect to rim the flutes with for an extra sweet and colorful touch.
And speaking of flutes, if you don’t already own them, or don’t have enough for a crowd, you can find inexpensive glass and plastic barware at dollar stores and places like Walmart and Amazon.
It’s also nice to have out charms and/or tassels that can be added to people’s flutes, so they know which drink is theirs, and some fun straws and/or drink stirs are also festive additions.
As with any DIY food or beverage bar, it’s helpful to include some signage so that your guests can easily make their way around the drink ingredients and know exactly what they’re adding to their creations.
So, happy mimosa sipping this year, and cheers to whatever and whomever you are celebrating!
