Pomegranate Rosemary Gin Sparkler

Packed with pomegranate juice, rosemary simple syrup, and gin, this pomegranate and gin cocktail will help you get you through the long winter days.

It’s 2015 and Cocktail Friday is back in our lives! Oh, how I’ve missed you so. But just because Cocktail Friday has been a little bit absent from this blog, doesn’t at all mean it’s been absent from my life. The holiday cookie, dessert, and cranberry craziness kind of took over and I haven’t been spending much time working on new cocktails. But I was definitely still drinking them! And even though we’re now all New Year, New You and let’s get healthy, I’m still finding room in my life for cocktails. Especially on Fridays.

I’ve been probably too obsessively planning my year in my Day Designer (which HI is the best daily planner in the entire world, especially if you’re to-do list obsessed) and it involves a lot of cocktails. 52 of them, perhaps? One every day of the week? Well, let’s say I’ll promise you 30. Potentially more. It’s going to be a very good year.

This first cocktail of 2015 is totally Christmas colors even though I made it after the holidays. Maybe I just can’t get out of the holiday spirit? And maybe you shouldn’t either. January is a cold dark month and I don’t have a problem with trying to trick myself into believing the holidays are still here. Though my husband probably won’t let me keep the tree up for much longer. But he will let me serve him pomegranate gin cocktails. Huh.

POMEGRANATE AND GIN COCKTAIL WITH ROSEMARY RECIPE

Pomegranate and rosemary are flavors that will last you all winter long. And gin, too. Definitely gin. And when combined into a cocktail, they are pure heaven. Make this for the holidays or make it after the holidays… Whatever you do, just make it!

Speaking of New Year, New You, I just learned something that is a total 2015 game changer. How to get the arils out of a pomegranate easily. I’d been hearing about the cut it in half and whack it with a wooden spoon method for a while now, but didn’t really believe it would work. But after watching this video, I decided to give it a go. And it worked. SO WELL.

I’ve never opened a pomegranate so quickly in my life. And now I have a feeling I’m going to be buying pomegranates a lot more often (and not letting them go bad in the fridge). This is heaven.

I used my giant ice cube molds to make pomegranate ice cubes. You don’t have to do this step of the recipe.

But it is pretty fun. I simply put some pomegranate arils in the bottom of the mold, filled with water, and froze.

It’s OK if your ice cubes aren’t giant sized.

This pomegranate and gin cocktail also involved rosemary simple syrup. And you do have to do this step.

First simple syrup of 2015…. I wonder how many pounds of sugar I’ll go through for simple syrups this year!

Bring one cup of sugar and one cup of water to a boil in a medium saucepan, add two rosemary sprigs, lower heat, and let simmer for about 10 minutes, until syrup thickens.

Remove to a jar or bowl and let cool.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, along with 6 ounces pomegranate juice, 3 ounces gin, and 1 ounce simple syrup. If you like a stronger cocktail, feel free to add a little more gin. I won’t tell.

Shake it up and then divide into two glasses filled with ice (or a giant pomegranate ice cube).

Top with soda water and a sprig of rosemary for garnish. You can add more pomegranate arils, too.

I know it’s only the second day of the year, but I think this is my official cocktail of 2015. Or at least January 2015.

If you have all kinds of healthy New Year’s resolutions, I think a pomegranate and gin cocktail is still perfect for a fun little weekend treat that won’t bring you too far off your resolution track. After all, pomegranate juice is packed with antioxidants and rosemary has lots of health benefits, too.

Not that you need an excuse to drink a cocktail on a Friday night. Right?

But if someone thinks you do, I can give you about a million more. You worked a long week. You barely spent any time on yourself this week. You crossed like 20 things off your to-do list. You actually made dinner. You ate a salad for lunch. You didn’t scream when your train was delayed. You didn’t cry when you had to stay ridiculously late at work. You actually did the dishes every night this week. And laundry, too. And you only hit your snooze button 14 times, instead of the usual 44.

See, I’m good at this. Just one more:

It’s the weekend. And that alone calls for a pomegranate and gin cocktail for all!

Happy 2015! Here’s to a year filled with health, cocktails, and just plain deliciousness.

Are you starting the year off with a cocktail?

If you’re looking for more delicious winter cocktail recipes, check out my Cranberry Pomegranate Sparkler and my Grapefruit Blood Orange Cocktail.

Print Recipe

Pomegranate Rosemary Gin Sparkler

Packed with pomegranate juice, rosemary simple syrup, and gin, this pomegranate and gin cocktail will help you get you through the long winter days.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time12 mins

Total Time22 mins

Course: Drink

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cocktails, Gin, Pomegranate

Servings: 2

Author: Sues

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 sprigs rosemary, plus more for garnish
• 6 oz. pomegranate juice
• 3 oz. gin
• Soda water, to top
• Pomegranate arils, for garnish and/or ice cubes (optional)

Instructions

• Bring sugar and water to a boil in a medium saucepan.
• Add two rosemary sprigs, lower heat, and let simmer for about 10 minutes, until syrup thickens.
• Remove syrup to a jar or bowl and let cool.
• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, along with 6 ounces pomegranate juice, 3 ounces gin, and 1 ounce simple syrup (If you like a stronger cocktail, feel free to add a little more gin).
• Shake it up and then divide into two glasses filled with ice.
• Top with soda water, a sprig of rosemary, and pomegranate arils for garnish.
• Optional: Place pomegranate arils in the bottom of an ice cube tray, fill with water, and freeze. Use ice cubes in cocktail glasses.