With the festive season approaching, I wanted to start with a drink that feels made for celebrating. This Pomegranate Fizz is one of my favourites: bright, fizzy, a little tart, a little sweet and, of course, with a generous splash of vodka.
It is a lovely one to serve for a Diwali party, festive drinks or whenever you have friends coming over. That deep pomegranate colour immediately feels celebratory, and once poured over plenty of ice and topped with sparkling water, it is wonderfully refreshing too.
The best part when you’re entertaining is that most of the work can be done beforehand. Make the pomegranate mixture ahead and keep it chilled, then simply pour, top with fizz and garnish when everyone arrives.
For Diwali, I like to give the glasses a little extra attention with pomegranate arils and fresh thyme. Nothing elaborate, just enough to make each glass feel ready for the occasion.
What You’ll Need
Fresh pomegranate juice. Fresh is lovely here, both for the colour and that natural sweet-tart flavour. If your pomegranates are particularly sharp, don’t worry, that’s where a little sugar syrup can come in later.
Vodka. You don’t need anything flavoured for this one. A good plain vodka works beautifully and lets the pomegranate remain the main flavour in the glass. I like to keep the bottle chilled if I’m making these for a party.
Fresh lime juice. Definitely squeeze this fresh. That little bit of sharpness is important, especially once the sparkling water goes in and begins to lighten everything.
Sugar syrup. I always keep this optional because it really depends on the pomegranates. You may need a little, you may need the full amount, or you may decide the drink is just right without it.
Pomegranate arils. Keep a spoonful or two aside when you’re juicing the fruit. A few scattered into each glass look beautiful and make the pomegranate fizz instantly recognisable.
Fresh thyme. I love the way a simple sprig of thyme looks against that deep red colour. It also gives off a very gentle fragrance as you drink without making the cocktail taste overly herbal.
Soda or sparkling water. Either works, so use whichever you normally keep at home. The important thing is to have it really cold and nicely fizzy.
For serving. Plenty of ice and, if you have them, a few frozen raspberries. I like using frozen raspberries here because they look lovely in the glass while helping to keep the drink cold.
How to Make It
Start with fresh pomegranate juice. If you’re juicing the pomegranate yourself, place the arils in the centre of a piece of cheesecloth set over a bowl. Gather the cloth around them and squeeze firmly to release the juice. Continue until you have enough for the cocktails.
Mix the cocktail. Pour the pomegranate juice, vodka and fresh lime juice into a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Add the sugar syrup if using, then shake well until thoroughly chilled.
Pour and add the fizz. Fill two glasses with ice and divide the pomegranate mixture between them. Top each glass with chilled soda or sparkling water. Pour it in gently so you keep as much of the fizz as possible.
Finish and serve. Add pomegranate arils, a few frozen raspberries if using and a fresh sprig of thyme. Serve straight away while everything is cold and sparkling.
Helpful Tips and Tricks
- Fresh lime juice makes all the difference. There are only a few flavours in this cocktail, so this isn’t the place for bottled lime juice. Freshly squeezed lime gives it that lovely sharpness that works so well with the pomegranate.
- Taste before reaching for the sugar syrup. Pomegranates have a mind of their own when it comes to sweetness. Some barely need anything, while others can be quite tart. I usually mix everything first, have a taste, and then add the syrup only if it needs it.
- Start with everything well chilled. I keep the pomegranate juice, vodka and sparkling water in the fridge before making the cocktails. It means the drink is beautifully cold from the first pour and the ice isn’t doing all the work.
- Leave the fizz until you’re ready to serve. The pomegranate and vodka mixture is absolutely fine made a little ahead of time and kept in the fridge. Add the sparkling water once it’s in the glass so you don’t lose those bubbles before anyone gets to enjoy them.
- If you’re making these for a party, forget the cocktail shaker. Make a larger batch of the pomegranate mixture in a jug and keep it chilled. When everyone arrives, pour it over ice, top with sparkling water and add the garnishes. Much easier when you’re making more than a couple of glasses.
Q: Can I use bottled pomegranate juice instead of fresh?
A: Yes, you can. Choose a good-quality 100% pomegranate juice rather than a sweetened pomegranate drink. Bottled juices can vary in sweetness, so taste the cocktail before adding the sugar syrup and adjust it accordingly. Fresh pomegranate juice will give you the brightest, freshest flavour, but bottled is a handy option when pomegranates aren’t in season or you’re making a larger batch.
Q: Can I make the Pomegranate Fizz ahead of time?
A: Yes. Mix the pomegranate juice, vodka and lime juice a few hours ahead and keep it chilled in the fridge. I would leave the sparkling water, ice and garnishes until you’re ready to serve so you don’t lose that lovely fresh fizz.
Q: Can I make a larger batch for a party?
A: Absolutely. Double or triple the pomegranate, vodka and lime mixture and keep it chilled in a jug. When you’re ready to serve, pour it over ice and top each glass with sparkling water. Much easier than shaking two cocktails at a time when you have a room full of people.
Q: What can I use instead of vodka?
A: Gin is the easiest swap if you want to keep it alcoholic, although it will bring a more botanical flavour to the drink. For an alcohol-free version, leave out the vodka and add a little more sparkling water. Have a taste before serving and adjust the lime or sugar syrup if needed.
Looking for more drink recipes ?? Here are few of our favourites :
If you make this recipe I’d love to hear how it turned out. Leave a comment below and let me know. It genuinely makes a difference to know what’s working and what isn’t, and I read every single one. You can also find me on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook where I share new recipes, behind the scenes and whatever else is happening in the kitchen at Poetry of Spices.
Ingredients
- 200 ml fresh pomegranate juice
- 120 ml vodka
- 30 ml fresh lime juice
- 25 ml sugar syrup, optional
- 2 tbsp pomegranate arils
- 3–4 sprigs fresh thyme
- Soda or sparkling water, to top
- Ice, to serve
- Frozen raspberries, optional
method
- If making the pomegranate juice from fresh fruit, place the arils in the centre of a piece of cheesecloth over a bowl. Gather the cloth and squeeze firmly to release the juice. Repeat until you have 200 ml, keeping a few arils aside for serving.
(Pomegranate arils) - Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add the pomegranate juice, vodka and fresh lime juice. Add the sugar syrup to taste, depending on the sweetness of your pomegranate juice. Shake well until thoroughly chilled.
(200 ml fresh pomegranate juice · 120 ml vodka · 30 ml fresh lime juice · up to 25 ml sugar syrup · ice) - Fill two glasses with fresh ice and divide the pomegranate mixture between them. Top each glass with chilled soda or sparkling water.
(Ice · soda water or sparkling water) - Scatter over the pomegranate arils and add a few frozen raspberries, if using. Finish each glass with a sprig of fresh thyme and serve straight away.
(2 tbsp pomegranate arils · frozen raspberries, optional · 3–4 sprigs fresh thyme)