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A martini glass with the manhattan in it with pomegranate seeds on the table- square
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Pomegranate Manhattan

Perfect for holidays and dinner parties alike, this pomegranate manhattan recipe is as beautiful as it is delicious. Enjoy a classic manhattan cocktail with a delightfully fruity twist!
Course Cocktail
Cuisine American
Keyword bourbon manhattan, manhattan cocktail, pomegranate bourbon cocktail
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 2 cocktails
Calories 221kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces bourbon
  • 3 ounces pomegranate juice
  • 1 ounce sweet vermouth (or 2 ounces if you like it sweeter)
  • 10 drops bitters (spiced cherry is my favorite)

Garnish (Optional)

  • 2 teaspoons pomegranate arils (1 teaspoon in each glass)
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2 maraschino cherries

Instructions

  • Fill a cocktail halfway with ice. Get a measuring glass and gather the garnish.
  • Add bourbon, pomegranate juice, sweet vermouth, and bitters
    4 ounces bourbon, 3 ounces pomegranate juice, 1 ounce sweet vermouth, 10 drops bitters
  • Add 1 teaspoon of arils to each glass. Or you can add maraschino cherries.
    2 teaspoons pomegranate arils, 2 maraschino cherries
  • Cap the shaker and shake for 15 seconds. Strain, divide and pore the cocktail between the two glasses.
  • Add a sprig of rosemary to each glass.
    2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • Sip
  • Smile
  • Enjoy

Notes

Helpful tips
  • Pomegranate juice is usually 100% juice, but make sure there isn't any added sugar; it will make your cocktail too sweet.
  • Use the best bourbon you can afford because it does make a difference in taste, especially in this cocktail.
  • You can imbibe this Manhattan either like a martini, without ice, which is how I drink it, or on the rocks, the way my mother enjoyed hers.
  • If you're serving it on the rocks, use either a double old fashioned glass or a traditional rocks glass.
  • I love using a good sweet vermouth; my favorite brands are Antica Formula or Dolin.
  • You can garnish this cocktail with a fresh rosemary sprig, pomegranate arils, or with cherries. Any of these garnishes go well during the holidays.
  • I enjoy Woodford Reserve Bitters. They have a few flavors like orange bitters, aromatic bitters, chocolate bitters, and spiced cherry bitters (which is my favorite). But if you can't find the Woodford Reserve bitters, a few dashes of Angostura bitters is perfectly fine.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cocktail | Calories: 221kcal