Pomegranate Bourbon Cocktail

A sweet and tart syrup hits the whiskey just right.

By
Kelly Carámbula
Kelly Carámbula is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Kelly Carámbula

Kelly Carámbula is an artist and sculptor based in San Francisco. Kelly was the designer and publisher behind Remedy Quarterly (2009–2018), a magazine about food memories and the recipes that inspire them, as well as an award-winning food blogger at The Best Remedy.

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Updated November 10, 2023
A pomegranate bourbon cocktail, served in a coupe glass with a lemon twist.

Serious Eats / Kelly Carámbula

Why It Works

  • The bright, intense acidity of pomegranate molasses is a perfect foil for bourbon.
  • Orange juice mellows the pomegranate molasses and adds another layer of acidity.

Pomegranate molasses is a gem of an ingredient that often gets overlooked. This sweet and tart syrup adds the perfect pop of flavor to cocktails—especially whiskey-based ones.

Since the molasses packs a tart punch, a hint of orange juice brings a bit of sweet acidity to balance it out. Bourbon brings a rich, sweet booziness that stands up to the bold flavor of the pomegranate molasses, while a splash of pomegranate juice adds a little color and juiciness to the drink. The result is a cocktail that's packed with bright, bold, and warm flavors perfect for a cool day.

November 2011

Recipe Details

Pomegranate Bourbon Cocktail Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Active 5 mins
Total 5 mins
Serves 1 serving
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Ingredients

  • 1/4 ounce pomegranate molasses

  • 1/2 ounce pomegranate juice

  • 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice

  • 2 ounces bourbon

  • Dash of Angostura bitters

  • Orange twist

Directions

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add pomegranate molasses, pomegranate juice, orange juice, whiskey and bitters. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds.

  2. Strain into a cocktail glass. Gently squeeze together the orange peel to release the oils, then place into cocktail and serve.

Special Equipment

Cocktail shaker, cocktail strainer

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
185 Calories
0g Fat
11g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 185
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 16mg 80%
Calcium 14mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 92mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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