Brunch, the glorious union of breakfast and lunch, deserves the right drinks to complete the menu. We’ve chosen five of our favorite brunch cocktails to liven up your event — and impress your friends with your impeccable taste.
Why We’re Big Fans of Brunch
While the origins of brunch are a little ambiguous, the breakfast-lunch hybrid is here to stay, and it’s rooted in the tradition of spending time with family and friends.
You can enjoy it any day of the week, but Sunday is still the most popular day for brunch. Brunch is the perfect way to celebrate, whether you’re showing your favorite lady some love on Mother’s Day or you’re just enjoying a beautiful summery day.
From breakfast classics like eggs Benedict to funky lunch upgrades like beet burgers smothered in horseradish sauce, there’s plenty to love about the classic brunch menu. What we really love about brunch, though, is that it makes for the perfect excuse to enjoy a few drinks with friends, soaking up just a little more of the weekend or dishing after a late night.
Brunch Drinks: Are There Any Low-Sugar Options?
Most brunch drinks tend to feature sweet fruit flavors like cranberry juice, and they pair well with both sweet and savory menu items. That said, more savory options like the bloody Maria (a tequila-filled take on the bloody Mary) have cult followings as well.
Drinks like the peach bellini (aka prosecco with peach puree) and the bloody Mary (a concoction made of tomato juice, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, and more) have long been considered the go-to beverages for brunch. Even less traditional options like the mojito and sangria have become popular.
More traditional ingredients include schnapps, rosé, and even Irish whiskey and whipped cream if you’re planning to enjoy an Irish coffee.
Unfortunately, these drinks are often packed with one particular ingredient: sugar. Avoiding a high sugar intake while enjoying brunch can seem impossible at first, but it’s not as hard as it sounds. All you need is a refreshed take on your brunch drink menu.
A New Way To Do Brunch Drinks
While we appreciate the classics, this list offers some modern twists on the best brunch cocktails and suggests some drinks that you won’t see on every brunch menu. Plus, so many brunch drinks are laden with sugar and packed full of preservatives. Luckily, you can get all the complexity of flavor you’re looking for without that complex list of ingredients you want to avoid.
The unique flavor combinations of our brews create the perfect base for light, delicate cocktails (without the added carbs) to accompany your standout brunch. After all, life would be boring without trying new things.
1. Orange Passion Mimosa
Our newest brew offers a tropical twist on a classic cocktail — and you can skip the sugary orange juice. Our Orange Passion Mimosa has the brilliant taste of citrus, complemented by hints of passionfruit and guava. The best part? You can enjoy the flavors you love, minus the sugar and additives that you don’t.
Our Orange Passion Mimosa has zero carbs and zero sugar. (Yes, you read that correctly.) To sweeten the deal, this USDA-certified organic drink is gluten-free, keto-friendly, and vegan, so all your brunchmates can enjoy it together. With these real organic ingredients, the flavors taste as good as they feel.
The cherry on top (or is that orange on top?) is that there’s no preparation or mixing required. Enjoy it fresh out of the can or pour it in a Champagne flute. Either way, you’ll be able to enjoy a drink that’s both tasty and photogenic with minimal prep time.
No matter the season, this tropical treat livens up a classic mimosa for the ultimate feel-good brunch.
2. Watermelon Chili Margarita
If you’re looking to kick brunch up a notch, look no further. This drink offers a twist on the classic margarita that’s sure to spice up your brunch — literally.
While margaritas are not always considered typical brunch beverages, this cocktail recipe combines classic lime flavor with a creative blend of sweet watermelon and spicy chili. It complements both the sweetest pancake and the spiciest sausage, so it’s ideal for a brunch with a diverse menu.
The base of this beverage is our Watermelon Chili Seltzer, combining the freshness of watermelon with the spicy kick of chili. While it can be served on its own as a brunch drink, combining it with a few ingredients transforms it to a whole new wow.
You will need:
- 1 12-ounce can of Flying Embers Watermelon Chili Hard Seltzer
- 2 ounces of your favorite tequila
- 2 limes, juiced
- 1 ounce watermelon juice (optional)
- Salt or chili powder
- Lime slice or watermelon cube (optional)
Mix tequila, lime juice, and watermelon juice in a cocktail shaker. Coat the rim of the glass with either salt or chili powder. Add the tequila mix to the glass, over ice if desired.
