Relax this evening with the tart, sweet, and lusciously red Pomegranate Cosmopolitan cocktail.
During my college years, and those that followed directly after, my friends and I lived and worked in New York City. When we’d go out and hit the town, it was usually to have a few cocktails at some of the city’s trendier spots. And some of us would go for the popular drinks that everyone around us was drinking. As this was in the late 90s and early 2000s, many a Cosmopolitan was imbibed, mostly due to the show Sex and the City. And on that series, there was a slight obsession with the sweetened tipple served in a martini glass.
The classic Cosmo is a balanced and palatable concoction comprised of vodka, orange liqueur, and both cranberry and lime juices. It’s the type of elegant-looking sipper that’s more for folks who don’t enjoy booze bombs like a Vodka Martini and are looking for a more fruity and citrus-tinged beverage. And let’s face it, being dressed to the nines and strutting around with a martini glass is a head-turning look, no matter what you’re sipping on.
Tonight’s cocktail is a more crimson and tart take on the original recipe: the Pomegranate Cosmopolitan. Swapping out the cranberry for pomegranate juice deepens the elixir’s hue, while also contributing just enough of a change to make this a different drink altogether, but still familiar enough that it remains a Cosmo.
If you’re in the mood for the nightlife favorite, but are also feeling just a little adventurous, try your hand at shaking up a Pomegranate Cosmopolitan.
What is the best alcohol to use in a Pomegranate Cosmopolitan?
Vodka and orange liqueur are the two spirits you’ll need to make a tasty Pom Cosmo or two, maybe even three. For the vodka, you can actually go with a vanilla-flavored version, heightening the sweetness against the pomegranate’s more robust and rich fruity taste. And for the orange liqueur, Cointreau will be less sweet than a standard triple sec, adding a nice dryness to the full-bodied citrus elements. For a more complex sip, try using Grand Marnier, which is blended with cognac.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce pomegranate juice unsweetened
- 1 ounce orange liqueur
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- Lime wheel and optional pomegranate seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Add vodka, pomegranate juice, orange liqueur, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel and enjoy. You can add a few fresh pomegranate seeds at the bottom of the glass for a festive touch.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
Chill a martini glass or cocktail coupe in the freezer as you prep your drink. After it’s poured, garnish the rim with a lime wheel, and add some pomegranate seeds to the bottom as well if you like.
What is the best pomegranate juice to use?
Look for one that is 100% fruit juice. POM makes a very popular product that I would highly recommend for your next Cosmo.
Other Cosmopolitan variations Worth Trying
When a cocktail is as popular and trendy as the Cosmopolitan became in its heyday, variations and other inspired drinks are sure to follow. And since the Cosmo never really went away or fell out of favor (or flavor), these riffs below will make fans of the original just as happy when they’re served one.
- Christmas Cosmopolitan – Have a festive treat with this seasonal take on the classic.
- Tay-Tini – Taylor Swift’s tasty spin on the Cosmo.
- White Cosmopolitan – This pale sipper is chill, crisp, and delicious.
- Aperol Cosmopolitan – Slightly bitter and very sophisticated.
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