Rice Krispies Treats: the beloved childhood snacks are known far and wide because they are simple, cheap and marketed as well as any confection I can think of. The easy to replicate recipe can be found on the packaging of both Rice Krispies Cereal and nearly any brand of marshmallows. It is this brilliant cross promotion that has lead to the market saturation that these buttery treats enjoy. Aperol had a similar strategy when they decided to put the recipe for the Aperol Spritz on the back label of every bottle. I know that taking a recipe from the back of a bottle may not always be a wise decision but in this specific case it is one of the best decisions any discerning drinker can make particularly on a lazy Sunday morning.
Brunch cocktails are a bit of a religion to the late morning/ early afternoon imbiber. The Bloody Mary, The Mimosa and The Corpse Reviver #2 have long been popular eye openers for the hungover masses; each drinker claiming their preferred libation to be the only thing that will stop the screws from turning deeper into the brain. Each one has its merits, to be sure. The Bloody Mary is rich and spicy masking the hair of the dog hiding within. The Mimosa, the lowest in alcohol content reaches the "toe in the water" crowd while The Corpse Reviver #2 is an eye opener that says, "I'm not sure what I did last night but I know I can't fix this alone."
While these are all worthy approaches in the throws of a hangover, I think each option has its fault.
The Bloody Mary has its fanatics but I have never been one. It's the texture that doesn't work for me. They are just too viscous and chunky with all the horseradish to force down early in the morning. Not to mention, I have never been the champion of a cocktail whose base spirit brings no flavor to the party.
The Mimosa can be a lovely drink when made well. A glass of champagne with just a splash of orange juice is a bright, citrusy and bubbly way to ease into the day. But, like so many drinks made by the greenhorn pulling the brunch shift after one too many shots the night before, the mimosa is all too often a glass of store bought orange juice with a splash of cheap sparkling wine poured from a bottle with a plastic cork.
Finally we have The Corpse Reviver #2. This is a spectacular cocktail. My issue here is that it is a rather potent cocktail. Sure that's the intent; a drink to wake the dead. But Two Corpse Revivers over brunch and your day could quickly go off the rails. I don't know about you, but I'm at a point in my life where I like to accomplish a few things with my Sunday. That laundry didn't wash itself last week and it doesn't seem any more motivated this week. Stick to one Corpse Reviver or hold off till happy hour.
The ideal brunch cocktail then, is easy drinking, refreshing, and low enough in alcohol content that you can enjoy a few of them while lingering at brunch with some friends. So we find ourselves back in the loving embrace of The Aperol Spritz: perfect at anytime of day but particularly suited to easing the pain of the night before and opening our eyes to the day ahead.
The Aperol Spritz:
- 3 oz. Prosecco
- 2 oz. Aperol
- 1 oz. Soda Water
This drink is built in the glass. Grab a wine glass. Fill it with ice. Add Prosecco, Aperol and soda. Garnish with an orange slice. Drink and repeat!
