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

Barb

Beautiful and delicious; the Pomegranate Margarita is a perfect holiday cocktail.

5 average from less than 50 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Cocktails, Friday Cocktails, Tequila

Cuisine American

Servings 1 Cocktail

Calories 431 kcal

Equipment

• 1 Sparkling Sugar to rim the glass

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

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

For the rim, I like to combine salt and sugar; preferring to use both kosher salt and cake decorating sugars; they’ve got a bigger crystal so not only look prettier but have a nice mouth feel too!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Pomegranate Margarita

Serving Size

 

1 Cocktail

Amount per Serving

Calories

431

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

0.4

g

1

%

Sodium

 

36

mg

2

%

Carbohydrates

 

61

g

20

%

Protein

 

0.4

g

1

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Calories

431

Keyword christmas, cocktails, holiday, margarita, New Years, pomegranate, tequila

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