Christmas Manhattan Cocktail
The classic Manhattan cocktail is made extra festive in this Christmas Manhattan Cocktail recipe. It mixes your choice of bourbon or rye with pomegranate juice, pomegranate molasses, and bitters for a delightfully nuanced flavor that’s neither too boozy nor too fruity.
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Your Favorite Manhattan Cocktail, with a Christmas Spin
I love recreating classic cocktails for the holidays. After all, why make a plain white Russian if you can spike it with peppermint? And I love margaritas, but have you tried cranberry margs before?
This pomegranate Manhattan is the latest in a long line of festive Christmas cocktails. It’s a bourbon and pomegranate juice cocktail that’s easy to build and even easier to sip in the twinkling glow of the Christmas tree.
Here’s why you’ll love this cocktail recipe:
✔ Balanced Boozy Flavor: The smooth, boozy flavor of the whiskey and sweet vermouth are balanced by the rich pomegranate molasses and sweet-tart pomegranate juice.
✔ Quick and Easy Prep: There are no flavored syrups to prepare or booze to infuse in this recipe. Just build everything in a cocktail glass and stir to combine.
✔ Makes 2 Perfect Cocktails: This is the perfect drink for sharing with a loved one, but the recipe can easily be scaled up if preparing for the 21+ crowd at a Christmas party.
Happy Sipping!
-Katie
Cocktail Tools You’ll Need
You don’t need an elaborately stocked home bar to make this Christmas pomegranate cocktail, but having the following tools on hand is recommended.
- Cocktail Jigger — For accurately measuring out the ingredients.
- Cocktail Mixing Glass — The cocktail is built directly in the mixing glass before being stirred.
- Cocktail Spoon — A Manhattan cocktail is always stirred, never shaken.
- Cocktail Strainer — The cocktail is strained into the chilled glasses before serving.
- Coupe Glasses — My glass of choice for serving Manhattan cocktails.
How to Make a Christmas Manhattan
All of the ingredients with their measurements have been provided in the recipe card below. Below is just an overview of how this Christmas cocktail is made, plus my tips for customizing your drink.
Step 1: Add the following to a mixing glass …
- Whiskey — Both rye and bourbon may be used; rye will be slightly drier and spicier, while bourbon will be sweeter.
- Sweet Vermouth — Adds a rich, sweet flavor that cuts through the booziness of the whiskey.
- Pomegranate Juice — Check the ingredients list to make sure you’re using 100% unsweetened pomegranate juice.
- Pomegranate Molasses — If you don’t have pomegranate molasses, substitute a drop of maple syrup or simply leave it out.
- Bitters — Orange bitters give this cocktail a more festive flavor, but aromatic bitters are delicious too.
Want it fruitier? Increase the pomegranate juice to 1 ounce while keeping the vermouth at 1 ounce.
Step 2: Stir vigorously
You’ll first want to stir the cocktail mixture without ice to dissolve the pomegranate molasses. Then, add the ice and stir for another 25 seconds. This not only chills the cocktail, but it also dilutes it ever so slightly to balance out the flavor.
Step 3: Strain and garnish
After straining the cocktail into two chilled coupe glasses, garnish with an orange twist. I like to take a few extra moments to express the orange peel over each cocktail to add a hint of citrus flavor.
And, of course, no Manhattan cocktail is complete without a cherry! Try brandied cherries if you can find them, or use a Luxardo cherry.
Love Manhattan cocktails? Try making a Black Manhattan next! It uses black walnut bitters and Italian amaro to make the classic whiskey cocktail even more sophisticated.
Katie’s Tips for Making This Cocktail
- Choose a quality whiskey. This is such a simple cocktail, so you need to a high-quality bourbon or rye for best results. Brands we love include Elijah Craig, Woodford Reserve, and Angels’ Envy. (If you’re in Colorado too, try Laws Whiskey House, Distillery 291, or 10th Mountain!).
- Skip the ice. Manhattan cocktails are meant to be sipped slowly, and the melting ice will dilute your drink before you can finish it. That’d be such a shame since you’re using a nice whiskey!
- Chill your glasses. I usually stick my coupe glasses in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes so my cocktail stays nice and frosty.
Serving Suggestions
Whether serving this bourbon pomegranate cocktail as a pre-dinner drink or with dessert, here are some light bites that pair well with its smooth, fruity flavor.
More Festive Christmas Cocktails
Looking for more cozy sips or party-ready pours? You’ll find all my favorite holiday drinks over in the Christmas Cocktails section of the Recipe Index. Perfect for Christmas Eve, casual get-togethers, or just winding down with something cheerful in hand.
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Christmas Manhattan Cocktail Recipe
The classic Manhattan cocktail is made extra festive in this Christmas Manhattan cocktail recipe!
Ingredients
- 4 ounces rye whiskey or bourbon
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- ¾ ounce unsweetened pomegranate juice
- ½ teaspoon pomegranate molasses*
- 4 dashes orange bitters or aromatic bitters
- Ice, for mixing
- Luxardo cherry or orange peel, for garnish
Instructions
- Chill the Glasses. Place two coupe or cocktail glasses in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes so they are well chilled before serving.
- Mix the Cocktail. In a mixing glass, combine 4 ounces rye or bourbon, 1 ounce sweet vermouth, ¾ ounce pomegranate juice, ½ teaspoon pomegranate molasses, and 4 dashes bitters. Stir without ice for about 10 seconds—this dissolves the molasses fully into the liquid.
- Add ice to the mixing glass and stir again for 20 to 25 seconds. Stirring chills the drink while adding the right amount of dilution for balance.
- Strain and Garnish. Strain the cocktail evenly into the two chilled glasses. Express an orange peel over each glass by holding the peel over the drink and giving it a quick twist to release its oils, then drop it in as garnish. If you prefer, use a brandied cherry instead.
Notes
*If you don’t have pomegranate molasses, substitute a drop of maple syrup or simply leave it out.
For a fruitier variation, increase the pomegranate juice to 1 ounce while keeping the vermouth at 1 ounce.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 321Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 351mgCarbohydrates: 66gFiber: 10gSugar: 29gProtein: 8g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy. This provided information is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
Try Making a Manhattan Cocktail This Christmas!
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