Slowly pour the Watermelon Chili Seltzer into the glass. Add a lime wedge or watermelon cube to the rim if you're feeling extra fancy.
Spice lovers can skip the watermelon juice and coat the rim of the glass with chili powder. For those with spice-sensitive taste buds, add the watermelon juice for extra sweetness and stick to traditional salt for the rim.
3. Serene Salty Dog
An ordinary salty dog consists of a salted rim, grapefruit juice, and vodka or gin. Our Serene Salty Dog uses our Grapefruit Thyme Hard Kombucha to add an herbal edge to this botanical buzz.
On its own, this herbal citrus blend has a punchy burst of grapefruit and mellow yet invigorating thyme that leave a refreshing sensation with every sip. The bright flavors are perfect for waking up the taste buds, so your mouth will be prepared for all the yummy brunch goodies to come.
Our hard kombucha is handcrafted with organic ingredients, whole plant botanicals, superfruits, and adaptogens. We take these ingredients, naturally ferment them (the old school booze-making way), and apply modern techniques so that you’re left with only the good stuff.
Our Grapefruit Thyme Hard Kombucha can be enjoyed straight out of the can, or you can use it as a base ingredient in a Serene Salty Dog. Either way, the juicy flavors of this brew are the perfect pick-me-up for your palate.
You will need:
- 1 12-ounce can Flying Embers Grapefruit Thyme Hard Kombucha
- 6 ounces of your favorite vodka or gin
- Salt
- Lime wedge (optional)
Add Grapefruit Thyme Hard Kombucha and your favorite vodka or gin in a cocktail shaker. Mix together. Salt the rim of your desired serving glass. Pour in the mixture over ice cubes. Add a lime wedge to the rim for garnish, if desired.
4. A Take on the Aperol Spritz
This refreshing drink is the perfect lighter take on the Aperol spritz, a classic European cocktail. With only one ingredient, you can start enjoying your brunch without worrying about any extra preparation. This is a sensational option for a mid-morning (or afternoon) event beverage if you're in a time crunch.
Our Blood Orange Hard Seltzer offers a contemporary twist on the Aperol spritz, with juicy notes of blood orange accompanied by the complexity of Italian bitters. It’s a crowd-pleasing drink with just the right amount of fizz to complement the uplifting vibes of your brunch.
Easiest instructions ever, right?
5. Sparkling Pomegranate Cocktail
If you’re looking for a drink that makes an impression but doesn’t require any bartending supplies, this is the brunch cocktail recipe for you. With just three ingredients, this drink makes it simple to achieve luxury.
Nothing says “fancy” like Champagne and pomegranates. Well, we’ll be substituting the sparkling wine for our Bubbly Kombucha, but it’ll still be just as fancy as a Champagne cocktail. This cocktail works for brunches that are actually formal — but also if you just want to feel like royalty on a random afternoon.
Like all our kombuchas, Bubbly is brewed to enlighten your mood. With organic ingredients and whole plant botanicals, each drop is refreshingly light and uplifting. Complement its natural flavors and fizz by combining it with other fruity ingredients, like those you’ll find in this recipe.
You will need:
- 1 12-ounce can Flying Embers Bubbly
- 1 ounce pomegranate juice
- 1 ounce orange liqueur
- Pomegranate arils (optional)
Add pomegranate arils to your desired serving glass. Pour in the pomegranate juice, followed by the orange liqueur. Pour in Bubbly until the glass is full. Do not shake or stir.
Something about this drink just begs you to make a toast, so maybe brainstorm a few ideas before serving it. May we suggest toasting to the bartender?
Boost Your Brunch
No matter the occasion, our alive and wild brews offer unique flavors and natural ingredients that will make your boozy brunch stand out from all the other brunches trending on your social media feed. And the fact that our kombucha comes without all that extra sugar? Well, that’s just the hot sauce on the avocado toast.
Sources:
The Birth of Brunch: Where Did This Meal Come From Anyway? | Arts & Culture | Smithsonian Magazine
How Brunch Became the Most Delicious — and Divisive — Meal in America | The Washington Post