This adaptation of Oprah’s Pomegranate Martini has a hint of rosemary and real pomegranate seeds for an added dose of festive flavor.
Are you a garnish-er, or a garnish-less?
I think it’s pretty evident by the looks of the recipes I post on this old bloggity blog that I’ve become a garnish-more type of gal. You may say YAY!, you may say EW!, but either way, the garnish is my go-to, and not quite shockingly, cocktails have yet to escape my embellishing.
A dip of gold sugar here, a drop or two of fresh pomegranates there and a stir stick that’s fresh and fragrant are what make my seasonal Pomegranate Martini totally festive and bright.
This Pomegranate Martini is my monthly contribution to my friend Becky of The Vintage Mixer’s #eatseasonal round-up of recipes. Each month she challenges food bloggers to create recipes inspired by her Seasonal Produce Guide. Check out December’s list of seasonal delicious here.
Pomegranates figured prominently in this month’s list, and with plenty of toasting in my holiday plans I knew that this simple cocktail was definitely in order.
About the Recipe
The cocktail is one I’ve been making for years. I found it forever ago, after discovering it as being attributed to the one and only—OOOOOOprah. Is it one of her favorite things? I can’t imagine it isn’t.
Then after wandering around the web, as I am know to do, I found a recipe of Ina’s that had a lot of the same makings, but in quantities to toast to with a group, because who wants to drink alone?
This time around I didn’t have citrus flavored vodka on hand so I spiked the cocktail concoction with fresh lemon juice instead. A healthy dose of orange liqueur (oh, fancy, but not!) mellows and rounds out the flavors.
This drink is non-James Bond style. We’re not shaken, we’re stirred.
And onto the garnishes we go. Gold sugar for the rim, seasonal pomegranate seeds for bobbing, and a stir of fresh rosemary for the win.
Cocktail Making Essentials
I picked up a few new glasses for these drinks and this time around went stemless. Here are a few product ideas that’ll make your mixing mighty fine.
gold decorative sugar / Lulie martini glass / martini pitcher / Spirits Up! disposable party coasters / round metal tray / cocktail strainer
Pomegranate Martini Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups 16 ounces vodka
- 1 cup 8 ounces orange liqueur such as Cointreau
- 1 cup 8 ounces pomegranate juice
- ⅓ cup pomegranate seeds
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Lemon twists from lemon peel
- Rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- Combine the vodka, orange liqueur, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice in a pitcher and refrigerate until ready to use. Dip rims of the martini glasses in a shallow bowl with ¼ inch of water then roll rims in gold sugar. Fill martini glasses with pomegranate mixture, a tablespoon of pomegranate seeds, lemon twists and garnish with rosemary sprigs. Serve over ice if desired.
Notes
If you try this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram or Twitter with #foodiecrush!
Make it a great day friends, and cook something good.
XO, Heidi
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We do a cook off with my sister and the ingredient was Pomegranates. Everything we make (appetizer , main dish, dessert and cocktail) has to have the chosen ingredient. I had to make a cocktail and I made the Pomegranate martini .. It was DELICIOUS.!!!! thanks for the recipe.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Sandy!
So pretty, but dang – this was a stiff cocktail! Made these on Thanksgiving and we each had to water them down. Will try again sometime, but maybe with more juice or some sparkling water.
While this was a pretty drink with just the addition of the pom seeds in each glass, the recipe is way too strong with 2 cups of vodka + 1 cup of orange liqueur even when iced down.
I made this Xmas eve night following the written recipe and everyone liked it but felt it was too strong. Next time it’s just 1 cup of vodka in my pitcher.
Also, I added a bit of simple sugar.
Thanks Blanca for the feeback! I am so glad that you enjoyed the cocktail.
It just wouldn’t be the same without garnish! This is such a stunner, Heidi!
When you started out this post with asking if you are a garnisher or not all I could think of was Everett. He has this strange habit of wanting to put something on top of the food on his spoon before he eats it – it’s like he wants to garnish every bite. Silly boy!!
On another note… these cocktails. Woah! Can’t wait to try them this holiday season!
I am all for garnish and this is one gorgeous holiday cocktail!
I’ll take a few please. Yumm. I am a garnisher or garnishless as long as it tastes good.
Such pretty giggle juice!! Can’t beat a festive martini! Garnishes all.the.way.
GORGEOUS. Garnishes FTW! :)
A Good Thing!
Garnishes and glitter for the win! Even James Bond couldn’t resist.
Oh I’m a total garnish-er. Pureed soups and cocktails are just screaming for us to top them with pretty, yummy things!! Love these martini’s, Heidi!
Perfect drink for the holidays! So pretty!
I’m a cocktail garnish-er, all the way! These are so pretty Heidi!