Love cosmos but ready to try something a different? Then grab some pomegranate juice (or make your own!) and shake up a sweet, tart, perfectly pink, citrus-y pomegranate martini! I love this cocktail with vodka, but it is great with gin as well.
Hello, all!
As I write this, Valentine’s Day is just a few days away. EEEK! I already have the menu all planned* (lobster pies – coming soon!, a winter citrus salad, chocolate lava cakes) and the husband thought we needed a signature cocktail for the evening.
I agreed. A little brainstorming and couple of test runs later, and here is my latest creation – a pomegranate vodka martini!
*Yes, we stay in for the evening. I’d rather go out on a different night when the restaurant isn’t so slammed. š
Pomegranate Cocktail
During the testing phase, I looked at the different variables in the drink – how much lime? do you need sugar syrup? orange liqueur or another flavor? vodka or gin? and we did some A/B testing to zero in on the perfect recipe.
What did I find out?
- Lime Juice. The drink needs a good squeeze of lime to cut through the pomegranate but this isn’t a margarita, so 1/4 ounce per drink is plenty.
- Sugar Syrup. With a restrained amount of lime you don’t need extra sugar. If you LOVE lime and add a bunch, then add some simple syrup.
- Liqueur Flavor. We tested a few flavors, including raspberry and orange. Orange paired best with the juice and gave it the perfect amount of edge.
- Vodka or Gin. You won’t go wrong switching to gin, but I prefer the clean flavor of a vodka martini.
What do you need?
All simple ingredients and no advance prep!
- Vodka. Pick your favorite cocktail vodka with a clean flavor.
- Grand Marnier. You can use other orange liqueurs but this one was our favorite in the recipe.
- Pomegranate Juice. I used a common, easily available brand.
- Lime Juice. One lime will do for two drinks.
And just a few basic cocktail making things:
- Citrus Juicer. Or just squeeze. š It’s not much juice.
- Cocktail Shaker. I LOVE my glass shaker! (And there are larger sizes available.)
- Martini Glasses. These are the Mikasa glasses in the photos. (Shoutout to my SiLs for buying these for me a few years back!)
How to make this
To make a pomegranate martini mix together vodka, pomegranate juice, orange liqueur, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into two martini glasses and enjoy.
While I love craft cocktails made with special syrups and other fun, but fussy, ingredients, this time I wanted simple and straightforward! Just pour, squeeze, and shake. Done!
Can you make this ahead?
Yes, you can! I would still shake it with ice even if you are going to keep it in the fridge for awhile. The ice dilutes the drink just a little and changes the flavor profile. So, either shake and strain into glasses or mix it up in the shaker (without the ice) and keep it ready for the final shake with ice and distribution.
What about flavored vodka?
Feel free to try it! I would probably stick with a citrus flavor. However, pomegranate pairs nicely with cinnamon or ginger as well, so those flavors might work too.
How do you make your own juice?
While I call for purchased pomegranate juice, you may wish to make your own. To make fresh juice, take the arils (seeds) and put them in a blender. Pulse a few times to break them up and release the juice. Then strain through a fine mesh strainer, pressing down to extract the juice.
Can you make a pitcher?
While you can double the recipe I give, I have not tested a large batch, so the ratios may be a little off once you scale up. If you wish to make a pitcher drink, I would recommend starting with my amounts, then tasting and adjusting the amounts of lime and pomegranate until you are happy.
More Cocktail Ideas
If you want some ideas for romantic cocktails, check out my Perfectly Pink Cocktails post! Or make one of these great recipes:
- Love pears? Use some pear liqueur and pear syrup to spice up a Double Pear Martini!
- Raspberry liqueur gives the rosy hue to this Blushing Meyer Lemon Drop.
- For a dessert idea you can’t go wrong with a Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Martini.
If you try my recipe for Pomegranate Martini, I would love to hear from you in the comments with your experience and rating! And Iām happy to answer any questions you might have.
You can connect with me by subscribing to my emails (see the form in the sidebar or below the recipe card), liking my FACEBOOK page, or by following me on PINTEREST.
– Happy Drinking, Annemarie
Vodka Pomegranate Martini
Ingredients
- 4 oz vodka
- 2 oz pomegranate juice
- 1 oz Grand Marnier, or other orange liqueur
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- ice
- sugar, for rimming the glasses
- lime slices or twists of lime peel, for garnish
Instructions
- Add vodka, pomegranate, Grand Marnier, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake until well chilled.
- Pour some sugar (red sugar if you have it) onto a plate. Wet the rims of two martini glasses and place them rim down in the sugar. Swirl to coat.
- Divide the martini between the two glasses. Garnish with lime slices or a twist of lime peel.
Notes
- Sugar: Rimming the glasses with sugar is purely optional but a fun touch. You can usually find colored sugars in the cake/cookie decorating section of the baking aisle.
- Simple Syrup: We found the drink as written to be nicely balanced between sweet and sour. If you prefer a sweeter drink you can add a spoonful or two of simple syrup to the recipe. (Or add a little more juice.)
- Orange Liqueur: Grand Marnier is my preference in the drink. However, it would also be delicious with Cointreau or Triple Sec.
- Gin: For a gin cocktail, switch out the vodka for gin 1:1.
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