New Year's Cheer - Pomegranate Cocktails

Happy 2014! New Year's Eve is upon us, and this year I'll be celebrating with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic pomegranate beverages.

The pomegranate, a red fruit with a tough outer layer in which only the juice and the seeds inside are edible, is most well known for its powerful antioxidant properties. Studies have shown that pomegranate juice has anti-cancer and immune supporting effects, and also supports a healthy cardiovascular system.

So this NYE, sneak a little healthy, delicious pomegranate into your special cocktail, or try the recipes below (taken from the POM website).

 

Holiday POMtini

Ingredients

3/4 oz. freshly squeezed pomegranate juice* or POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice

1 oz. Orange vodka

3/4 oz. Peachtree Schnapps

1 oz. fresh orange juice

1/4 oz. lemon juice

Equal parts ground cinnamon and granulated sugar for garnish

Spiraled orange rind for garnish

Preparation

Shake all drink ingredients with ice to chill. Serve this pomegranate cocktail recipe in a martini glass prepared as follows: Mix in a bowl, one part ground cinnamon and one part granulated sugar. Moisten the rim of a martini glass by swiping a slice of orange around the rim. Dust glass rim with the sugared cinnamon mixture and decorate with a spiral of orange.

 Or try this virgin mocktail:

POM Julep (Non-Alcoholic)

 Ingredients

1 oz. freshly squeezed pomegranate juice* or POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice

1 1/2 oz. grapefruit juice

1/2 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice

1/2 oz. honey syrup (mix two parts honey with one part hot water and stir to dissolve, cool) or agave syrup

2 mint sprigs

Preparation

Bruise 1 mint sprig in bar mixing glass with honey syrup. Add remaining ingredients and shake over ice. Strain over ice into a chilled rocks glass.