I wanted to make a sweet (but not too sweet) cocktail to help celebrate Rosh Hashana using festive holiday flavors. I love, love this drink and the added fun of the pomegranate ice cubes. Moreover, it’s incredibly easy (and still delicious) to make as a mocktail for those who are abstaining from alcohol. Happy New Year, all!
Spiced Pomegranate Cocktail (adapted from Honestly Yum)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz vodka
- 1 – 1/2 oz pomegranate sparkling soda (or plain pomegranate juice)
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- 1/2 oz vanilla cardamom syrup
- dash of bitters
- pomegranate ice cubes* and sprig of fresh mint for garnish
Vanilla Cardamom Syrup
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 cardamom pods, cracked open and ground with mortar + pestle
Directions
1. To make vanilla cardamom syrup, add water and sugar to a small saucepan and heat until sugar dissolves. Add vanilla extract and ground cardamom and let simmer two minutes before removing from heat. Cool to room temperature and strain through a fine mesh strainer.
2. Fill a glass with pomegranate ice cubes and add vodka, pomegranate sparkling soda, lime juice, vanilla cardamom syrup and dash of bitters. Stir and then garnish with fresh mint.
3. To make this a mocktail, leave out vodka and bitters and add either more pomegranate sparkling soda or sparkling water.
*fill ice cube trays with pomegranate seeds and then with water. freeze overnight.
