For Thanksgiving this year, I was on the prowl for a fresh, seasonal cocktail that wasn’t apple cider-based. Not that I have anything against apple cider, but it can be overdone and I was really looking for something that would work with gin instead of whisky or rum.
Enter: pomegranate.
This beautiful, dark pink fruit has an insanely festive look, plus it adds a zingy flavor without being overwhelmingly sweet. I love that all you need is a touch of pom juice to give the drink what it needs. Plus, pomegranate arils are delicious on their own and look so pretty as an edible garnish! Here’s a pro tip: you can place the leftover pomegranate arils in a dish to add some color and fruit to your appetizer platter as well.
Rosemary’s my baby
The second most important part of this drink is the rosemary simple syrup. One herb that I always need growing in my windowsill is rosemary. It can be used to complement so many different dishes, plus it smells incredible and looks great in a terracotta pot. What’s not to love about this herb?! I’m a Rosemarian, through and through.
I have also started getting into homemade infused simple syrups. Why buy a bottle of simple syrup if you can make a jar of it with just some sugar and water in a matter of minutes? And the best part of making it homemade is being able to infuse it with pretty much anything. You can make lavender, jalapeño, basil, and ginger syrup among others. And, oh yea, rosemary!
Some fruit, some herbs, and some fizz
What I love about this cocktail is its freshness and simplicity. The ingredients are minimal and easy to find. Here’s what you’ll need:
Gin Or vodka. I’m a big gin enthusiast, but if you prefer vodka or another clear spirit, please use that
Sugar and water For the simple syrup
Fresh rosemary Both for the infused syrup and for garnish at the end. If you grow your own, AMAZING! Or you can try to find a bundle at the grocery store. It’s usually available year-round
Pom juice and fresh pomegranate You’ll need a small bottle of Pom juice to splash into the drink, but you’ll also want the full fruit to extract the pretty little arils
Prosecco or seltzer water Depending on how strong you want your drink, you’ll definitely want one of these bottles of bubbly
Cheers!
⟶ the recipe
pomegranate rosemary fizz
ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2-3 sprigs of rosemary
3 ounces gin
2 ounces pomegranate juice
Handful of pomegranate arils
Prosecco or seltzer water to top
Prep time
10 minutes
Cook time
–
Total time
10 minutes
4 servings
instructions
Add sugar and water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add rosemary sprigs and reduce to a simmer for about 10 minutes or until all the sugar has dissolved and syrup has thickened slightly. Move syrup to a jar and allow it to cool completely.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, and add the gin, pomegranate juice, and 1 ounce of the simple syrup. Shake it up, and divide between two cocktail glasses. Top with the prosecco or seltzer water and garnish with pomegranate arils and additional sprigs of rosemary.
⟶ modifications
- Feel welcome to use another type of clear spirit for this drink, such as vodka or tequila
⟶ make it ahead
- I very highly recommend making the rosemary simple syrup in advance, because you can keep it in the fridge and use whenever you’re ready! It can also keep up to one month in an air-tight container for future use
