The holidays need a festive cocktail, and this Pomegranate Cosmopolitan is a seasonal twist on a classic perfect for the season! Cheers, my dears!
I am one week away from graduating with my master’s, and there are 15 days until Christmas and Hanukkah! If that’s not a reason to celebrate, I don’t know what is! What a feeling to be (almost) at the finish line. To say these past two years have been hard work is an understatement. There’s a reason people tell you to get your master’s right after your undergraduate. I’m too old for this! With starting a new job, writing a blog, and completing my master’s, I’m ready for a brain break! I’ll be heading to New York for a few days to enjoy the city during the holidays, and that has me creating a festive drink for all to enjoy! Enter this Pomegranate Cosmopolitan!
Pomegranates are a nutritious fruit, both as arils and juice. They contain fiber (the arils, not the juice), vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting antioxidants. Pomegranates are thought to improve heart health by lowering inflammation. Additional benefits are linked to reducing insulin resistance, cholesterol, and blood pressure in people with metabolic syndrome and obesity. The antioxidants in the fruit can help lessen the inflammation, as mentioned, and this could help with gastrointestinal health. Not to mention, recent studies (not showing causation) show improvement in exercise performance and help restore damaged muscles. Enjoy this festive drink as a celebration, but include the actual fruit/arils in your daily eating pattern and other fruits and vegetables for said health benefits!
Ingredients: Pomegranate Cosmopolitan
- Pomegranate Juice: Traditional Cosmopolitans are made with cranberry juice. I’m opting for pomegranate juice here because I prefer it over cranberry juice and because it’s still a festive red! My opinion? It’s better than the original!
- Vodka: Traditional Cosmos use vodka as the alcohol of choice. I always use 1 1/2 ounces for beverages, as that’s the standard serving size. In some recipes, they opt for 2 ounces.
- Cointreau is a type of triple sec, an orange liquor that helps balance out the vodka (even if it is high quality, it makes it smoother). While Cointreau is a tad more bougie, it does make for a smoother cocktail. Invest in better-quality drinks!
- Sparkling Water or Kombucha is a great way to extend the beverage and make it less strong. Add as little or as much as you like. Use a red-flavored one for this concoction or similar flavor for the sparkling water!
- Simple Syrup: yes, this will make it a ‘sugary beverage’, however, make the drink first without and see if you think it needs it. I did not use it in the end, but understand pomegranate juice can be on the tart side!
- Garnishes: Lime wedge, orange twist, or pomegranate arils.
How To Make a Pomegranate Cosmopolitan
- Shake: Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake for 15 seconds until cold. & if you don’t have a cocktail shaker, use a mason jar!
- Strain the drink into your glass and serve. Garnish with an orange twist, lime wedge, and/or pomegranate arils. The pomegranate seeds WILL sink to the bottom.
Make a Cosmo Pitcher!
This is a great drink to make for a crowd! The holiday season is here! Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, or other festive occasions. No one wants to mix up individual drinks; instead, make a pitcher for all to enjoy. This will make 8 servings:
- In a pitcher, mix together 1 1/2 cups vodka, 1 1/2 cups 100% pomegranate juice, 1/2 cup Cointreau, 1/2 cup lime juice, and 2 1/2 tablespoons simple syrup (if using).
- Add a few handfuls of ice and stir until cold.
- Pour into glasses and serve.
A traditional Cosmopolitan uses cranberry juice. This is a spin on the traditional and uses Pomegranate juice instead. Feel free to make a traditional Cosmo if you prefer cranberry juice. This is just my take on a festive drink more to my preference.
There are times to celebrate, and completing my master’s is one of those times. Do I drink sugary beverages all the time? No! No food/drink is off limits, but rather, looking at our overall eating patterns to see where changes need to take place. Sugary beverages are an area that I focus on with patients. The idea is to first identify where the sugary beverages are. Next, determine how much someone consumes and, from there, cut back. Some people need to be made aware of how much they’re consuming! (I consume no sugary beverages except for these beverages that I prepare for special occasions).
While it wouldn’t be a Cosmopolitan, any drink can be made into a mocktail. Simply use the Pomegranate juice and mix it with sparkling water and/or kombucha. There are so many options these days with sparkling water, so pair it with one with a similar flavor profile. The drink will still be bubbly, festive, and fun!
Other Festive Drinks
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Pomegranate Cosmopolitan
The holidays need a festive cocktail, and this Pomegranate Cosmopolitan is a seasonal twist on a classic perfect for the season! Cheers, my dears!
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces 100% Pomegranate juice (3 tablespoons)
- 1 1/2 ounces vodka (3 tablespoons)
- 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) Cointreau
- 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) lime juice
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup, *optional
- Garnish: Lime wedge, orange twist, and/or Pomegranate arils
Instructions
- Add the pomegranate juice, vodka, Cointreau, lime juice, and simple syrup (if using) in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake for 15 seconds until cold.
- Strain the drink into your glass and serve.
- Garnish with an orange twist, lime wedge, and/or pomegranate arils.
Notes
*Make a batch (8 drinks): In a pitcher, mix together 1 1/2 cups vodka, 1 1/2 cups 100% Pomegranate juice, 1/2 cup Cointreau, 1/2 cup fresh lime juice, and 2 1/2 tablespoons simple syrup (or let your guests add their own). Add a few handfuls of ice and stir until cold. Pour into the glasses (strain the ice) and serve!
- Prep Time: 5
- Category: Drinks
1 thought on “Pomegranate Cosmopolitan”
LOVE anything pomegranate flavor! Cannot wait to try. CONGRATS on obtaining your master’s!!