The fruity intensity of pomegranate makes our swizzle sizzle.
About the cocktail
If you’ve ever thought that cocktail culture can take itself a little too seriously, just remember there’s a style of drink that exists called the swizzle – and the name is just the start of the fun. Swizzles – like this Pomegranate Swizzle – are a type of Sour (of Whiskey Sour fame), meaning that sugar, citrus and some sort of spirit are involved. The difference with a swizzle, though, is it’s made with crushed ice instead of cubed, and they’re ‘swizzled’ with a swizzle stick instead of shaken or stirred (more on that later). You can’t say ‘swizzle’ that many times and still think cocktails are stuffy and serious, right? With the Pomegranate Swizzle, our cocktail experts have landed somewhere between a Negroni or Americano and a Gin Sour, topped off with the bright fruitiness (and vivid ruby red colour) of pomegranate juice. You’ve got the bittersweet complexity of sweet vermouth, the zestiness of lemon and pomegranate juice, and the herbaceousness of London dry gin, all served over crushed ice. We think the Pomegranate Swizzle is an obvious pick for sunny afternoons (that potent colour really shines next to a family-style barbecue spread), and that colour absolutely nails the Christmas brief. But you could certainly lean into the aperitivo vibes year-round and swizzle up a batch to go with pre-dinner snacks. Perhaps thinly sliced prosciutto and creamy white cheeses?
Ingredients
40mL London dry gin 20mL sweet vermouth 30mL pomegranate juice 15mL lemon juice 15mL sugar syrup Garnish: lemon wedge and pomegranate seeds Glass: highball
Method
Add all ingredients to your glass Fill the glass one-third of the way with crushed ice Swizzle well with a bar spoon Top the glass with crushed ice Garnish with the lemon and pomegranate
Dan’s top tips
So, how does one ‘swizzle’? The technique comes from the Caribbean and is specifically designed to mix drinks made with crushed ice. Traditionally, a swizzle stick is used (it’s basically a thin twig with short, forked branches at the bottom), but here we’ve called for a bar spoon – it’ll do the same trick. To swizzle, add all your ingredients and ice to your glass, place your swizzle stick or bar spoon in vertically, and rub it between your palms (like you’re keeping warm on a cold night) so that the spoon or stick rotates, aerating and mixing the drink. Now you’re swizzling. Oh, and, considering the swizzle technique is a Caribbean invention, these drinks often use rum as the base spirit, so feel free to lean into the tropical vibes with your favourite. We think tequila would work a treat here, too. And as for the crushed ice, it’s easy to make at home. Just be sure you’re stocked with cubed ice, and place some in a tea towel or canvas bag and crack it with a heavy pan or rolling pin. A quick blitz in a blender or food processor can also work – just don’t leave it too long or you’ll get a pomegranate slushy.
What is the Pomegranate Swizzle?
A Pomegranate Swizzle is a cocktail made with pomegranate juice, sweet vermouth, London dry gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup, served over crushed ice and mixed with the swizzling technique.
Where can I find pomegranate juice?
Pomegranate juice is pretty common these days. You should be able to find it in the juice aisle or health food section of your local supermarket.
- How can I make crushed ice?
You can easily make crushed ice at home using a blender (just add cubed ice and pulse several times), or wrap ice cubes in a tea towel or place them in a zip lock bag, and break them up by banging them with a rolling pin.
