Cranberry Pomegranate Martini, is a classic Shaken Not Stirred cocktail with vodka and a sprig of rosemary, to satisfy from Thanksgiving through Valentine day!
Holiday Martini Of Pomegranate And Cranberry
Pomegranate cocktail, made with pomegranate vodka, the sweetness of cranberry juice and the zing of lime makes for a beautifully festive holiday drink.
A Cranberry Pomegranate Martini stands out because it captures the best of both worlds, the tart brightness of cranberries and the rich, jewel-like sweetness of pomegranate.
This keeper of a cocktail is my favorite cocktail to serve from Thanksgiving through Valentine Day.
Rosemary sprig with cranberries makes for a beautiful garnish and a scent with each sip that keeps you coming back for more.
Cranberry and Pomegranate Make A Great Cocktail
The ruby color of both cranberries and pomegranate make for a unique cocktail, rich in color and full of flavor.
Pomegranate is quite tart, even sometimes bitter so rather than use a simple syrup of boiled water and sugar, I make my own cranberry syrup by boiling cranberries, sugar and water.
The sweet yet brightness of the cranberry makes for a better simple syrup and adds another element of color to an already beautiful pomegranate martini.
If you are a lover of cranberries, you will enjoy a variety of cranberry recipes I created, one of them I deliciously made on The Great American Recipe, with PBS.
Why Choose This Martini For Festive Occasions?
- A Beautiful Balance Of Flavors – Cranberry brings that sharp, festive tartness, while pomegranate adds a velvety depth and natural sweetness. Together, they create a sophisticated flavor that’s both refreshing and slightly exotic, never too sweet, never too sour.
- Stunning Color and Presentation – The deep ruby-red hue instantly feels elegant and seasonal. It looks gorgeous in a martini glass, especially with a sugared rim, a twist of lime, or a few floating pomegranate arils that sparkle like little jewels.
- Perfect For Holidays – Both cranberry and pomegranate are classic winter fruits, so this drink feels right at home during holiday gatherings. It’s a modern alternative to mulled wine or eggnog, lighter, fresher, and still full of festive cheer.
- Versatility – It pairs beautifully with vodka or gin, and can even be made into a mocktail with sparkling water or tonic. Add a splash of orange liqueur for warmth, or a bit of rosemary syrup for an herbal note — it’s endlessly customizable.
A Shaken Not Stirred Martini Cocktail
James Bond is still instantly associated with the line “shaken, not stirred,” perhaps more than any other movie cocktail moment in history.
It first appeared in Ian Fleming’s novels and became iconic through the films, where Bond orders his vodka martini with effortless cool and precision. So many saucy photos emerged from the many 007 films.
Bond and ‘Shaken Not Stirred’
That simple phrase became shorthand for sophistication, the image of Bond in a tuxedo, martini in hand, became the gold standard of suave confidence. Even people who’ve never seen the movies recognize the line.
How Can A Film Change How People Order A Martini?
Before Bond, martinis were almost always stirred, especially the classic gin-and-vermouth versions. His preference made “shaken” martinis seem bold and modern, appealing to a younger, more adventurous crowd.
The Martini That Became A Cultural Icon
From advertisements to pop songs to late-night jokes, “shaken, not stirred” remains one of the most quoted cocktail phrases ever, a symbol of refinement with a touch of rebellion. Even James Bond would approve of this Pomegranate Cranberry Martini, shaken-not-stirred, as it is ready for the holidays!
Pomegranate Makes A Great Martini
If ever there was a fruit that lends itself to both sweet or savory uses, pomegranate is it. It’s sweet and sour nature makes it a perfect juice to adjust it with just a tweak of sugar or salt.
Having grown up with Mediterranean flavors in my home, pomegranate often was used in the form of Pomegranate Molasses in various recipes.
Pomegranate Molasses Instead Of Simple Syrup
As an adult, I quickly learn how to make my own pomegranate molasses and use it in many of my recipes.
- Best Short Ribs Marinade – you will want this blend of pomegranate juice, Aleppo pepper, spices and red wine, for ‘Fall off the Bone’ tender ribs.
