Sparkling Pomegranate Rosé Cocktail
December 5, 2019 by Ginger Hultin MS RDN
This is the most gorgeous, simple cocktail that you must make for your next party. So many recipes I read call for boiling down herb and fruit to make my own simple syrup, or soaking these foods for days, or a variety of specialty preparations that take WAY more time than I have for this kind of recipe. My Sparkling Pomegranate Rosé Cocktail is nothing like that. You can use on-hand ingredients to whip this up and it’s perfect for a birthday party, dinner party, brunch, or celebration with friends.
While I did make this around the winter holidays with Thanksgiving and holiday parties in mind, it really could be made any time of year. The flavors are light and fruity so it would be fun in the spring or summer as well. Pomegranates are in season in the fall but what’s to stop you from using some raspberries or blackberries other times of the year?
The base for this festive-looking Sparkling Pomegranate Rosé Cocktail is of course sparkling rosé. I was at a friendsgiving party the other day and a man there had opened a bottle of rosé but people were declining to have it. I took him up on his offer, foregoing my usual red wine, because I hadn’t had it since it was hot out this summer! I was pleasantly surprised. Rosé goes so well with many holiday foods and I think we should bring it back into rotation at all times of the year.
My Sparkling Pomegranate Rosé Cocktail is a cocktail indeed because it has vodka in it. You do need to be careful with recipes that combine liquor and wine because…they’re a bit potent. I generally stick to just one. This recipe I would say is alcohol forward because of that combination but in a really good way. I’d say that the pomegranate juice really complements the beverage and brings all the flavors together. Plus it’s the most beautiful color. I bought a bottle of POM Wonderful because it’s so easy and delicious and that makes this cocktail super easy to make, as well.
Sparkling Pomegranate Rosé Cocktail
This is such a simple cocktail to make for your next party but I actually tried it two different ways so I wanted to break them both down for you. Because of the beautiful color and flavors in this recipe, there are some options for how your guests might like it best and that also might depend on your occasion. The one we loved making the most included serving this beverage in a delicate champagne flute.
To create the cocktail, you literally set your glasses out, pour the juice mixture in (you’ll be mixing the first 3 ingredients in a measuring cup first). Then you simply top each with 1/4 cup of chilled sparkling rose, sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and serve. This is absolutely the easiest way to pour it and go. You can double the recipe for a larger group and make 8 or more at a time. This would be so perfect for a brunch, a baby or bridal shower or a birthday party.
One thing I love about the way this cocktail looks is the garnish of pomegranate arils. They are so tart-sweet and small enough to sip and enjoy with the beverage. I took this to a party last weekend actually and I had a container of the arils leftover. I was weaving in some sparkling water in between cocktails and I thought I’d spice it up by adding some arils to the water in a glass over ice. It definitely made that drink a lot more interesting.
This is one of the tips I talk to my clients about the most. Alternating in water at parties is an absolute must but making it look beautiful is your secret weapon. You can absolutely ‘drink’ all night and no one will ever notice that you’re not on cocktails. A beautiful garnish goes a long way so next time see a pomegranate at the store, make sure to seed it and use it for a cocktail or mocktail.
Sparkling Pomegranate Rosé Cocktail on the Rocks
There’s another really fun way to serve this and I might suggest it if you want to use stemless wine glasses, regular wine glasses or if you have some beautiful rocks glasses. Serve the Sparkling Pomegranate Rosé Cocktail on the rocks. This would be perfect for summer if it’s hot out or if you’re wanting to make sure that guests slow down a little and get a bit more hydration through the melting ice. It really depends on what type of party and guests you’re having. It also depends on your own preference, of course.
If this is how you want to serve your Sparkling Pomegranate Rosé Cocktail, start by putting ice in the glasses. Then proceed with the rest of the recipe. Mix the first three ingredients together in a separate measuring cup, then pour that evenly into 4 glasses, top with sparkling rosé and the add the pomegranate arils. Done!
Keep in mind that there are other variations as well. You could absolutely leave out the vodka if you want a lighter beverage. You could use sparkling wine instead of rosé. As mentioned before, feel free to use different kinds of berries depending on the season. I never want you to stress if you don’t have the right kind of ingredient. All my recipes are adaptable. Speaking of, I wanted to share some other recent favorites with you so that you have tons of options.
You’ll notice that all my cocktails contain fruits and veggies. I love to have the natural flavors shine through. If they need sweetness added I often use honey or agave instead of simple syrup and sugar. Of course those others are sugary as well but they mix very well into beverages and lend a light flavor without being overpowering. If you’re vegan, make sure to use agave rather than honey.
If you need other cocktail ideas, check out my carrot ginger turmeric mimosa, apple cider wine spritzer, or Gin Ginger Beet Cocktail (this one is a GREAT color). Enjoy, my friends!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup pomegranate juice
- 1 Tablespoon agave
- ½ cup (4 ounces) chilled vodka
- 2 cups (16 ounces) chilled sparkling rosé
- ¼ cup pomegranate arils
- *if serving on the rocks, ½ cup ice
Instructions
- If serving over ice, distribute ice across 4 glasses. Otherwise, set out 4 champagne flutes. Combine pomegranate juice, agave, and vodka in a large measuring cup. Pour juice mixture over ice or directly into champagne flutes. Top each glass with sparkling rosé. Finish with pomegranate arils and enjoy.
Ginger Hultin,MS, RD, CSO
Thanks for visiting! If you're struggling with a cancer diagnosis, autoimmune condition, gut health problems, or even a medical mystery, nutrition can make a HUGE difference in your day-to-day life. I run a virtual, concierge private practice where I partner with my clients over time to help them improve their health through nutrition. Be sure to visit the blog for easy, plant-based, anti-inflammatory recipes and our "Resources" page for a variety of self-paced programs, books, e-books, and nutrition podcast episodes.