Because why should evenings have all the fun?
We don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that everybody loves brunch. It’s not quite breakfast, not quite lunch — but always a good time. Maybe you’re celebrating a special occasion. Or maybe it’s just a weekend catch-up with friends. Whatever the reason, throwing together some cocktails for brunch is the best way to toast the day ahead.
On that note, here are six of our favourite brunch-appropriate cocktail recipes to add to your spread this weekend.
Serving a Mimosa at brunch can be a bit obvious, so why not mix things up with its Italian cousin the Bellini. The stunningly simple recipe combines fresh peach puree and effervescent prosecco into a deliciously tingly cocktail that’s perfect to kick off a decadent brunch spread.
Serve it with: French toast with a side of crispy bacon – the perfect combination of sweet and salty to bring out the prosecco and peach flavours.
Picture this: it’s Sunday morning brunch and your friend is rocking suspiciously dark sunglasses. There’s only one thing to do – mix up a Bloody Mary. Trust us, they’ll thank you. A classic combo of vodka, tomato juice, and spices, this extra-savoury cocktail really hits the spot on any morning, but especially when you’re needing a kick-starter.
Serve it with: Fried chicken and waffles to go all-in on the Americana theme.
Fresh and fruity, a Pimm’s Cup makes a great addition to any brunch table, especially if you’re outdoors and the sun is shining – take it from the Brits who have been enjoying Pimm’s in the sunshine for almost 200 years. The refreshing combo of lemonade and ginger ale, along with the cucumber, mint and fruit, balances out the bitterness of the Pimm’s aperitif to create a well-rounded drink that tastes like summer in a glass.
Serve it with: The refreshingly fruity taste of a Pimm’s Cup makes it a great accompaniment with chilli, which means this calls for a classic spicy scramble.
When you think about it, it makes way more sense to drink a coffee cocktail in the daytime. Forget getting overly caffeinated at night, and make your next batch of Espresso Martinis at brunch. Creamy, foamy and the perfect balance of bitter and sweet make this cocktail an instant hit. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular cocktails in the country.
Serve it with: Any breakfast dish featuring Nutella will bring out the nuttiness of the Espresso Martini. Our favourite way to do it is by adding a platter of warm nutella-filled donuts to the brunch spread.
When you’re hosting, you don’t want to spend the whole morning mixing drinks and not being able to enjoy yourself. So, put down the cocktail shaker and grab the punch bowl instead! One of our favourite fresh and fragrant punch recipes is the Quattro Punch. This delicious number pulls together a combination of gin, prosecco, bitters and stonefruit to create a big bowl of sunshine.
Serve it with: Make the most of the stonefruit flavours by whipping up a simple stonefruit compote and serving it alongside fluffy pancakes.
The ingenious development of non-alcoholic spirits has reinvigorated the world of mocktails and created some top-notch alcohol-free cocktails that everyone can enjoy. You’ve heard of the famous Gin Basil Smash, now it’s time to meet its lighter sibling the Dry Basil Smash. The freshness of the basil and lemon, combined with the botanicals of the non-alcoholic spirit, make this recipe greater than the sum of its parts.
Serve it with: Pairing these basil flavours with tomato is a no-brainer – and not just Italian options, either. The Middle Eastern dish of shakshuka eggspairs particularly well with this Dry Basil Smash.
