Christmas Cosmopolitan
Step aside punch – my Christmas Cosmopolitan is the new star in town! I’m taking a classic cocktail and giving it ‘holiday spirit’ with a delicious combination of vodka, fresh lime juice, ginger ale, and pomegranate juice. Don’t forget the signature Christmas tree rosemary garnish for an extra festive twist. This has been a popular holiday favorite here since 2015!
This is one of the easiest Christmas cocktail recipes you need to serve if you’re entertaining—it’s perfect for kicking off the festive season in style! You could call it a pomegranate ginger martini, but “Christmas Cosmopolitan” is way more fun!
Table of contents
Ingredients
- Vodka
- Lime juice
- Ginger ale
- Pomegranate juice
- Rosemary
- Pomegranate seeds
This is a simple, yet striking festive garnish and a great way to mimic the look of a Christmas tree. Choose a sprig of rosemary with tight, compact leaves (like the one shown below). Use a toothpick to poke a hole through the center of a pomegranate seed, then carefully thread it onto the rosemary sprig near the top/center. Let the rosemary dry slightly before starting to prevent the leaves from bending while you work.Cosmo twist
A classic cosmopolitan recipe features vodka, orange liqueur (like Cointreau or triple sec), lime juice, and cranberry juice. Our Christmas Cosmos put a festive spin on the original by swapping out the orange liqueur for ginger ale.
Pomegranate juice or cranberry juice
Pomegranate juice or Cranberry juice? Both options give this drink the perfect festive color. (A quick note: make sure both are sweetened to balance out the tartness of the lime—avoid unsweetened cranberry juice!) Depending on the brand, some pomegranate juices are darker than others, which can result in a deeper red hue in your final cocktail.
Christmas Cosmopolitan options
Go for a flavored vodka, like citrus or mandarin, to add an extra layer of flavor. Not a vodka fan, try gin. To keep this cocktail looking as festive as possible, stick with red juice and avoid white cranberry juice. Be sure to use sweetened juice to balance the tartness perfectly! If you find that it is not sweet enough for you, you can add simple syrup to your desired sweetness level.
How to make a rosemary and pomegranate seed Christmas tree garnish
This is simple yet striking and a great way to mimic the look of a Christmas tree. Choose a sprig of rosemary with tight, compact leaves (like the one shown below). Use a toothpick to poke a hole through the center of a pomegranate seed, then carefully thread it onto the rosemary sprig near the top/center. Let the rosemary dry slightly before starting to prevent the leaves from bending while you work.
More festive cocktail recipes
Santa’s Rum Spiked Milk: Who says milk is just for kids? Santa’s Rum Spiked Milk is a grown-up twist and your new holiday season tradition. Combine rich coconut milk, velvety ice cream, and a generous splash of rum for a creamy, indulgent drink.
Pimm’s Winter Cup: The Pimm’s Winter Cup is the holiday cousin of the classic Pimm’s Cup. This hot toddy blends the refreshing taste of Pimm’s No. 1 with wintery flavors like apple, caramel and orange.
Apple Sidecar: Add a seasonal twist to the classic Sidecar with this Apple Sidecar recipe. A mix of cognac, apple cider and nutmeg, this cocktail has all the tang and brightness you need to balance out those heavier holiday dishes.
If you’ve made my Christmas Cosmopolitan please leave a star rating in the recipe card. You can also ask a question or leave a comment below. Cheers.
Christmas Cosmopolitan
Video
Ingredients
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, Allow the sprigs to dry out slightly so the leaves will pierce the seeds better.
- Fresh pomegranate seeds
- (1 cup (8 ounces/236 ml) vodka
- ¼ cup (2 ounces/59 ml) fresh lime juice
- (½ cup/118 ml) 4 ounces ginger ale , Ginger beer can be substituted, but it will add more of a stronger ginger flavor.
- ¾ cup( 6 ounces/180 ml) sweetened pomegranate or cranberry juice
Instructions
- Hold a pomegranate seed and use a toothpick to poke a hole completely through the center to the other side making sure to not go through the skin, while avoiding the seed in the center. Thread the seeds onto the leaves of rosemary and push down to the bottom of the stem. Add 3 to 4 around the rosemary sprig. Set aside.
- To a large pitcher add the vodka, pomegranate or cranberry juice. Taste and add more juice if you want it sweeter. Stir and refrigerate until chilled. Pour into chilled glasses and garnish with the rosemary sprigs.
This drink was sooooo good! But how’d you get the pom seeds on the rosemary? So pretty but what a bsttle😍
I’m glad you enjoyed the drink. Getting the seeds onto the rosemary was not easy. It helps if the rosemary sprigs are drier and they will pierce the seeds easier. You can also see me do it in the video. 😊
Dear Jeannette,
From Bordeaux France, I start a little bit before Christmas but I got a good reason to celebrate.
I have juste prepared your Christmas Cosmopolitan “dans les règles de l’art”
It is exquisitely delicious and I drink to your health!
Cheers Jeannette !
Annick
I’m so happy you enjoyed the cosmopolitan, cheers to you too.
Joyeux Noël!
Looks beautiful! One of my favorite cocktails! Pinned!
So pretty and so festive! I will cheers to this drink!