Easter Brunch Cocktail Ideas

Could it be that Easter is my favorite holiday? Yes; followed closely by Thanksgiving. The only thing that edges Easter closer to the top is the cocktail list, specifically the Brunch Cocktail List. From Mimosas at the J Club on the beach in Santa Monica, to Kir Royales at La Garenne in Reims, to Ramos Gin Fizzes at NOHO STAR to the Royal Hawaiian’s Pina Coladas, I never miss a chance to indulge myself with a buzz-inducing cocktail on Sunday mornings. There is just something about lazy Sunday mornings when you know that you have an afternoon ahead of you that you can sleep off the after effects of a cocktail.

Brunch offers the perfect excuse to drink alcohol before noon. Your boyfriend’s mother might raise an eyebrow if you were to order a beer with your breakfast of ham and eggs. Call it brunch and we promise that this same woman will jump right in and join you in a cocktail or two or three.

Here are recipes for two of my favorites.

Mimosas
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, bottled is okay in a pinch
1/4 cup Grand Marnier
1 750 ml bottle of extra dry champagne. Any $15 bottle will do. This is not the time to pour the fine French swill, nor is it okay to pour a $1.99 bottle of kerosene, either. If you can sip it on it’s on, you have the right champagne.

Directions:
Mix orange juice and Grand Marnier. Divide among four champagne flutes. Slowly add champagne. Serve immediately.

Ramos Gin Fizz
1 cup gin
2 tablespoon half and half
1/2 cup superfine sugar
2 cup crushed ice
2 teaspoon orange flower water
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
6 egg whites, pasteurized

Directions:
Combine in a blender. Blend on high until frothy. Serve immediately.

While there are a myriad of cocktails that could be consumed before noon, we recommend that you stick to the most traditional. Keep it light, frothy and pastel. No matter how casual our society has become, there is something, mmm, shall we say unseemly about ordering a Jack Daniels with your eggs Benedict.

Whether you are pouring a everyone a glass of champagne or a cocktail, you will need a little something to munch on. A cocktail nibble. No, we are not talking hors d’oeuvres here. This is not something for guests to fill up on before brunch because they know their hostess is a terrible cook and they had better eat now or never.