martini – FoodWatcher

Cocktail Bar Must-Haves

collage of cocktail bar tools It’s time to discover the essential must-have tools for your at-home cocktail bar! From shakers to glasses to cocktail picks, it’s time to elevate your cocktail game and impress family and friends with signature drinks and concoctions! Cocktail Bar Tools More Drinks to Make at Home Lavender Haze Cocktail Strawberry Daiquiri Salted Caramel Mocha Martini…

It’s time to discover the essential must-have tools for your at-home cocktail bar! From shakers to glasses to cocktail picks, it’s time to elevate your cocktail game and impress family and friends with signature drinks and concoctions!

Cocktail Bar Tools

SHAKERS – Shaking your cocktail mixes and chills it faster than stirring. It also dilutes the alcohol to bring the acid, sugar, and the alcohol together to give texture to your drink. When it comes to shakers, you can’t go wrong with a classic stainless steel shaker. But because I love pretty things, this glass shaker and this checked shaker both caught my eye!
ICE CUBE MOLDS – Ice does more than just chills your cocktail! As the ice breaks down through being shaken or stirred, it adds water to the drink, which mellows the alcohol and infuses fruity flavors to create a smoother drink. You can go with square, round, or decorative ice cubes in your drinks!
GLASSES – Yes, the type of glass you put your drink in matters! It can be overwhelming to know what to have, so here’s a few I recommend having on hand.
- Martini glasses – Use for drinks like my Peanut Butter Cup Martini or a Classic Lemon Drop Martini.
- Short glasses – For times when you’re craving a White Russian, a Pineapple Margarita, or something sweeter like an Almond Joy Cocktail.
- Tall glasses – Makes drinks like Hawaiian Party Punch or even Iced Coffee Sodas fun!
- Moscow Mule cups – I love a Moscow Mule, and the copper mugs help to keep the drinks nice and cold!
- Coupe glasses – The cutest glasses for classic drinks like a Cable Car Martini!
- Champagne flutes – You can get these with stems or without stem! Perfect for a 5-Minute Pink Champagne Punch Cocktail or a Strawberry Mimosa.

yellow cocktail in a clear glass with a cherry, lime and pineapple slice in the drink.

MIXING SPOON – Mixing your drink with a long-handled mixing spoon allows the flavors of your drink to mixed gently. They can also be helpful in layering ingredients in drinks or the end can be used as a muddler in case you don’t have one.
JIGGER – No cocktail bar is complete without a jigger! It helps to measure liquid ingredients!
MUDDLER – You’ll want to have a muddler for drinks like a Mango Mojito. You’ll need to gently bruise your ingredients like mint, fruit, or a peel, with a muddler to release their flavor. It’s done in the glass itself and then joined by whatever liquids the recipe calls for.
MESH STRAINER – The cone shape is essential when straining unwanted extras for from your cocktail!
JUICER – Because fresh is best when making a cocktail! I’ve used this juicer for years and love it.

Kir royale champagne with a lemon peel on the rim

PEELERS – Peel your citrus fruit and garnish your cocktails with ease thanks to a swivel peeler and a zester!
COCKTAIL PICKS – Keep your olives, cherries, and other garnishments in place with cocktail picks.
GLASS PITCHER – Some cocktails are single serve, but there are times when you want a boozy drink for a crowd and will need a glass pitcher to make it in! It will complete your at-home cocktail bar. Some of my favorite drinks for a crowd are Salty Dog Punch, Electric Lemonade Punch, or Knock You Naked Punch!

More Drinks to Make at Home

Lavender Haze Cocktail

Strawberry Daiquiri

Salted Caramel Mocha Martini

French 75 Cocktail

Classic Mai Thai

Pomegranate Martini

This pomegranate martini recipe is tart, tangy and perfect for any occasion! The jewel-toned drink blends pomegranate juice with vodka,…

This pomegranate martini recipe is tart, tangy and perfect for any occasion! The jewel-toned drink blends pomegranate juice with vodka, lemon and orange liqueur.

Why we love this recipe

Looking for a fun cocktail as a signature drink for your next gathering? Try a Pomegranate Martini! Crisp, sweet tart, fruity, and light: it’s much closer to a Cosmo than the classic martini. But instead of cranberry juice like the Cosmopolitan, it’s made with pomegranate juice instead.

Serve it up in a martini glass and you’ve got a sophisticated cocktail that’s refreshing and easy to drink. Here’s how to make it!

What’s in a pomegranate martini?

