Pomegranate Margarita
The Pomegranate Margarita is so perfect during winter when fresh pomegranates are readily available at the market; it’s beautiful too!
If pomegranates and cranberries are synonymous with the holidays then I’m lucky; I love them both. They are two of the things I look most forward to each winter; and I use them for both foods and cocktails that I love and this delicious Pomegranate Margarita is my latest foray. Can you blame me?
It’s no big surprise that I love margaritas and making my own is what had me turn the corner years ago and start making cocktails at home. I might even be a bit of a margarita snob…if being snobby is categorized by using quality products and fresh fruit for my libations.
I learned long ago, and yes I am repeating myself here…use a decent tequila, none of that really cheap stuff. I also don’t recommend using really expensive stuff either…somewhere in the middle is good; I like a nice Reposado tequila. Reasonably priced and slightly aged makes it my go to. Plus as important? Real orange liqueur.
Cheap triple sec does not count. I like using Patron’s Citronge but have also used Grand Marnier and both are good but now when I’m at the liquor store I try to find something from France with a good review; the name brands are pricier and I think unnecessary. Just look at the label; it should include the essence of orange, not just sugar and artificial flavors.
Start with those two and the rest is easy. Fresh fruit is a must but I won’t lie, in a pinch I have used frozen lemonade and limeade in lieu of the fresh citrus fruit and simple syrup. In a pinch means a blizzard is raging and I want a Pomegranate Margarita. Bad.
Although pomegranate arils are now available for purchase without having to bother with seeding a pom…they are pricey and I’ve found the arils have a very short shelf life in the fridge…so I don’t use them. I’ve discovered the easiest (read less messy) way to remove the arils from a pomegranate so I always buy them fresh and do the work myself. Try my method for How to Seed a Pomegranate and see if it’s not worth it for you too.
The Pomegranate Margarita is a gorgeous cocktail with a nice citrus bite and I can’t deny it certainly embodies the colors of the holidays. I say that even as I look at a Christmas tree that is standing in the corner of my family room with zero ornaments on it; yikes…please don’t judge! I have cocktails to make and photographs to take!
I have other pomegranate and cranberry favorites too. I recently made this Spinach, Pomegranate and Prosciutto Salad and it was so divine I want one everyday. I was served this Cranberry and Sage house special ‘winter’ cocktail a few years ago at a favorite restaurant and it remains a favorite, and I’m dying to try this David Lebovitz recipe that uses cranberry sauce in a glaze for meatballs. It feels good knowing I am not alone!
More Pomegranate Cocktails!
- Gin and Pomegranate Cocktail
- Pomegranate and Rosemary Gin Fizz
- Imperial Pomegranate Cocktail
- Pomegranate Izze-tini
- Pomegranate Ginger Sparkler Holiday
- Pear Pomegranate Cooler with Prosecco
- Pomegranate and Blood Orange Tequila
- Cranberry and Grand Marnier Champagne Cocktail
- Pomegranate and Blood Orange Mimosa Cocktail
PIN IT! ‘Pomegranate Margarita’
Pomegranate Margarita
Equipment
- 1 Sparkling Sugar to rim the glass
Ingredients
To Rim the Glasses
- margarita/sugar combination for rimming We combine equal parts coarse salt and sugar
For the Margarita
- 1 ½ ounces tequila
- 2 ounces pomegranate juice
- 2 ounces orange liqueur
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 ½ ounces simple syrup equal parts water and sugar, brought to a boil until sugar dissolves and cooled before using
Garnish
- Lime sections and pomegranate arils
Instructions
- Rim the edge of your glass with a lime wedge and dip in the salt/sugar mixture. Fill the glass with ice.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour tequila, pomegranate juice, orange liqueur, lime and lemon juices and simple syrup in shaker. Shake hard 12-15 times and then pour mixture into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with lime slices and pomegranate arils.
Notes
Nutrition
Did you ever have this recipe that used a homemade pomegranate simple syrup? I know that’s what I did last time I made it, but I swore I was just following the recipe, not going rogue.
I did a search of my site because I was certain that I have made pomegranate simple syrup before but I didn’t find anything but it’s really easy. Typically with simple syrup you’re going to want to simmer sugar with water and then add your flavor but with pomegranate simple syrup just use pomegranate juice and sugar and simmer. With regular simple syrup I do equal amounts liquid and sugar but if your pomegranate juice is already sweet you may not need to do any sugar so I would taste it first and make sure it’s got the sweetness you want. Do you know what pomegranate simple syrup really is? It’s grenadine! Pomegranate in French is grenade, hence grenadine being the result if sugar is added and it’s simmer to be a bit thicker!
Loved it!
Yay! 🥂
Bring on the pomegranates and cranberries. Perfect for Valentine’s day! And winter needs a splash of color, I think! And tequila!
I only feel bad that I erred in not including blood oranges…love them too! And I’m with you…I’ll take any of the three of them with some tequila. 🙂
I need this margarita in my life. Stat.
My kind of girl! 🙂
That first photo is absolutely outstanding. That could go in the best magazines anywhere in the world. You are so talented! The drink is nifty too 🙂
Thank you so much…this is all a huge learning curve for me so kudos from my peers mean so much!
Pretty drink! Margaritas are one of those drinks where quality ingredients really pay off. This looks excellent — thanks.
If nothing else…I sure know when I’m served one with bad tequila. I don’t need to burn myself to enjoy a cocktail. 🙂