Festive cocktails aren't just for Christmas - grab a bottle of Prosecco and pour yourself a Clementine Mimosa to bring in the New Year!
Cheers to another year!
Whether its been a tough one or has been the worst year yet, come Christmas I'm always trying to look on the bright side. I do anything I can to hold on to the warmth and glow that the season brings. At the very least I'm celebrating surviving yet another year.
With any celebration comes alcohol. And that's often a bottle of fizz. Whether you prefer cava, prosecco or champagne there's a celebratory drink for you.
This year I'm using prosecco to make my clementine mimosa.
You could serve this at your New Years Eve party or for brunch on New Years Day!
Mimosa v Bucks Fizz v Bellini
I served this clementine mimosa for boxing day brunch round at my parents house and I was surprised at how much of a debate we got into about whether this was a mimosa, Bellini or even bucks fizz!
Now I feel very strongly that bucks fizz is only made with orange juice and champagne. Plus, a Bellini can ONLY be made with peach! Anything else is just a lie.
A mimosa is more of a "catch all" for any brunch cocktail made with sparkling wine (or in this case prosecco) and any citrus fruit (like clementines!)
It turns out that the difference between mimosas and bucks fizz also has something to do with ratios but that sounds like we're getting in way too deep.
This is definitely a clementine mimosa. Glad we got that settled...
Something seasonal
I love how the supermarkets really get on board with seasonal fruits and veggies around the Christmas period. Strawberries seem to be available all year round, as are blueberries! They get shipped long distances just so we can enjoy them every month of the year.
But these sweet clementines, leaves and all, only appear in the shops the weeks before Christmas. Which for me, makes them even more special! They also look super pretty!!!
Sweet clementines
I love citrus fruits and all things sour but these clementines give a lovely sweet taste to the usually bitter prosecco.
I've gone for a ratio just short of half and half. My clementines were very sweet so I added just a touch more prosecco to balance it out.
Taste a little of the clementine juice before pouring it into your glass to help you decide what proportions you should use.
The recipe
For a proper festive flourish, use a sharp paring knife to cut a spiral of the clementine rind before squeezing out the juice. You can then add this to the glass as a garnish!
Clementine Mimosa
Ingredients
- 8 clementines
- 750 millilitres prosecco chilled
Instructions
- Carefully cut into the peel of a clementine by digging just deep enough so you do not cut too far into the pith.
- Rotate the clementine in your hand so that you cut a strip of the peel as you go. Stop when you have the desired length of peel or it breaks off naturally.
- Roll the strip of peel into a spiral as tightly as you can and give it a squeeze to release the oils.
- Repeat until you have a spiral of peel in the bottom of each glass.
- Pour clementine juice roughly half way each of the flutes over the clementine peel.
- Top up with the chilled prosecco.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
More Christmas Cocktails
More Christmas recipes
For more Christmas recipes from sweet treats to starters, main courses, desserts and more, check out the Christmas archive.
Dannii says
I am definitely not going sober for January, so this looks like something I will be enjoying this month. It sounds lovely and fresh.
Ceri Jones says
No dry January in this house! Love the idea of bringing seasonal fruit into my drinks. Cheers to a fab 2018!
Janice says
I do love clementines and this looks so fresh and refreshing. Happy New Year to you Emma - cheers!