Pomegranate Martini with Gin

If you’ve never tried a Pomegranate Martini with gin, there’s no time like right now. The combination of the herbaceous botanical notes of gin, the tart-sweet flavors of pomegranate juice, and the bright citrus kick of lemon juice makes for a very satisfying and refreshing drink.

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Most people make pomegranate martinis with vodka, but gin is surprisingly good with it. The trick with gin is to pick a quality gin and use a bit less of it than most of the recipes featuring vodka call for.

Tasting Profile

When you raise the glass to your mouth, you’ll smell juniper from the gin, the fruity pomegranate, and zesty citrus. The first sip delivers a refreshing burst of flavors – the gin’s botanicals dance and the pomegranate juice’s sweetness tempered by the tartness of the lemon.

The mouthfeel is smooth and velvety, with a medium body that coats the tongue pleasantly. The finish is clean and crisp, leaving you wanting more.

Key Ingredients

Gin

A bottle of quality gin, with its distinct juniper notes, provides a nice counterpoint to the sweet-tart flavors of pomegranate. We recommend using a London Dry-style gin, such as Bombay Sapphire or Tanqueray.

Pomegranate Juice

Look for 100% pure pomegranate juice, free of any added sugars or preservatives. It gives the drink its deep, ruby-red color and the tart, fruity flavor.

Cointreau

A touch of Cointreau  adds a subtle layer of complexity and a hint of sweetness to the cocktail. You can choose a different orange liqueur if you prefer – any of them will complement the pomegranate flavor beautifully and help to round out the overall profile of the drink.

Lemon Juice

The acidity of freshly squeezed lemon juice also helps to cut through the sweetness and balance and brighten the flavors of the cocktail.

Serving Suggestions

The Pomegranate Martini with Gin is a sophisticated and versatile cocktail that can be enjoyed as an aperitif, a palate cleanser, or a sophisticated nightcap. Whenever you enjoy it, it’s best served chilled and in a classic martini glass. For a beautiful color contrast, garnish the drink with a lemon twist.

Variations & Making Ahead

This version makes a very standard cocktail with the traditional 1.5 ounces of alcohol. To make this drink stronger, you could use 2 ounces of gin and 2 ounces of pomegranate juice.

If you’re serving these for guests, you can pre-mix a big batch of this cocktail in a pitcher. Unless you know all your guests prefer a stronger cocktail, start with the above alcohol ratio (so you end up with 1.5 ounces of alcohol in each cocktail).

When pouring for a guest who likes it stronger, just pour an extra half-ounce or so of gin into the glass before pouring in the pre-mixed cocktail.

There are a lot of other ways to tweak this drink. You could add  an ounce of club soda for some bubbles, for example.

Food Pairings

This drink pairs well with a variety of dishes. Its bright, fruit-forward flavors make it an excellent pairing for rich, savory appetizers, like baked brie, grilled shrimp and even meatballs.

For an entree, serve it with roasted duck breast, grilled salmon or lamb chops. And for dessert, you can’t beat a flourless chocolate cake, pomegranate sorbet, or a creme brulee.