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Blueberry Pomegranate Cosmopolitan

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.

Nancy Mitchell
Nancy founded The Backyard Bartender, wrote a cocktail column for The Kitchn, and started writing for Simply Recipes in 2018.
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Nancy Mitchell
Updated February 17, 2021
Nancy Mitchell
Pomegranate-Blueberry Cosmopolitan 2 blueberry cocktails
Nancy Mitchell

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!

How to Make a Cosmopolitan closeup with pomegranate and blueberry
Nancy Mitchell

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.

Cosmopolitan Drink with Blueberry red cocktail with blueberry garnish
Nancy Mitchell

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

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 0 mins
Total Time 5 mins
Serving 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)

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!