This pomegranate martini can be considered a spin on the classic martini: except that it’s closer to a Cosmopolitan! Both the Cosmo and the martini have official definitions on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails. But this pomegranate martini spin is off-script! It’s got vodka like a vodka martini, but it’s really more of a sour cocktail than anything. Here are the ingredients in a pomegranate martini:

Vodka
Pomegranate juice (purchased or fresh squeezed)
Cointreau
Lemon juice
Simple syrup

How to make a pomegranate martini (basic steps)

It’s very simple to make a pomegranate martini! All you’ll need is a cocktail shaker and a martini glass. Here are the basic steps (or jump to the recipe):

Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake for 15 seconds until cold.
Strain into a glass.
Garnish with a lemon peel: see below for what to do with it!

How to express citrus into a cocktail

For this pomegranate martini, you’ll do something that’s common in cocktails: expressing a citrus peel onto the drink. Why? This gives you a strong citrus perfume when you go to take a sip of the drink. Here’s what you’ll do:

Use a knife to remove a 1″ wide strip of the lemon peel.
Squeeze it over the drink first, which releases the oils and gives it a strong lemon perfume.
To amp it up a notch, run the lemon peel around the rim of the glass. This gives an even more citrus-y first sip.

You’ll notice this technique is used in lots of classic cocktails to add an extra sensory element, like the Classic Old Fashioned and Boulevardier Cocktail.

About Cointreau

Cointreau is an orange liqueur with a beautiful orange perfume flavor. Cointreau is a type of triple sec, which means “triple distilled.” But it’s technically a higher quality than a Triple Sec, with a more robust and balanced flavor. It’s most well known for being used in cocktails like the Classic Margarita. If you buy a bottle, you’ll have lots to make with it: all our Best Margarita Recipes and these Best Cointreau Drinks.

If you don’t have a bottle of Cointreau for this pomegranate martini, you can substitute any orange liqueur. You could try Triple Sec, or a higher end liqueur like Grand Marnier.

There are several drinks that are similar to the pomegranate martini, like other pink cocktails, vodka martinis, and sour cocktails! Here are it’s closest relatives:

The Cosmopolitan Cocktail is like a pomegranate martini but uses cranberry juice. It’s also often garnished with lime.
The Lemon Drop Martini is another type of martini made with vodka and lemon! It’s also technically a sour cocktail instead of a martini.
The French Martini is perfectly balanced with vodka, pineapple juice, and raspberry liqueur.
A Watermelon Martini is a fruity vodka cocktail starring watermelon and lime.

Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Lemon Drop Martini

French Martini

20 Best Types of Martinis

Pomegranate Martini

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.4 from 8 reviews

Author: Sonja Overhiser
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1 drink

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Description

This pomegranate martini recipe is tart, tangy and perfect for any occasion! The jewel-toned drink blends pomegranate juice with vodka, lemon and orange liqueur.

Ingredients

1 ounce vodka
1 ounce 100% pomegranate juice (purchased or fresh squeezed)
½ ounce Cointreau
½ ounce lemon juice
½ ounce simple syrup or maple syrup

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Instructions

Place the vodka, pomegranate juice, Cointreau, lemon juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake 15 seconds until cold. Strain the drink into a cocktail or martini glass.
Use a knife to remove a 1″ wide strip of the lemon peel. Squeeze the lemon peel into the drink to release the oils. Gently run the peel around the edge of the glass, then place it in the glass and serve.

Notes

To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons

Category: Drink
Method: Shaken
Cuisine: Cocktails
Diet: Vegan

More classic cocktails

Here are a few more of our best classic cocktails you might also enjoy:

Tom Collins This popular gin cocktail that’s light, sweet tart, and bubbly!
Southside Cocktail An easy and refreshing gin drink made with mint, lemon and lime: think of it like a gin mojito. Or try the Southside Fizz, the bubbly version.
Classic Mojito Perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and just sweet enough.
Paloma Cousin of the classic margarita, this easy Mexican cocktail recipe features tequila with grapefruit instead of lime!

Lemon Drop Martini

Here are the secrets to a refreshing and tangy lemon drop martini! Learn how to make this classic cocktail at…

Here are the secrets to a refreshing and tangy lemon drop martini! Learn how to make this classic cocktail at home, from rim-dipping techniques to the ideal vodka-to-lemon ratio.

Lemon drop martini in martini glass with lemon garnish and sugar rim.

