Pomegranate Izze-tini
I’m hosting this months Progressive Eats event and I had so hoped to spill the beans about my new cocktail blog and throw a party to celebrate. I’ve got the domain name (FridayCocktails.com) and a logo and almost everything is ready for prime time but then life happened and some local client sites were told their host was going to stop offering hosting and I now have a few too many sites to transfer to WordPress than I would care for at this time of year. Clients 1. Barb 0. Much like the cobbler and his kids my stuff does come last but it will happen and the good news is it will mean another party! So I get to enjoy this Pomegranate Izze-tini more than once and I’m OK with that!
Still, there is still a celebration to be had. Three years ago I posted a cocktail that I had made after visiting a local establishment. It was so simple; just vodka and rootbeer and it was called a Vootbeer. To say it was hugely popular is an understatement; that pup has been pinned Eleventy Million times on Pinterest and it’s just two simple ingredients! I had friends and readers clamor for more and it’s been a good fit and I was soon publishing a cocktail every Friday. I’ve missed one or two but I hope you won’t hold that against me; I’m no slacker, promise! By the way, if you missed my post yesterday when I made these Candied Walnuts to serve with this drink; be sure to take a peek. Those red walnuts were gorgeous and the combination of a brown sugar glaze with rosemary and cayenne made for some seriously addictive snacking.
I’ve always loved making cocktails and typically have a signature cocktail for friends whenever I entertain. Most recently I made this Bourbon and Apple Cider Cocktail for a group of women in my new neighborhood when we gathered at my home for some drinks and appetizers. Even the non bourbon drinkers loved it…now that’s what I call a success!
So for this event I wanted something festive that would carry us through the holidays and this one does that perfectly. A combination of a sparking pomegranate beverage mixed with vodka, Limoncello and orange liqueurs; it is perfect for holiday festivities. It tastes great, is easy to make and really as important as those two it is simply beautiful.
Instead of using just pomegranate juice, I decided to make something with Izze Sparkling Pomegranate. I remember so clearly when my daughter was still living at home when we would get a hankering for an Izze drink and make a trip that took us halfway downtown to Pearl Street in Denver to a cute ice cream shop just to get our fix. I was like a kid in my own candy shop with several boxes of Izze to choose from but I was powerless against the Pom. I love the flavor and the color and nothing is quite as festive for a party. So I hope you enjoy…and please do make sure you visit my friends who are joining me in this Progressive event. We’ve got appetizers, cocktails and desserts; something for everyone!
AND one more thing!
Even without a big launch announcement; celebrating three years of Friday Cocktails is a big deal. Take a peek at the bottom of the post for a chance to win the most gorgeous wine bottle opener I’ve ever seen. I have one and I know how special they are…so don’t forget to enter!
Now, on to the party! Nosh away and Cheers!
Appetizers
- Pepper Jelly Bites
- Smoked Salmon Roses with Endive and Creme Fraiche
- Spanish Style Garlic Shrimp
- Pepper Jelly and Brie Phyllo Cups
Beverages
- Northern Spy Cocktail
- Orange Pomegranate Moscato Cocktail
- Cranberry Martini
Desserts
Pomegranate Izzetini and a #ProgressiveEats Cocktail Party
Ingredients
- 3 oz Izze Sparkling Pomegranate
- 2 oz vodka
- ½ oz Limoncello or fresh lemon juice and 1 oz simple syrup
- ½ oz Cointreau or other orange liqueur
- Orange slices for rimming
- Sparkling sugar from Michaels in Cake Decorating supplies
Instructions
- Chill cocktail glass(es).
- Rub rim of glasses with a cut orange segment and dip into sugar.
- Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. DO NOT SHAKE but stir until well chilled.
- Pour into glass and serve.
Welcome to another edition of Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a progressive dinner party. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats, a theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out.
We have a core group of 12 bloggers, but we will always need substitutes and if there is enough interest would consider additional groups. To see our upcoming themes and how you can participate, please check out the schedule at Creative Culinary or contact me for more information.
This is a sponsored post; all commentary is my own.
I *just* discovered your blog from Jeannette’s Healthy Living blog. I am on the hunt for some festive cocktails to serve at our holiday party this year and can not wait to scroll through (and try?!) all of your fun drinks (and will happily bookmark FridayCocktails when it’s launched!), especially this Pom-izze-tini!
My favorite holiday cocktail? I make my own cranberry liqueur and then just serve it with a sparkling wine, either Cava or Prosecco. Beautiful and delicious! Thanks for visiting too; and welcome to my blog!
Here’s the cranberry liqueur; I’m making my batch this weekend. https://creative-culinary.com/cranberry-liqueur/
This is gorgeous! So festive for the holidays.
Thanks Lori…and easy. Pretty and easy are high on my list when mixing for a party!
Twitter too. I’m following you there.
Honestly Barb, I thought I had done the likes back when Fearless Friends started up, so it’s a good thing I’m now following you on Facebook. 🙂
Sure glad we fixed that. 🙂
Barb, I’m pinning this beautiful cocktail for sure. Your beverages are a reliable pin source for my board! My favorite wine is likely a California Cabernet Sauvignon. Lately, Pinots and old vine Zins have been good rivals. I’d be remiss if I didn’t say I’m a huge hophead, particularly fond of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. beers.
Love that description Brooks…a hophead! I’m not much of a beer drinker but I’ll have a Guinness with a great burger and love the two together. Thanks for stopping by!
