Last Updated on January 15, 2023 by Heather Wibbels

How about a fast and easy bourbon sorbet cocktail for Mother’s Day this year? Mom likes bourbon, and she also likes bubbles. Who’s to say the two can’t make a fantastic cocktail together? I love mixing my favorite 100 proof (or higher) bourbon with some tasty fruit sorbet and top off with bubbles. It makes a fast, fancy, and delectable cocktail for Mother’s Day, whether you’re treating her to brunch in or giving her a cocktail before you head out to a fancy lunch.
(Post may contain affiliate links.)
Mom Loves Bourbon
If you’ve been on my site enough you know I am all about bourbon and whiskey cocktails, and my association with the Bourbon Women group means I love making cocktails for our members. Many of whom are mothers and all of whom have mothers.
If you or the women in your life love bourbon, the perfect cocktail before that new bottle you got her is a light and fruity bourbon champagne sorbet cocktail. It’s easy to assemble, looks beautiful, and has a lovely kick of bourbon with every sip.
And if mom prefers her bourbon in a cocktail, she’ll love this sip on its own, even without an extra sidecar of bourbon on the side from her newest Mother’s Day bottle.
Bourbon and Bubbles
Traditional Mother’s Day cocktails always include champagne or sparkling wine, but I wanted to add bourbon to the mix. A great slightly sweet sparkling wine paired with a mid-proof bourbon is a winning combination. The dry notes of the bubbles pull out extra oak flavors from the bourbon. Using a higher-proof bourbon means you’ll still get that great bourbon taste with each sip.
Bourbon and Bubbles Cocktails with Sorbet
I see hundreds of variations of sorbet champagne cocktails, but I wanted to add whiskey here because it combines so well with both champagne and the fruits typically used in a sorbet. Choose whichever fruit sorbet is your favorite. From orange, raspberry, lemon, mango, and pineapple, you have plenty of choices. I preferred raspberry, orange and lemon with bottled in bond and barrel proof bourbons, but choose your favorite (or your Mom’s) for this cocktail.
How to Make a Bourbon Sorbet Cocktail
Rather than make a bourbon sorbet, create the bourbon and bubbles cocktail with 2-3 rounded tablespoons of your favorite sorbet (or sorbets) in a champagne flute. Add 1 oz of your favorite sipping bourbon. Top a great sparkling wine and serve with an edible flower garnish. No need to stir or even get out a mixing glass.
To make the small scoops of sorbet fit in the champagne flutes I actually used a tablespoon scoop and rounded up the sorbet in it. If I had used a large scoop, it would have blocked off the top of the flute and bourbon and champagne would have spilled everywhere.
This three-ingredient bourbon and bubbles cocktail for Mothers Day is perfection. And even if you’re not a bourbon drinker, it’s simple to make a beautiful to serve. If you’re serving it for a group that has some non-bourbon drinkers, you can use vodka, but rum and mango are amazing as well as gin and lemon sorbet.
Other Mother’s Day Bourbon Cocktails
- Peach Rosemary Sour
- Champagne Old Fashioned
- Bitter Bourbon Spritz
- Lavender Lemon Old Fashioned
- Highball Whiskey Spritz
- Bananas Foster Manhattan
- Honey Rose Old Fashioned
- And if you have a no-fuss Mom, this Easy Whiskey Tailgate cocktail will do just fine
Recommended Bar Tools
You don’t need every slick, beautiful bar tool out there, but there are several I’ll recommend. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, that does not affect the cost of the items below.) My favorite pieces usually come from the Cocktail Kingdom section of Amazon:
You may already have these bar essentials, but just in case:
Mother’s Day Bourbon and Bubbles
Ingredients
- 1 to 1 ½ oz 100 proof or higher bourbon
- 2-3 rounded tablespoons of sorbet (Mom’s favorite flavor.
- Champagne or sparkling wine to top.
- Garnish: edible flower
Instructions
- Add sorbet to champagne flutes. Add the bourbon and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with an edible flower or a lemon twist.
Such a great idea for Mother’s Day! I could definitely go for one of these! 😉
These look amazing and so tasty! My hubby is going to love this drink! Excited to make this for Mom’s day!
Smoky, sweet and fizzy, what a perfect drink!
I’m totally on board with this drink. Sounds festive and delicious.
What a fun cocktail. I do love burbon and the champagne and sorbet make it so pretty too!
This cocktail looks so impressive, and I love how simple it is to make.