Easy Cranberry Pomegranate Cocktail (+ Mocktail)

This cranberry pomegranate cocktail (or mocktail) is my favorite winterized take on a mule-meets-spritzer. It comes together in minutes but still looks polished, making it my go-to drink when hosting in the winter. Cranberry pomegranate juice and ginger beer create a light, bubbly base with just the right balance of sweet and tart. Sparkling water and fresh lime juice give it a crisp, refreshing finish. Add a splash of vodka for a festive cocktail or leave it out for a bright and bubbly mocktail.

Ingredients

• Ginger beer: hibiscus ginger beer gives the drink an especially deep red color, but classic ginger beer works just as well. Use a light version for less added sugar, and add an extra squeeze of lime if needed to keep the flavors balanced. For a tangier mocktail, replace the ginger beer with cranberry, pomegranate, or apple kombucha.
• Pomegranate cranberry juice: a juice blend of cranberry and pomegranate juice. You can also mix your own using pure cranberry and pomegranate juices, adding a splash of apple juice for a softer, sweeter finish.
• Vodka: use your favorite plain vodka, or leave it out entirely for the mocktail version.
• Sparkling water: lightens the drink and keeps it crisp. Plain, lemon, or lime sparkling water all work well.
• Lime juice: brightens the sweet flavors and gives the drink a clean, citrusy finish.
• Ice: use plenty to keep the drink cold.
• Garnish: finish the drink with fresh or frozen cranberries, pomegranate arils, and a lime wedge.

Tips for the best cranberry pomegranate cocktail

• Stir, don't shake. Make this cocktail directly in the glass you're serving it in. Because it contains sparkling water, shaking it will create a mess and flatten the bubbles. Use a cocktail stirrer or long spoon to mix together.
• Taste & adjust. This drink is easy to customize as you go. Add more sparkling water to lighten it, more juice for a fruitier flavor, more ginger beer for extra sweetness and spice, or another splash of vodka for a stronger cocktail.
• Crushed ice. This one comes down to personal preference, but I love crushed ice here. It keeps the drink extra cold, adds a little texture, and works especially well with all those bubbles.
• Choose your glassware. A rocks glass keeps it casual, but this drink is just as pretty in a wine glass or coupe. Use whatever you have and dress it up with a few simple garnishes.

Serving ideas

For a sweeter finish, run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass, then dip it into cane sugar. Garnish with frozen cranberries and/or pomegranate arils.

For even more bubbles, serve it in a coupe or champagne flute and replace the sparkling water with sparkling wine.

📋 Recipe

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Easy Cranberry Pomegranate Cocktail + Mocktail

This easy cranberry pomegranate cocktail is bursting with sweet and tart flavors that are perfect for the holiday season or a cozy night in.

Prep Time2 minutes mins

Total Time2 minutes mins

Course: Drinks

Keyword: christmas, festive, holiday

Servings: 1 drink

Equipment

• old fashioned cocktail glass (11 oz)
• cocktail stirrer

Ingredients

• large handful of ice
• 1.5 oz ginger beer*
• 1-2 oz vodka (optional, 1.5 oz is a standard shot, add more or less to your liking)
• 2.5 oz cranberry pomegranate juice**
• 1.5-2 oz sparkling water (enough to top the cocktail off)
• fresh squeezed lime juice

Garnish

• frozen (or fresh) cranberries and/or pomegranate arils
• lime wedge

Instructions

• Add a handful of ice to a whiskey/old-fashioned glass. Add ginger beer, vodka, and juice then top off the drink with sparkling water and fresh squeezed lime juice. Stir gently to combine.
• Garnish with cranberries, lime, and/or pomegranate arils (pomegranate seeds). Serve and enjoy immediately. Cheers!

Notes

* use light ginger beer for a lighter cocktail, hibiscus ginger beer for an extra fruity cocktail, or regular ginger beer for a sweet and spicy zing! The hibiscus ginger beer will result in a deep red cocktail like photographed, whereas regular or light will result in a lighter pink cocktail. 

Measurements are provided, but this cocktail can be made just by eyeballing the ingredients: fill the glass ¼ of the way with ginger beer, add a shot of vodka, then add juice till the glass is ¾ full and top with sparkling water and fresh lime juice. Super easy and customizable! 

For a non-alcoholic variation, see the mocktail variation section in the blog post above. 

If you made this cranberry pomegranate cocktail recipe, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Also, tag @notablyvegan in your creations on social media. I can't wait to see your creations.