- Pomegranate Salad Dressing – Pomegranate Sumac Vinaigrette With Pom Molasses, a Mediterranean twist on sweet, sour, spicy tangy flavors that is great for salads or marinades.
- Pomegranate Roasted Goose – for a holiday plucked goose, marinated in pomegranate molasses, garlic, juniper berries, herbs and roasted to perfection. A Christmas Goose recipe Charles Dickens would envy!
- Persian Chicken Stew – is a flavor rich stew made with walnut and pomegranate sauce, often pumpkin with other exotic spices.
Using pomegranate molasses as simple syrup in this cocktail would be just as delicious as making your own simple syrup from cranberries and sugar.
Describe A Cranberry Pomegranate Martini
In the unique glass, known as a martini glass, these bold flavors are poured. The bowl of the martini glass may be dainty and small, which is why the flavors are not.
- A little sweet and sour addition to either a pomegranate flavored vodka, or a plain vodka
- A simple syrup made from Cranberry Compote
- Infuse that with spices
- You’ve got the makings for a great martini
Placing cranberries on a stick of rosemary for a garnish, makes for a very festive pomegranate martini, one I’m sure James Bond would be honored to drink.
Why You Should Shake This Martini
Unlike the classic martini that’s stirred for clarity, a Cranberry Pomegranate Martini deserves a good shake.
Both cranberry and pomegranate juices have a bold, tangy character and a little natural thickness that need energy to blend smoothly with vodka and any liqueur you add.
Shaking with ice doesn’t just mix, it transforms. The quick chill softens the tart edges, the ice gently dilutes for balance, and the vigorous motion aerates the cocktail, giving it that gorgeous, frosted look when poured into a chilled glass.
The result is a bright, perfectly blended martini that feels crisp, smooth, and ready to toast the season.
Ingredients Spotlight
- Vodka – The clean, crisp foundation that lets the fruit flavors shine. Vodka provides just enough bite to balance the sweetness of the syrup and the brightness of the juice, creating that classic martini smoothness.
- Pomegranate juice – Deeply colored and naturally rich, pomegranate juice adds body and a subtle sweetness with a hint of tartness. It brings a touch of elegance, that jewel-toned hue and velvety texture make the martini as gorgeous as it is delicious.
- Cranberry juice, also used to make the simple syrup. This homemade syrup is where the magic happens. Simmering cranberries with sugar releases their bold, tangy flavor and gives the syrup a luscious texture and ruby glow. It’s the secret to balancing the cocktail’s sweet-tart harmony.
- Lime – Fresh lime adds a bright, zesty edge that lifts the whole drink. It cuts through the richness of the syrup and juice, keeping each sip crisp and refreshing.
- Rosemary sprigs and fresh cranberries for garnish – A few cranberries floating in the glass or skewered on a cocktail pick add a pop of festive color and a playful touch. It’s a nod to the season and a beautiful finish to an already stunning martini.
- Ice – It wouldn’t be ‘shaken not stirred’ without ice!
Equipment Needed
- Martini Glasses – these glasses are also great to own for desserts too!
- Cocktail shaker, shot glass, all the tools you need right here.
- Citrus press that makes pressing fresh lime juice so easy.
Cranberry Pomegranate Martini – Shaken Not Stirred
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- 2 Martini Glasses
Ingredients
- 4 shots Vodka
- 1 shot Pomegranate juice
- 1 tbsp Fresh Lime juice
- 2 Rosemary sprigs for garnish
- 4 Fresh Cranberries 2 per garnish
- 1 1/2 cups Ice
- 2 tbsp Cranberry juice for simple syrup
- 1 tbsp Sugar for simple syrup
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, melt the sugar in the cranberry juice and cool. Fill the shaker half full with ice. Add vodka, pomegranate juice and cranberry syrup (cranberry juice and sugar boiled until dissolved and cooled), and give a good shake.
- Fill the shaker half full with ice. Add vodka, pomegranate juice and cooled cranberry syrup and give a good shake.
- Pour into martini glasses, squeeze half a lime in each glass.
- For the garnish, simply stick the bottom end of a rosemary sprig through 2 cranberries and lay garnish across the drink.
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I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.