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This pomegranate martini pairs tart pomegranate juice with vodka, Cointreau, and fresh lemon for a sweet tart sophisticated cocktail! It’s perfect for any occasion and ready in just 5 minutes.
Looking for a fun cocktail as a signature drink? My pick is the Pomegranate Martini! It’s 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.
I love how this drink has a gorgeous ruby red color and looks impressive, but it takes only 5 minutes to whip up! I’m a huge fan of pomegranate cocktails, and this one is one of my favorites (except it’s really hard for me to pick a favorite, because they’re all so delicious!).
5 Star Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Amazing Martini! This is my go-to drink! So glad to have tried this recipe. Thank you!!” -Craig
Ingredients You’ll Need
This pomegranate martini can be considered a spin on the classic martini, but 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.
This pomegranate martini has vodka like a vodka martini, but with the orange liqueur it’s really more like a sour cocktail. Here are the ingredients in a pomegranate martini:
- Pomegranate juice: I reach for 100% pomegranate juice with no added sugar: brands like POM Wonderful work great and are available at most grocery stores. You can also make fresh squeezed pomegranate juice.
- Vodka: Any quality vodka works here. I typically use a mid-range vodka like Tito’s or Ketel One.
- Cointreau: This premium orange liqueur is technically a type of triple sec, but with a more refined, balanced flavor profile. It adds a citrus perfume to the drink. You can substitute Triple Sec or another orange liqueur like Grand Marnier, but Cointreau gives the best flavor profile.
- Lemon juice: Always use fresh squeezed lemon juice, never bottled juice.
- Simple syrup: This gives just the right sweetness; you can also use maple syrup if you like.
Tip: Once you have a bottle of Cointreau, you’ll use it often: it’s essential in my classic margaritas and many other cocktails. I consider it a bar cart staple worth investing in!
Using Fresh Pomegranate Juice
If you’re working with fresh pomegranates, one large pomegranate yields about ½ to ¾ cup of juice, which is enough for several drinks. Fresh juice has a brighter, more vibrant flavor. But honestly, I usually use store-bought for pomegranate martinis since it’s so quick and easy.
If you have leftover juice, you can use it a pomegranate vinaigrette for salads or my other pomegranate cocktails, like the pomegranate margarita or pomegranate mimosa.
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, expressing it into the drink before serving (see below).
How to Express Citrus into Your Cocktail
For this pomegranate martini, you’ll express a citrus peel onto the drink. This gives you a strong citrus perfume when you go to take a sip of the drink. Here’s what to 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.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
For parties, you can premix the vodka, pomegranate juice, Cointreau, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a pitcher (without ice), then store it covered in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, you can measure out 3 ½ oz individual portions, shake them with ice, and garnish.
The mixed cocktail base will keep refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Just give it a stir before shaking with ice.
Tip: For 8 servings, simply change the ounce in the recipe to cups (1 cup vodka, 1 cup pomegranate juice, ½ cup Cointreau, ½ cup lemon juice, and ½ cup simple syrup).
Serving Suggestions
This pomegranate martini is fun enough for special occasions but easy enough for casual entertaining. Here’s how I like to serve it:
- Holiday parties: The red color makes it great for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s celebrations.
- Valentine’s Day: The pink hue also makes this ideal for Valentine’s dinner at home.
- Girls’ night: It’s festive and photogenic: exactly what you want when friends come over!
Related Martini Variations to Try
If you love this fruity take on the martini, you’ll enjoy exploring other variations in my cocktail collection:
- Cosmopolitan Cocktail: This classic cocktail is the closest relative of the Pomegranate Martini!
- Pomegranate Cosmo: A mashup of the classic Cosmo with pomegranate juice!
- Lemon Drop Martini: Another type of martini that’s technically a sour cocktail: tangy and sweet with a sugared rim.
- French Martini: Features vodka, pineapple juice, and Chambord for a fruitier profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! If you prefer less sweetness, start by omitting the simple syrup entirely. The Cointreau adds some sweetness, and depending on your pomegranate juice, you might not need additional sugar. You can also use maple syrup as a substitute.
Any quality vodka works here. I like a mid-range vodka like Tito’s or Ketel One. One reader had success with a flavored vodkas: peach and orange-infused vodkas complement the pomegranate.
Increase the simple syrup to ¾ ounce, or choose a pomegranate juice blend that includes other sweeter fruit juices. POM Wonderful is quite tart, so a blend will naturally be milder.
Absolutely! See the notes in the “Storage and Make Ahead Tips” section above.
Pomegranate Martini
This pomegranate martini pairs tart pomegranate juice with vodka, Cointreau, and fresh lemon for a sweet tart sophisticated cocktail! It’s perfect for any occasion and ready in just 5 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
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
Batching this drink: For parties, you can premix the vodka, pomegranate juice, Cointreau, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a pitcher (without ice), then store it covered in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, you can measure out 3 ½ oz individual portions, shake them with ice, and garnish. The mixed cocktail base will keep refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Just give it a stir before shaking with ice. For 8 servings, simply change the ounce in the recipe to cups (1 cup vodka, 1 cup pomegranate juice, ½ cup Cointreau, ½ cup lemon juice, and ½ cup simple syrup).
Love it!!
Wonderful drink! I kicked it up by using the Kettle one vodka infused with peach and orange and grand marnier. I totally forgot to sip it!
Maple syrup is not good sub. For simple syrup. Taste is overwhelming. Ruined the drink!
This is an impressive, delicious cocktail that appeals to everyone and is easy to make. We used an electric citrus juicer to render the juice from big, fresh pomegranates that come out in the markets in the fall and strained it. The juice was still a bit cloudy. I suppose we could have strained it thru a cloth jelly bag or cheesecloth, but too much work! We halved the sugar syrup bec we don’t like sweet drinks and it came out really well.
Thank you for this cocktail recipe.
Hi,
Dilemma: have pomegranate juice, tito’s vodka, tequila, lime & lemon juice. Can I get a decent (aka passable) martini from all that?
Thanks,
vin.
Hi! Yes, you’d just need to make some simple syrup.
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce 100% pomegranate juice (purchased or fresh squeezed)
1/4 ounce lemon juice
1/4 ounce lime juice
½ ounce simple syrup
Amazing Martini! This is my go-to drink! So glad to have tried this recipe.
I can’t wait to try more of their drink recipes. Thank you!!
Had to fake a quick drink for a crowd and make it somewhat fancy. Had triple sec, vodka and pomegranate juice. Used sweet and sour because I didn’t have simple syrup. Made it work and everyone liked it. Thanks
Delicious! Sweet, balanced, added a sugar rim, and lime juice for substitute. Oh, and cherry for fun. I’m v- new to Martinis and do not posses a martini glass yet!
Let us know if you have any questions!
Where is this martini glass from?? I love that it’s deep.
Crate & Barrel several years ago.