Skip to main content

The Manly Mimosa: Sparkling Wine Cocktails for the Refined Gentleman

Fun fact: Ernest Hemingway—a man we can all agree is one of the manliest of men—drank Champagne. A lot. For a while, he literally drank it every day. He drank it straight and he drank in a wide variety of cocktails, depending on where in the world he was.

With that in mind, I want to turn your attention to Easter, the first of the warm weather drinking holidays of the year. You may not necessarily celebrate the holiday, but regardless of that, Easter is a great excuse to spend the day drinking, watching your nieces and nephews chase around whoever drew the short straw on dressing up as the Easter Bunny.

If you enjoy sparkling wines on their own, great, drink up. Sometimes, though, we can all agree that even something as refined as sparkling wine needs to be kicked up a notch or three. Below, we’ve gathered some fresh, new, and kickass versions of the classic mimosa so you can do just that.

Silent Bubbles

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Method: Shake with ice & strain into a chilled champagne flute. Top up with 1 oz. Champagne. Garnish with a lime wheel.

4-3-2-1

  • 4 oz Chilled Bolla Prosecco.
  • 3 Drops Bitters
  • 2 Sugar Cubes
  • 1 oz. Cognac

Method: Pour bitters onto sugar cube and let soak in, place sugar cube in a Champagne flute. Add Cognac, and top with Bolla Prosecco.

Spring Tide
(Created by Naomi Schimek)

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Method: Shake the first three ingredients together briefly. Strain into a Collins glass over ice and top with club soda. Garnish with edible flowers of the season and a wheel of lemon.

Ruffino Negroni D’Asti

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Method: Add the Campari, vermouth, and gin into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until well chilled. Pour into champagne flute. Top off with the Moscato d’Asti. Garnish with orange peel. 

Riondo Prosecco Slushy

Method: In a baking pan, combine orange juice, Riondo Prosecco, and Triple Sec. Stir to combine. Freeze for at least six hours. Scrape into flaky crystals with a fork. Fill coupe style glasses with slushy. Garnish with mint. Top with additional Prosecco. Enjoy!

In the Mood
(Created at Sushi Garage, Miami)

Image used with permission by copyright holder
  • 1.5 oz Pear puree
  • .5 oz Vanilla syrup
  • Prosecco

Method: Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Add ice, shake and pour into champagne flute. Top with more Prosecco.

La Facile

  • 1 oz Ca’ Momi Ca’ Secco Sparkling Wine
  • 1.5 oz Carpano Bianco white vermouth
  • 1 oz J. Gasco Elderflower Soda
  • .25 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • .25 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
  • Rosemary & Lavendar Sprigs for Garnish

Method: Fill an Old-Fashioned glass with ice. Pour over the all ingredients. Vigorously stir and garnish.

Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…
The 8 best hot dog topping alternatives you need to try
Forget the mustard and sauerkraut, try these creative toppings instead
Three hot dogs with different topppings

Summer will be here before we know it, so that means grilling season has almost arrived. Whether you have backyard barbecues, like to picnic at the barbecue pit in the park, or just want to harken back to your youth with hot dogs, why not get creative with some alternative hot dog toppings?
Our best alternative toppings for your dogs
You can prepare your hot dogs by steaming, boiling, or grilling, but that doesn’t mean the toppings have to be mustard only -- and no, we don’t put ketchup on hot dogs. We’re going to take a look at some of the most creative hot dog toppings out there that are sure to up your hot dog game.
Classic Chicago dogs

These hot dog toppings always will be a staple. The Vienna Beef hot dog reached Chicago during the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, and the Chicago Dog was invented in 1929 at a stand named Fluky’s. The hot dog was originally called the Depression Sandwich. The Chicago-style dog features a poppy seed bun with an all-beef frank topped with mustard, white onions, dark green sweet pickle relish, sliced tomato, sport peppers, a dill pickle spear, and celery salt. If you don’t have the celery salt, that is passable, but you definitely can’t have a Chicago dog without the remaining ingredients.
New York dogs

Read more
How to dry fresh basil: 5 ways to preserve this essential herb
Whether you grow it at home or buy it fresh from the store, drying basil isn't a difficult task
Fresh and dried basil on a wooden surface

One of the best herb plants to grow indoors is basil. However, basil is a delicate plant and can spoil very quickly once harvested. If you grow an herb or vegetable garden or buy the basil plant at your local grocery store, you will have an overabundance of fresh basil that you need to use or store properly. That's where we come in! We'll tell you how to dry basil that is fresh from the garden or store and the best way to store it.
The best ways to dry basil

Drying herbs is just one of the ways to store your leftover basil. There are several ways to dry your basil so you can have it at your disposal any time. If you like fresh basil, then you will love dried basil. It’s much more powerful than the fresh; all that flavor is just crammed into the crunchy leaves.
How to air-dry basil
Air drying is the easiest way to preserve your basil, but it's a longer process — about two weeks in the summer. This is what you should do:

Read more
How to make the best vodka gimlet for a twist on a classic
Swap out the gin for vodka
Gim gimlet in coupe glasses

When you hear the word “gimlet,” what do you think about? If you’re not a big gin (or cocktail) drinker, you might confuse it with goblet and think about a big chalice or some other drinking receptacle. But a gimlet is actually a cocktail that has its origins in the 1800s.

The original gimlet was (and still is) simply made with gin and lime cordial (or sweetened lime juice). One of the most popular sweetened lime juices is Rose’s. First introduced in 1867, it was a popular choice by the British Navy to add sweetness and lower the proof of their high-proof gin rations. It gained in popularity in the early 20th century. And, like many classic cocktails, it has gained a new faithful following with the rise in cocktail culture of the last two decades.
A different take

Read more