Pomegranate Martini

Pomegranate Martini

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

A favorite among fruity vodka martinis, the pomegranate martini is a delightful and absolutely gorgeous cocktail. This cocktail is a simple twist on the Cosmopolitan, but rather than cranberry juice, you'll use pomegranate juice, shaking it with the cosmo's vodka, orange liqueur, and citrus juice. You can use freshly pressed or store-bought pomegranate juice so you can enjoy this cocktail year-round, though it's especially lovely for fall and winter holidays like Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving, Christmas, winter solstice celebrations, and New Year's Eve.

The Key Ingredients You Need for a Perfect Pomegranate Martini

  • Pomegranate juice—For this drink, you can use store-bought pomegranate juice or press your own juice. Fresh pomegranates are typically available in North America from September or October through January, so if you're making this drink for fall or winter holidays, consider using freshly pressed juice. Juicing a fresh pomegranate is incredibly simple: Place the arils (or seeds) in a baggie and crush them to release the juice, then strain out the seeds.
  • Vodka—A top-shelf vodka will make for a top-notch pomegranate martini, but there are plenty of wonderful vodkas that won't break the bank.
  • Orange liqueur—To make the best pomegranate martini, choose a premium triple sec. Cointreau is the most popular option and it's a wonderful choice if you want a liqueur that's sweet without being cloying and has a nice complexity of flavor.
  • Lemons—A splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice brightens up this cocktail, while a lemon twist is a pretty garnish. Let one lemon do double-duty by cutting the twists from it before squeezing out the juice.

Do Pomegranate Seeds Make a Good Garnish?

When in season, add a few pomegranate arils as a garnish if you like. Whether fresh or dried, pomegranate arils are not likely to float unless added to carbonated drinks (though some may surprise you). Instead, they typically sink to the bottom of the glass where they make a tasty treat when you finish your drink.

Tips for Making the Best Pomegranate Martini


  • Dial in the sweetness—Some bottled pomegranate juices are very sweet, while others are almost pure fruit juice with little or no added sweetener. Even fresh pomegranates can vary in sweetness, so whether you are using bottled or fresh juice, taste the juice on its own so you have an idea for how much lemon juice to add. Quite often, just a splash is needed to get an ideal balance of sweet and sour. Depending on your taste, a sweeter juice may need more citrus.
  • Shake it well—This is a drink that tastes best when thoroughly chilled, so shake the cocktail well over ice before straining it into a chilled cocktail glass.
  • Chill your glasses for the most refreshing cocktails—Serving this martini in a chilled cocktail glass will keep the drink colder and improve their flavor. For a quick chill, place a few ice cubes in the glass while mixing up the drink and discard them before straining.


Make-Ahead

If you want to get a jumpstart on your cocktail prep, you can make the lemon peel garnishes and juice the lemons up to three days in advance. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge. If you are using fresh pomegranate juice, it will taste best if you press it the day you make the cocktails, though you can technically make it up to three days ahead. Store it in a tightly sealed container in the fridge until you are ready to use it.

"If you are a fan of the Cosmopolitan, this is an excellent option for a variation on the popular classic. The mouthfeel elevates this fruity 'martini' variation and brings it a touch closer to a mixology experience than most well-known '90s cocktails. This recipe is balanced and will satisfy any fun-loving craving." —Sean Johnson

Pomegranate Martini Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces vodka

  • 1/2 ounce premium triple sec

  • 1 ounce pomegranate juice

  • 1 splash freshly squeezed lemon juice, or to taste

  • Lemon peel, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for a Pomegranate Martini

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour 1 1/2 ounces vodka, 1/2 ounce triple sec, 1 ounce pomegranate juice, and 1 splash freshly squeezed lemon juice (or to taste). Fill with ice.

    Mixing a Pomegranate Martini

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  3. Shake well.

    Shaking a Pomegranate Martini

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Straining a Pomegranate Martini

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  5. Garnish with a lemon peel.

    Pomegranate Martini With Lemon Peel Garnish

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

“Feeling Adventurous? Try This

  • Sweeten it up—If your taste leans toward sweeter cocktails, add 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of simple syrup to the shaker along with the other ingredients.
  • Switch up the orange liqueur—Switch from a triple sec like Cointreau to a brandy-based orange liqueur (e.g., Grand Marnier) for a darker hint of orange.
  • Swap the lemon for lime—Using lime for the citrus juice and peel adds an intriguing flavor and a pretty pop of color that's great for Christmas.
  • Use a flavored vodka—Citrus vodka is a nice choice, or give the pomegranate martini a seasonal spice with either cinnamon or ginger vodka (both are simple homemade infusions).
  • Make it peachy—Peach schnapps is a fun addition to this cocktail. Try adding 1/2 ounce of the sweet liqueur.
  • Skip the alcohol—For a virgin pomegranate martini, shake 2 ounces each of pomegranate juice and orange or cranberry juice with a squeeze of lemon. It's fantastic with a splash of club soda.
  • Add a festive rim—Around the holidays, rim the glass with a mixture of sugar and ground cinnamon: Mix equal parts of the two ingredients until it becomes an even, light brown color. Wet the glass rim with a lemon wedge, then roll it in a small dish of cinnamon sugar.

How Strong Is a Pomegranate Martini?

While a martini made with pomegranate juice is slightly lighter than one that uses pomegranate liqueur, the difference is not significant. This pomegranate martini is still pretty potent, with an average alcohol content of 20 percent ABV (40 proof). To put that into perspective, drinking two of these martinis is like taking a straight shot of vodka.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
154 Calories
0g Fat
10g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 154
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 10g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 14mg 68%
Calcium 12mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 93mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)