Sign up to FREE email alerts from ChronicleLive - what's on Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

We’ve just had World Cocktail Day, which arrived with a lot of fanfare on Saturday, but did you know that Tuesday, May 16 is National Mimosa Day?

This sunshine-yellow cocktail is a popular one at celebrations and summer events and its simple, classic combination of ingredients is a please-all option if you're planning a get-together with family or friends.

Those keen to give it a try to mark National Mimosa Day, or just looking for an excuse to indulge, will be keen to know just what’s in it and where to get it.

With Newcastle proudly boasting a fine selection of cocktail bars, any barman should be able to rustle one up in a flash.

Another question is why this little cocktail gets a day of its own and the answer it that there is a charming story behind the summery drink.

(Image: Online)

What is the Mimosa cocktail and how is it made?

It’s an easy mix of champagne (or other fizz if you want a cheaper option) with fresh chilled orange juice, in equal parts. It comes served in a flute.

Isn’t that a Buck’s Fizz?

Very similar, except that the mix of the popular BF has more fizz to orange juice: normally a ratio of 2:1.

Where does it get its name?

It named after the beautiful yellow flower acacia dealbata, which is native to South East Australia but has been widely introduced into Mediterranean where it thrives in warm temperatures.

(Image: Online)

What is the history of the drink?

Like most classic cocktails, the story behind it varies. But it’s said to have been invented around 1925 by the head barman of the Ritz hotel in Paris. The Buck’s Fizz was created a few years earlier, in 1921, at Buck’s Club in London.

So what is the story that's attached?

There’s said to be a tradition of serving it as an aperitif before Sunday lunch in Italy. This started after the Second World War when men would give their mothers and wives Mimosa flowers as a thank-you for their wartime support. Zizzis restaurant in Newcastle recently marked the touching story by serving the Mimosa - with a sprig of rosemary - as part of this year’s Mother’s Day offer.

When is usually enjoyed?

It’s an anytime crowd-pleaser and, like Buck’s Fizz, it’s especially popular at celebrations such as morning weddings. US-based website A History of Drinking also reveals it often plays a part in an American brunch as well making an appearance on first-class menus of airlines and rail companies.

Anything else?

Again like many cocktails, variations on the original have been introduced. A touch of Grand Marnier turns the drink into a Grand Mimosa while juice from mandarin oranges makes it a Puccini.