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.
37 Best Brunch Cocktails to Make at Home
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.

  • Photo by Jordan Hughes
    3/37

    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
    4/37

    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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  • Photo by Andy Sewell
    5/37

    Garibaldi

    Take your OJ with a splash of Campari.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    9/37

    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
    10/37

    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
    11/37

    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 Susan Ottaviano
    15/37

    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
    16/37

    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
    17/37

    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
    18/37

    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
    19/37

    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
    20/37

    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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  • 21/37

    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 Shutterstock
    22/37

    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
    23/37

    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
    24/37

    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
    25/37

    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
    26/37

    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
    27/37

    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
    28/37

    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
    29/37

    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
    30/37

    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
    31/37

    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
    32/37

    Rosy Boa Cocktail

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

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  • 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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