How to Make the Perfect Pomegranate Martini

by Sabrina Keating

About the contributor: Sabrina Keating is the perfect southern host for dinner parties, brunches, and cocktails with a passion for connecting people. Her motto is “When in doubt, throw a party!” Her fascination with craft cocktails started when a friend gave her the book “How to Cocktail” by America’s Test Kitchen. She says, “Before reading that book, I’d had little prior exposure to craft cocktails. I quickly became fascinated with the variety of beverages, various ingredients, methods of preparation, and the accouterments available to use in the process. I began searching for additional recipes and supplies to add to my inventory.” Since then she has been on a hunt for various styles of cocktail glasses, monogrammed linen napkins, and other ways to dress up her new beverages.

This martini recipe was developed for Alabama Small Towns and Downtowns by Sabrina over a period of a few months – and was taste tested by several groups of friends at dinners and get togethers before it was deemed the “Perfect Pomegranate Martini”.

Ingredients

2 ounces vodka

2 ounces pomegranate juice

1 ounce orange liqueur

1 ounce simple syrup (easy recipe below)

¾ ounce fresh lemon juice

Garnish Options

Lemon (pro-tip for a show stopping “lemon wheel” presentation below)

Pomegranate arils

Cocktail glitter

This beverage is equally tasty either shaken or stirred.

If you prefer stirred:

Add ingredients in mixing glass

Fill glass about 2/3 full of ice

Stir with a mixing spoon until liquidis well chilled (about 30 seconds)

Strain into chilled martini glass.

If you prefer shaken:

Add ingredients to cocktail shaker

Fill with ice

Shake until ingredients are combined and well chilled

Strain into chilled martini glass.

Easy simple syrup:

Add equal parts granulated sugar and boiling water in mason jar

Put a lid on tightly and shake until sugar is completely dissolved

Allow to cool completely

To make a decorative lemon wheel:

Use a channel zester to cut lemon strips from a whole lemon

Cut from top to bottom in even spaces around the lemon

Cut the lemon into rounds