Love a classic sour cocktail? Then you’ll adore a lemon drop martini! This zingy drink is perfectly balanced and refreshingly tart, served with a sugar rim and a lemon twist. It looks so festive that it’s great for celebrations of all kinds. Whatever the occasion: this drink delivers!

Why we love this recipe: When we first tried the lemon drop martini, we could see why it’s a classic. It’s got a cool, clean flavor and a sophisticated vibe. It’s now solidly a part of our cocktail recipe repertoire!

Ingredients in a lemon drop martini

A lemon drop martini is a sweet and sour version of a vodka martini. Its similarities with the classic martini are in name only! The lemon drop is a classic alcoholic drink that makes the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails. That means it has an official definition of how to make it:

Citron vodka (or regular vodka): For our spin on the lemon drop martini, we use standard vodka to keep it simple. In our taste tests, citron vodka only adds a subtle citrus hint to the finish. But if you have citron vodka, by all means use it here!
Cointreau or triple sec: We prefer using Cointreau as the orange liqueur in this drink, but triple sec also works.
Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice brings the zippy, tart flavor: steer clear of bottled juice here.
Simple syrup: Simple syrup balances the flavors: it’s a bar cart staple that’s easy to make at home.

Related drink: This drink is very close to a Vodka Sidecar, which uses similar ingredients!

How to make a lemon drop martini: step by step

If you’re ready to get drinking, here are the basic steps to the lemon drop martini:

Step 1: Rim the glass with sugar. A classic lemon drop is served in a martini glass with sugar on the rim. This helps to balance out the tart flavor of the cocktail.
Step 2: Shake the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Place 1 ½ oz vodka, ½ oz Cointreau, ½ oz lemon juice, and ½ oz simple syrup into a cocktail shaker. Add 1 handful ice and shake until cold.
Strain into a glass and add garnish. Strain the drink into the martini glass and add a lemon twist or lemon wheel.

How to make a lemon twist

The lemon twist makes a sophisticated lemon drop martini! For our method of making a lemon twist garnish using no special tools, go to How to Make a Lemon Twist.

Don’t want to try the twist? Slice a lemon wheel, then cut a notch in it and add it to the rim of the glass.

How to make a sugar rim

Using superfine sugar rim on the martini glass rim makes for a festive look, and it helps to balance out some of the tart flavor. Here are our tips to making the perfect rim:

Spread the sugar on a plate in an even layer. Using superfine sugar is best, since it adheres best to the rim.
Take a lemon wedge and cut a notch in the middle: then slide it around the rim of the glass. This moistens the rim without having to use your fingers!
Tilt the glass into the sugar so that the sugar sticks to the outside edge.

Cointreau vs triple sec

We like this lemon drop martini recipe using Cointreau, which has a orange perfume flavor that’s well balanced between bitter and sweet. You can also use Triple Sec, which has a more straightforward, intense flavor. If you’re not sure whether to spring for a bottle of Cointreau, there’s a long list of great Cointreau drinks that use it, like the margarita and the Cosmopolitan.

When to serve a lemon drop martini

The lemon drop martini cocktail is tart and tangy, with a festive vibe. It works well for so many occasions. It’s great as a New Year’s Eve drink, Christmas or holiday drink, bachelorette party drink, celebration drink, and more!

More martini recipes

There are lots of types of martinis, from dry to fruity. Once you’ve tried the lemon drop, here are a few more to mix up:

A classic martini or dirty martini ooze sophistication. The Gibson is the same as a dry martini, except for the garnish!
The Espresso martini is a popular variation with a jolt of caffeine.
The Vesper martini was invented by James Bond, starring Lillet Blanc, gin, and vodka.
A French Martini is perfectly balanced with vodka, pineapple juice, and raspberry liqueur.
The pomegranate martini, cucumber martini, and watermelon martini are fun flavor variations.

French Martini

Espresso Martini

Pomegranate Martini

Vesper Martini

Frequently asked questions

What vodka is best for a lemon drop martini?

Citron vodka is classic, but we like using a high-quality, plain vodka here.

My rim keeps coming off! How can I get it to stick?

Use superfine sugar if you can, which adheres best. Moisten the rim of your martini glass with a lemon wedge or a very wet fingertip. Then, dip the rim into a shallow dish filled with the sugar.

How sweet or tart should my lemon drop martini be?

It’s a matter of personal preference! Start by following a recipe, then adjust the amount of simple syrup or lemon juice to your taste. For a more nuanced sweetness, consider using maple syrup as a sweetener.