Perfect Mother's Day Cocktails

Our friends at Nirvino have shared 2 perfect sparkling cocktails to make Mother's Day memorable.  Give your mom a bubbly brunch staycation this Sunday...

Check out The Stoya Fizz and the Canton Royale IMA.

The Stoya Fizz -- Alex Smith, Thirsty Bear

Cocktail Ingredients

4 oz. Sparkling white wine
1 oz. Bulleit Bourbon
1/2 oz. Marie Brizard Apricot Liqueur
1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
1/4 oz. maple syrup
3/4 oz. Freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions

Pour everything except the wine into a cocktail shaker with ice.
Lightly stir.
Pour into an ice-filled collins glass.
Top with the sparkling wine.
Garnish with a cherry.

Alex's Notes on The Stoya Fizz

I wanted to include bourbon in this fizzy drink for Mother's Day. I think it's an amazing spirit that tends to scare nice folks away - and that is unfortunate. This drink takes what I consider to be the best cocktail spirit and balances it with some nice fruity liqueurs, sweet delicious maple syrup (which is the perfect sweetener for bourbon), and zings it up with fresh lemon juice.

Similar to a French 75 in style, this cocktail should reveal the softer, more pleasant, and incredibly diverse qualities of America's national spirit, bourbon.

I might add on a light note that the old saying should be altered (due to the illegal and widespread use of steroids in baseball): "As American as Mom, bourbon, and apple pie!" Since it is legally forbidden to add any coloring or flavoring to bourbon, it will always be a "pure" American product.

Canton Royale IMA -- Danny Ronen, DC Spirits

Cocktail Ingredients

3 oz. Dry Prosecco (or champagne)
1 oz. Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur
1/2 oz. freshly squeezed grapefruit juice

Directions

Pour contents into a champagne flute.
Lightly stir.
Garnish with a 1"x3" lemon peel.

Danny's Notes on the Canton Royale IMA

This is a well-balanced and inviting cocktail which anyone can make!

Both Prosecco and Cava are oft overlooked, which is a shame. Prosecco works better than Cava for this drink (solely dependent on the Cava, of course). Prosecco is a fun and festive sparkling wine, and often times has a smaller price tag than Champagne or California sparkling wines (although this cocktail does indeed work with Blanc de Blancs). The slight tartness of fresh grapefruit rounds out the honey in the Canton, works perfectly as a brunch companion, and gives the cocktail a beautiful, soft color.

The Canton Royale IMA can do nicely with a dash of Regan's Orange Bitters, but not everyone has that in their home bar. With a proper slice of lemon peel (not a twist... twists don't have enough service area to squeeze out the essential oils), your cocktail will have a wonderful citrus nose and bubbly aromatics.

As a bonus, there are well-known health benefits to the fresh ginger, organic ginseng, vanilla bean and Provencal honey which are components of Domaine de Canton -- ginger is also a natural aphrodisiac, a fine addition to any holiday. A votre sante!

Get more great cocktail ideas at Nirvino or watch some sparkling How2 videos here.