This Pomegranate and Blueberry Cosmopolitan is perfect for warm weather! Made with muddled blueberries and pomegranate juice, this update to the classic Cosmo has a smooth, sweet berry flavor that’s just right for summer.
Blame Carrie Bradshaw: the Cosmopolitan is probably the best-known vodka cocktail of the last two decades.
While ordering one can feel like a throwback to the late ’90s, it turns out there’s a reason for its popularity—this is a fun, zippy little drink, equal parts tart, sweet, and bracing!
A DELICIOUS UPDATE TO THE COSMO
A traditional Cosmo is composed of vodka, lime juice, Cointreau, and cranberry juice. This blueberry and pomegranate version is smoother and juicier, but just as enjoyable!
Blueberry and pomegranate make a really lovely flavor combination. Both fruits have sweet-tart dimensions that complement each other nicely. Here, that ripe, juicy berry flavor brings a new angle to the classic Cosmo, while honoring the spirit of the original.
WHICH VODKA TO USE
I like Tito’s for this cocktail (it’s my go-to vodka), but any moderately priced vodka will do.
MUDDLE YOUR BLUEBERRIES, THEN DOUBLE STRAIN
To really make this drink extra fresh and original, muddle your blueberries first using a muddler, then double strain to keep bits of blueberry gunk from ruining the aesthetic of your drink. (If you don’t care about blueberry gunk, feel free to single strain.)
A double strain involves straining your drink through both a traditional cocktail strainer (the strainer on your shaker, or a Hawthorne strainer if you’re using a Boston shaker), and also a fine strainer. For the fine strainer, you can use one specifically designed for cocktails, but a tea strainer will also do nicely.
Bonus: This technique not only removes pulp from your drink; it also impresses your friends!
MORE FRESH AND FRUITY COCKTAILS TO TRY
Blueberry Pomegranate Cosmopolitan Recipe
- Prep time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces vodka
- 3/4 ounce pomegranate juice (fresh-squeezed is nice, but Pom is fine)
- 3/4 ounce Cointreau
- 1/2 ounce lime juice (DO use fresh squeezed for this)
- 5 – 8 fresh blueberries (fresh is best, but thawed frozen ones will do in a pinch)
Special equipment:
- Cocktail shaker with built-in strainer, or mixing glass and Hawthorne strainer
- Muddler or spoon
- Tea strainer
- Cocktail glass
Method
1 Muddle the blueberries: Place the blueberries in the bottom of a shaker or mixing glass. Cover with the pomegranate juice, then muddle the blueberries with a muddler or the back of a spoon. Smoosh them enough so that the skins break and a little juice is released, but not so much that the blueberries completely fall apart.
2 Make the cocktail: Add the vodka, lime juice, and Cointreau. Fill with ice, cover, then shake for 30 to 45 seconds.
3 Double strain: If using a mixing glass, place a Hawthorne strainer on top. Then, with your other hand, hold a tea strainer over a cocktail glass. Pour the drink out of the shaker or mixing glass through the tea strainer and into a cocktail glass. Enjoy!
