• Follow Us
Simmer and sage logo | Simmer & Sage
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Recipes
    • Starter Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Sauce Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Gluten Free Recipes
    • Low Fat Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
Contact Me
Simmer and sage logo | Simmer & Sage
Contact Me
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Recipes
    • Starter Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Sauce Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Gluten Free Recipes
    • Low Fat Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
Simmerandsage » Recipes » Holiday Manhattan Cocktail

Holiday Manhattan Cocktail

December 16, 2020

By simmerandsagePublished: December 16th, 2020Updated: December 21st, 2022
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

There’s no better time than the holidays for mixing up festive cocktails. And when it’s chilly outside and you’re coming in from the cold, there’s nothing better than a bourbon cocktail to warm you up. This Holiday Manhattan Cocktail, made with homemade pomegranate syrup, is just the thing to warm you into the holiday spirit.

Holiday Manhattan Cocktail garnished with a wedge of pomegranate

What’s in a Manhattan?

A traditional Manhattan is made up of the following ingredients:

  • bourbon or rye
  • sweet vermouth
  • bitters

Typically, a Manhattan cocktail is garnished with a cherry. And plain old maraschinos just won’t do. I use Amarena cherries and I can’t stress enough how important these little guys are to making the perfect Manhattan.

Top down view of Christmas Manhattan cocktail

Amarena cherries are sour Italian cherries soaked in a sweet syrup that not only make the perfect Manhattan, but are also incredible when used as an ice cream topping or even baked into brownies.

How to make Pomegranate Syrup

But we aren’t using cherries at all in this Holiday Manhattan Cocktail. I know! I just got you all excited about the cherries and then pulled the rug out. Sorry.

A hand pouring pomegranate syrup into a cocktail glass

But these aren’t your classic version of Manhattans, these are holiday ones. So we’re making a pomegranate syrup.

Simply pour pomegranate juice, sugar and lemon juice into a pot and let the mixture simmer on the stove for about an hour. Give it a stir once in a while, and that’s as active as you need to be.

Pomegranate syrup coating the back of a wooden spoon

The measurements down below will give you enough syrup for maybe a dozen drinks. Sometimes I double the recipe if we want it to last for the whole holiday season.

Just store it in a jar or plastic container in the fridge and use it for drinks or even to pour over pancakes. So good, and so festive!

Holiday Manhattan Cocktail with pomegranate syrup and a pomegranate wedge

This Holiday Manhattan Cocktail is the perfect way to warm up on a cold December day and a great kickoff to Christmas dinner. We’ve already starting mixing them up around here.

When you mix up your own, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Cheers!

For more festive cocktail recipes, try these:

  • Holiday Moscow Mule with Pomegranate & Sage
  • Mulled Spiked Cider
  • Ultimate Thanksgiving Sangria

For more bourbon cocktail recipes, try these:

  • Pumpkin Pie Bourbon Cocktail with Ginger & Orange
  • Fig Old Fashioned Cocktail
  • Rosemary Bourbon Sour
IMG 7042 | Simmer & Sage

Holiday Manhattan Cocktail

The classic bourbon cocktail gets a festive holiday twist with homemade pomegranate syrup
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients
  

The Cocktail

  • 3 oz. bourbon
  • 1.5 oz. sweet vermouth
  • 2 dashes bitters
  • 1-2 tsp. pomegranate syrup recipe below
  • pomegranate seeds for garnish, optional

Pomegranate Syrup

  • 2 cups pomegranate juice
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • To make the pomegranate syrup, combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce heat and simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally. The mixture should coat the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
  • To make the cocktail, combine all ingredients in a rocks glass. Stir gently, until syrup is dissolved. Add ice and garnish with pomegranate seeds.
Keyword bourbon, cocktail, holiday
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

How useful was this recipe?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 1

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this recipe.

Share this recipe:

Filed Under: Drink Recipes, Recipes, Trending Recipes

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Hi! I’m Jackie.

Jackie

I’ve been cooking for as long as I can remember. To me, food is art, food is life and food is love. A delicious meal, lovingly prepared, is a wonderful gift to give. I love eating out, engaging with chefs and sharing in their excitement about what they’ve created.

Read More

Find a Recipe

Socialize With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Subscribe

Trending Recipes

Southern Pimento Cheese Recipe (Easy Homemade Dip)

Healthy Southwestern Coleslaw Recipe (No Mayo)

Easy Shrimp Mei Fun Recipe (Singapore Rice Noodles)

How to Make the Best Guacamole Ever (Easy Recipe)

Falafel Platter Recipe with Hummus and Tzatziki

Best Chicken Chesapeake Recipe (with Maryland Crab)

Footer logo | Simmer & Sage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • The Chickens
  • Contact
  • The Garden
  • Testimonials
  • Entrees Recipes

Follow Us

COPYRIGHT © 2022 · SIMMER AND SAGE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Web Design by Pixelchefs.com

Join the Simmer & Sage Community

Free recipes delivered to your inbox every week!

Enter your email address

Thanks, I’m not interested