The midmorning meal is defined by its complicated cocktails.
Just because it’s liquid doesn’t mean the morning cocktail is simple.
While we all love biscuits, chicken and waffles, and anything topped with an egg, a good brunch is mostly just an excuse for early day drinking—and brunch cocktails have become almost as lavish as the food itself. Take, for example, the Instagram-popular Bloody Marys overflowing with a meal-sized bouquet of garnishes—forget the celery, these are topped with anything from bacon and shrimp to an entire fried chicken sandwich. Or, admire photos of mimosa flights made in a rainbow of pineapple, cranberry, pomegranate, and grapefruit juices.
Best of Virginia winner Citrus, in Virginia Beach, offers a mimosa menu with nearly 20 combinations of juices; for example, the Citrus Mimosa tops Champagne with orange, mango, pineapple, and cranberry juices. Other brunch cocktails include the Mango Cooler, with Malibu rum, banana liqueur, and citrus juices, and a range of drinks inspired by Crush orange soda—try the Fusion Crush with grapefruit vodka, Triple Sec, grapefruit juice, orange juice, and Sierra Mist. For something with an additional kick, you can have a hot coffee cocktail, such as the Toffee Coffee with Bailey’s Irish Cream, butterscotch Schnapps, hot cocoa, coffee, whipped cream, and caramel.
