Buck's Fizz Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 02/4/23
Buck's Fizz Cocktail

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The Buck's fizz is a simple drink made of orange juice and Champagne. It's nearly identical to the popular mimosa. Both drinks are from the 1920s, though the Buck's fizz is believed to be a few years older. The primary difference is that the best modern mimosas include triple sec, and this cocktail uses only juice and wine in different proportions. Depending on how you like your mimosas, you may have been making a Buck's fizz all along.

This cocktail is said to have been invented in 1925 at Buck's Club in London. It's generally made with 1 part orange juice and 2 parts Champagne. One of its first appearances in writing was in Harry Cradock's "The Savoy Cocktail Book," though that recipe fills the glass just one-quarter of the way with orange juice. The 1930 bartending guide notably lacks the mimosa, so it seems that around the time of Prohibition this cocktail was the better known of the two.

An equally fantastic brunch cocktail, the Buck's fizz is very easy to mix up. It also tastes great with nearly any mid-morning food you're serving.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces orange juice

  • 4 ounces Champagne, or sparkling wine

  • Orange twist, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Buck's Fizz Cocktail ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a champagne flute, pour the orange juice.

    In a champagne flute, build the ingredients by first pouring the orange juice

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Top with Champagne or sparkling wine.

    top the orange juice with champagne

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Garnish with an orange twist. Serve and enjoy.

    Buck's Fizz Cocktail, garnished with an orange twist

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Tips

  • You'll notice that the recipe doesn't ask you to stir, shake, or mix this drink in any other way. That's because the Champagne's bubbles do all the mixing for you. It's a perfect pour-and-drink cocktail that anyone can mix up.
  • Treat yourself to the best Buck's fizz by using fresh-squeezed orange juice. At least try to avoid juices made from concentrates.
  • As with any Champagne cocktail, you can skip the French Champagne and use any sparkling wine you like. Try prosecco from Italy or Spain's cava and explore the many other sparkling wines produced throughout the world.

Recipe Variations

  • This recipe is a perfect inspiration for all sorts of fruity sparkling wine cocktails. It proves that all you need is a little juice. Instead of orange, try apple, cranberry, or a combination of fruit juices. And, if you go with peach you'll have the famous Bellini.
  • Turn the Buck's fizz into a stunning tequila sunrise cocktail by adding a little grenadine after the orange juice and before the Champagne. This variation is often mistakenly used to differentiate the mimosa and Buck's fizz, and it looks fabulous.
  • Adding apricot brandy to the mix creates a classic Valencia cocktail no. 2.
  • It's easy to turn this into a brunch-worthy mocktail. Simply skip the wine and pour a nonalcoholic sparkling cider or grape juice instead.

How Strong Is a Buck's Fizz?

If you need another reason to enjoy a Buck's fizz on a casual morning, the fact that it's a relatively light cocktail should do it! Most Champagnes are around 12 percent ABV, which is diluted by the orange juice. On average, this drink has an alcohol content around 8 percent ABV (16 proof).

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
130 Calories
0g Fat
11g Carbs
1g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 130
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 7mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 39mg 196%
Calcium 27mg 2%
Iron 0mg 3%
Potassium 220mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)