A Gin and Pomegranate Cocktail is a refreshing and beautiful cocktail that is perfect all winter, from the December holidays through Valentine's Day.
Poor Gin. So many people I know who love vodka cocktails turn a blind eye to anything with gin. What a shame; this Gin and Pomegranate Cocktail is a great example of why they need to give gin a chance.
Unfortunately it has a reputation. A reputation that it smells and tastes like a Christmas tree! Yes, the botanicals that are a part of the distilling process of gin include juniper, but I've found that the amount of juniper and the combination of other botanicals make a huge difference.
You can choose to strain this cocktail even though I did not. I like the mouthfeel of the citrus that's evident as much as the little pomegranate arils that are hidden in the bottom.
New Amsterdam is considered a Contemporary gin. It has noticeable citrus notes and the juniper is less pronounced. I thought it terrific in this cocktail. Serious gin critics bemoan the same thing that I like about it so if Bombay Sapphire is your thing, this probably won't be. I like both for different cocktails.
Next time you consider picking up any bottle of gin, take a look at the ingredients. Despite juniper being a constant in distilling, different brands include different botanicals. I've loved some brands and others...maybe not so much.
I don't know about you but I used to avoid anything that required the use of pomegranates; they were such a mess to use and while I love them, the mess made me stay away.
I tried different 'tricks' to get those seeds and nothing works as well as the one simple method I use now. Following tips from the culture they came from; it's so simple and works so well. Check out this post for the best way to seed a pomegranate; it really does make it easy to make this Gin and Pomegranate Cocktail.
When you're ready to take a leap of faith, I've made several gin cocktails that I really love, you might want to try experimenting a little bit with gin too!