Recipe Roundup

37 Brunch Cocktails, Because Every Weekend Should Be a Celebration

Brunch at home always beats waiting in line—and when you’re hosting, the cocktails can just keep flowing.
A pitcher of lemonade and two cocktails made with raspberry syrup.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert

There’s nothing wrong with a good mimosa, especially when made with fresh orange juice and bubbly you’d be happy to drink on its own, but brunch cocktails go way beyond that standard fare. Below, you’ll find daytime drink ideas for fans of fizzy drinks, but also herbal options with gin, crowd-pleasing whiskey cocktails, easy coffee drinks, big-batch punches, lower-ABV sherry cocktails, nonalcoholic options, and amaro-tinged drinks that’ll whet your appetite for brunch. Text some friends to invite them over, then scroll down and raise a glass to the weekend.

  • Strawberry grapefruit and chamomile punch in two glasses and a pitcher.
    Photo by Paul H. Christian, Food Styling by Michele Figliuolo
    1/37

    Strawberry, Grapefruit, and Chamomile Brunch Punch

    If you’re making waffles or prepping a breakfast casserole, you’re probably looking for brunch cocktails that don’t require drink-by-drink prep. This punch pairs bourbon with fresh strawberries, tangy grapefruit, and chamomile.

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  • Photo by Jason Varney
    2/37

    Gin Basil Smash

    Once it’s summer, this is a great way to use up all that backyard basil. (But feel free to get creative with tarragon, thyme, cilantro, or other herbs.)

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  • Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Leslie Raney
    3/37

    Bellini

    A fresh peach purée, a bottle of sparkling wine, and couple of raspberries for garnish are all you need for this summery brunch classic.

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  • Photo by Jordan Hughes
    4/37

    Palomar Americano

    Traditionally, the Americano doesn’t have anything to do with the caffeinated beverage, but this recipe brings the two together. It’s a cocktail and a coffee in one, which makes it the ideal brunch drink.

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  • Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Mira Evnine
    5/37

    Bloody Mary

    Grating fresh horseradish into this Bloody Mary makes a big difference, but if you can’t find it, jarred horseradish works in a pinch.

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  • 6/37

    Mimosa

    To make the best version of this brunch standby, squeeze fresh orange juice no more than 2 hours before you plan to serve it.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Matt Duckor
    9/37

    Golden Sunset

    This bright, refreshing Bloody Mary ditches canned tomato juice (and the tin flavor) for the freshly pressed stuff made from Sun Gold or yellow tomatoes.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    10/37

    Cucumber Gin Cocktail

    This cucumber-decorated drink is fresh, cooling, and thirst-quenching, perfect for day drinking.

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  • Photo by David A. Land, food styling by Carrie Purcell, prop styling by Alyssa Pagano
    11/37

    Pimm's Royale Punch

    Give your Pimm’s cup the royale treatment by adding a frothy crown of sparkling wine.

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  • Photo by Andy Sewell
    12/37

    Kentucky Buck

    Everyone likes a gingery cocktail. This one combines bourbon, fresh lemon, muddled berries, and spicy ginger beer.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
    15/37

    Our Favorite Aperol Spritz

    This bubbly classic is softly sweet and just a tiny bit bitter. Our version tweaks the standard ratio a bit for ideal balance.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano
    16/37

    Jam Session

    This is about as simple as cocktails for a crowd get: a bottle of fino sherry, a bottle of ginger-lemon kombucha, and a long pour of fresh watermelon juice. It’s the ideal sipper for your summer brunch gathering.

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  • By Denny Culbert
    17/37

    Howitzer

    This sparkling cocktail takes inspiration from the French 75, but swaps out the gin for bourbon and adds peach bitters for a touch of fragrant fruit.

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  • Photo by Zachary James Johnston
    18/37

    Attitude Adjustment

    Adding a bit of beer to this drink keeps it from getting too sweet. Serve with chilaquiles.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert
    19/37

    Applejack Fix

    Fill each glass with lots of crushed ice when you make this pretty pink drink. Use your extra raspberry syrup to make a big batch of raspberry lemonade.

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  • Nigel Cox
    20/37

    Leland Palmer

    The Leland Palmer is the boozy take on the Arnold Palmer, a popular mixture of lemonade and iced tea. Combine gin, jasmine tea, limoncello, lemon juice, and grapefruit juice in a pitcher and stand back.

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  • Photo by Peden & Munk
    21/37

    Rhubarb-Fennel Gin Cocktail

    If it grows together, it goes together: Sweet and sour from the rhubarb and herbaceous from the fennel, this drink is pure harmony.

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  • 22/37

    Pimm's Iced Tea

    Pimm’s and iced tea are a winning flavor combo for a midday gathering. Garnish with strawberries, cucumber ribbons, and fragrant mint sprigs.

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  • Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht
    23/37

    Irish Coffee

    Spike your morning coffee with Irish whiskey, then top with a cloud of whipped cream.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    24/37

    Turmeric Hot Toddy

    This take on the toddy is delicious with bourbon, aged rum, scotch, mezcal, or gin. So you’ve got options.

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  • Photo by Jennifer Chong
    25/37

    Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer

    Here’s another alcohol-free drink to serve at brunch: The rosemary gives this beverage herbal complexity.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca
    26/37

    Garden Party Super Punch

    Sparkling wine, summer fruit, chilled green tea, and reposado tequila are made for each other.

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  • Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime
    27/37

    Aperol-Kombucha Spritz

    This effervescent cocktail is brightened with kombucha and fresh lemon juice.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert
    28/37

    The Ultimate Paloma

    This version of the paloma gets its grapefruit flavor two ways—from both zingy grapefruit soda and fresh juice.

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  • Photo by Eric Medsker
    29/37

    Cynar-Berry Spritz

    This is the spritz for people who like their brunch cocktails bitter and bracing.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Grace Parisi
    30/37

    Blue Smoke Bloody Mary

    This is no ordinary Bloody, thanks to the addition of Zatarain’s powdered crab boil, a supercharged spice mix that’s well worth the effort to seek out.

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  • Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones
    31/37

    Adonis Spritz

    This low-ABV sipper combines sweet vermouth, fino sherry, and fizzy club soda. Be sure to chill the soda before you open it to keep the bubbles lively.

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  • Photographs by Emma Fishman
    32/37

    Celery and Salted Lemon Cocktail

    We love a drink with a savory side—this one uses celery and salty, tangy preserved lemons.

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  • Photo by Danielle Levitt
    33/37

    Rosy Boa Cocktail

    Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice combines with pomegranate juice and ginger beer in this chile-salt-rimmed punch.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    34/37

    Blackberry-Cucumber Mule

    Guests at your brunch can choose vodka or gin for this cooling cocktail.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
    35/37

    Hot White Russian

    This warming cocktail is just what you want to sip with a slice of coffee cake.

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  • 36/37

    Michelada

    A refreshing beer cocktail that goes great with savory brunch dishes.

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  • Photo by Paul H. Christian, Food Styling by Michele Figliuolo
    37/37

    Cold Toddy

    The best brunch cocktails highlight your favorite flavors—we’re partial to this mix of rye whiskey, Earl Grey tea, citrus, and warming spices.

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Following stints at StarChefs and Saveur, Joe joined Epicurious in 2016 where he’s written about how to make the very best biscuits, the singularity of third-culture cooking, and the ultimate cream cheese frosting. Currently, he works across both BA and Epi as the senior SEO editor for cooking stories, which ... Read More
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