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.
Related drinks: Cosmo & more!
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.
Pomegranate Martini
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Prep Time: 5 minutes -
Cook Time: 0 minutes
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Total Time: 5 minutes
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Yield: 1 drink
Print RecipeDescription
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
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!