Pomegranate Old Fashioned

A new twist on an old classic, this Pomegranate Old Fashioned will be your new go-to drink. It’s perfectly balanced: kinda sweet, kinda tart. Its gorgeous color makes it a festive choice for any kind of party.

And even better, this pomegranate cocktail is so easy to make and you can even make a big batch for a crowd!

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Why this recipe works

I can’t do brown liquor. Just can’t. It’s not a choice. My body just won’t let me. But that’s fine. I stick with vodka, gin, tequila, liqueurs and occasionally dark rum.

But what gets frustrating is that so many drinks using clear liquors end up being too sweet or floral. Syrups, pre-made mixes, lavender, sweet juices – these all pop up over and over again on cocktail menus.

But sometimes I still want something bitter. Sharp. Something that braces my throat and zips through my jaw. So when I saw that there was such a thing as pomegranate liqueur, I was intrigued.

Would this be the darker, moodier cousin of limoncello? Or would it just end up being a syrupy sweet alcohol with a touch of juice or, even worse, fake flavoring?

Are pomegranate liqueur cocktails even a thing?

What is pomegranate liqueur?

I decided to take a risk and grab a bottle of Pama pomegranate liqueur.

There are other pomegranate liqueur brands out there but this was the one I was able to find at my local store.

And look, I swear this isn’t an ad, but I can honestly say it’s good! Made with pomegranate juice, vodka and tequila*, it’s definitely tart enough, with just a touch of sweetness.

Pama liqueur would also be great mixed with gin, vodka, bourbon or even champagne or prosecco.

It’s even good on the rocks but for some reason, before I even tried it, “Pomegranate Old Fashioned” popped in my head. I thought it would be the perfect balance of a not-too-sweet drink when brown liquor just won’t work.

 

Pomegranate Old-Fashioned

Add a bit of honey syrup and a few dashes of bitters to nudge the flirtation between the sweet and sour. And boom – a sharp new twist on a classic.

(Just be sure to use a cocktail shaker with a seal like this one, otherwise it might leak all over the place.)

Plus that color! Like a ruby gemstone poured into a glass.

It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day (like before or with this chocolate skillet cake for 2) or Christmas (it’ll be delicious with this spiced pork tenderloin), but I’m not about to wait for an excuse to make this.

And I’m sure fancier people than myself would garnish this with an orange slice or a coil of lime peel, but I don’t think it needs it. Plus, I’m lazy.

There are cocktails that almost demand a specific garnish but this isn’t one of them. But if you really want to class it up, a few pomegranate arils work perfectly.

Oh god, I was about to joke that I should call it a Pomegranate New Fashioned. Let’s just get to the recipe.

*I’m not going to say this make it Paleo, per se, but vodka and tequila are two of the more accepted liquors in the Paleo/Primal community. So if these really are the only ingredients, that makes it at least a little healthier than a lot of the sugar-laden liqueurs out there.

Blah blah blah, let’s drink.

 

Other recipes you might like:

1. Sparkling Winter Sangria
2. Pumpkin Cider Margarita
3. Negroni Spagliato
4. Limoncello Spritz

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