Such a gorgeous cocktail! Perfect for the holiday season.
Thanks so much; it’s simple too…but the color and flavors are perfect for the holidays. I’ll be testing them often. 🙂
@KDFF follows you on twitter
Karen Goodwin Delaney likes you on Facebook
I like either Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel (Primitivo)
Oh my, I bet this is fantastic. I love fruity cocktails, and this is perfect!
My favorite cocktail will always be gin and tonic but this one looks incredibly delicious! Pomegranate, lemon, and orange…yum!
WOW–what a gorgeous drink. Congratulations on three years too. I love seeing your drinks and reading about them. I will have to give this a try. I have decided to go to bartending school in January. Big changes in store as I attempt to go back into the work force a few days a week. Your drinks have always inspired me to use fresh and new ingredients and to think outside the box. Thanks.
Can I come too? And if I’ve inspired you or anyone else this effort has been both fun and worthwhile. The biggest part of making cocktails easy is the beginning…buying enough booze to have on hand so a run to the liquor store isn’t necessary!
Sounds fun; a REAL break from the kiddos!
I follow you on Twitter!
Three years of Friday cocktails?! Congratulations and we look forward to many more – we love Friday :)) My favorite cocktail used to be a Lemon Drop – made to my specifications, i.e. only vodka, fresh lemon juice and a little simple syrup. And then there’s wine and, now, craft beer, gin and bourbon…
You know what’s funny, Barb, root beer was always my drink of choice as a kid and, now, as an adult, I am usually pouring vodka with juice or tonic, but it has never occurred to me to mix the two. Weird, huh? I may just change that this weekend!
Your pomegranate izze-tini is a gorgeous color for a celebration! Who could resist?!
It was certainly a simple combination but tasty too. I still love rootbeer; I and my car seem unable to pass an A&W without a quick visit. 🙂
lately i have been enjoying grand mariner straight up. though i have recently been starting to crave something w/ crème de menthe – must be the approaching holiday season.
I love getting your emails and following your blog. Your recipes are out of this world. I am a huge fan of many of your cocktails. I am especially interested in trying some of the bourbon ones for my husband.
I am more of a tequila fan/cocktail kinda gal so I think it would be fun to take that delicious Izze pomegranite soda and come up with a margarita or two, or three!
Thanks for all the inspiration and Congratulations on 3 years of greatness.
Wow Teri, what a really sweet comment. Very much appreciated and happy you enjoy the stuff I do. I enjoy doing it; sharing it is fun but made all the more ‘funner’ to hear from someone that the effort is well received…cheers!
There’s so much going on in this post that I don’t even know what to comment on! Congrats on 3 years – can’t wait to see the new site! I love Izze sodas too – and this pomegranate cocktail looks like a wonderful way to enjoy them!
Yes there was a lot but most importantly there was that drink wasn’t there…they went down very easy and the fizzie part was fun. I always keep pom juice in the fridge, maybe now I have to always keep the Izze. 🙂
I follow you on twitter as well. 🙂
I follow you on facebook.
Happy Booze-aversary, friend! I am so bummed I couldn’t play this month, but I am in love with your cocktail! Looking forward to visiting everyone else, too.
I am not a huge cocktail drinker, but my favorite has to be a not-too-sweet rocks margarita, salted rim. =)
Thanks Jenni…and betting if we were neighbors you would be drinking more cocktails! I’ve got some converts (which also might mean reliable testers?). 🙂
I enjoy strawberry mojitos
I follow you on twitter @sockmonkeydiva
I liked you on Facebook!
My favorite cocktail is a mimosa.
Save me some walnuts!! And We both went with color red!! I think we are going to paint this town RED 😀
I’m down with that. As for the walnuts? I’ll make you some but I might have (was) noshing on them a bit to much. I’ve got maybe 4 left. 🙂
I have a think for fruity cocktails but my go to would be a mimosa I think 🙂
Congrats on 3 years of weekly cocktail posts! That’s a big deal. And an even bigger deal is the new blog — hope it’s successful. Bummer about the problems you’re having. Anyway, what a great drink to celebrate — thanks.
Thanks John. Just bad timing but good in that I’ve been after these folks to move so I can get out of the hosting business (I resold server space) so longterm it will be good. Getting there will hopefully be a blip in the radar. 🙂
And liked 🙂
Followed!
I’m a huge fan of anything sparkling, but I think my favorite cocktail would have to be campari soda, something fresh & light makes it easy for any occasion.
What a gorgeous drink, Barb!! I’m a huge Izze fan and need to try the Sparkling pom! And I love the candied walnuts – what a great hostess gift during the holidays. Loved coming to your PE party this month 🙂
And I followed on twitter!
I followed you on Facebook!
I’m a sucker in the summer for a good gin and tonic (sometimes with an herbal and/or fruit addition, like basil and/or blueberry) and in the winter a good whiskey straight or whiskey sour.
Following you on Twitter @kcarl710
I am now following you on FB!
I drink anything ending in “tini” or “ine”!
I’m not much for sweet cocktails but this sparkling pomegranate juice sounds wonderful! Lovely giveaway too.
I agree with Liz – what a stunning cocktail! Love the fizz!
My favorite cocktail would have to be the dark and stormy. Love it, Love it.
Oh, my. Such a stunning cocktail!!! Truly. OK, my favorite adult beverage…hmmmm. I tend to go for a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
Congratulations on the new venture. It suits you perfectly. I look forward to another party!