Holiday Manhattan Cocktail

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

Holiday Manhattan Cocktail

The classic bourbon cocktail gets a festive holiday twist with homemade pomegranate syrup

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients

  

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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

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