Orange Fizz
Brunch is always a big deal for Mother’s Day. Even this year, when no one’s venturing out to restaurants, we’re still ordering in and making a big deal out of the holiday. And we should! Mom’s a big deal. She’s there morning, noon and night. She’s that shoulder to cry on, that ear to bend and that kiss that always makes us feel better. She deserves a day off and a big brunch. She deserves all the treats from flowers and chocolate, to Eggs Benedict and Mimosas.
Yes, the mimosa is probably the most popular brunch cocktail around for two reasons. First, it’s super easy to make since it’s only two ingredients. Second, it’s a low ABV (alcohol by volume) cocktail, which means you can have two or three and still enjoy a nice day out. While I love the mimosa, it’s not the only brunch beverage out there. There’s the Aperol Spritz, the Bloody Mary and the Michelada just to name a few. Some are lighter and some have a definite kick. It really all depends on what you’re in the mood for.
Me, I like them all. But like I said, it depends on my mood. Some days, I want light and bubbly while other days I want heavy and strong. Heavy seems to be more common during the colder months, while light and bubbly are definitely better when the weather warms up. But I recently discovered a cocktail that’s bubbly, and still has a bit of a kick. It’s called an Orange Fizz and it’s really just a mimosa that substitutes gin for champagne. If you’re concerned about drinking hard alcohol with breakfast, the Orange Fizz isn’t the first cocktail to be served with brunch. The Bloody Mary, which uses vodka, can be found on brunch menus all over the world.
If you’re like me, and prefer gin to vodka, you’re going to love this drink. It’s light and not too sweet thanks to the substitution of gin. Since the gin makes a drier cocktail, it pairs really well with some of those sweeter brunch options like french toast or cinnamon rolls. While it’s true you could make this Fizz sweeter by simply adding syrup or an orange liqueur, there’s absolutely no reason to mess with the classic recipe. The orange juice provides ample sweetness and compliments the gin wonderfully no matter what kind of gin you choose. This is why I love classic cocktails: a simple substitution makes for a completely different drink experience. Yes, the mimosa is definitely the sweeter, more popular brunch choice. But the Orange Fizz, which has been around since at least the 30’s, is just as good, and deserves to be celebrated. Just like Mom.
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce orange juice
- soda
Instructions
- Pour the gin and orange juice into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain into a coupe and top with soda water. Garnish with an orange wheel and serve.
