The 2020 festive season might be different for all of us, but either in person or over zoom, celebrate the joy of the holidays with your loved ones while sipping a Pomegranate Aperol Spritz.

The tangy pomegranate is combined with the bitter flavor of the Aperol and the bubbly prosecco to create a perfectly balanced holiday cocktail that is sophisticated but easy to make.

Why you will love this drink

– It is a twist on one of the most iconic Italian cocktails that stands for joy and fun.

– Pomegranate is the ultimate holiday fruit – it is in season during the winter and its red color just screams “Christmas”!

– If you do not like bitter drinks too much, you will be hooked on this drink, as it is sweeter than the Aperol Spritz.

– It is the perfect drink for a pre-Christmas aperitif or a Christmas day brunch.

How to make the Pomegranate Aperol Spritz

While the Aperol Spritz recipe is based on the classic 3-2-1 formula (3 Prosecco, 2 Aperol, 1 sparkling water), this recipe instead uses a 3-1-1-1 formula – 3 parts of Prosecco, 1 part of Aperol, 1 part of pomegranate juice and 1 part of sparkling water. If you want to know more about the Aperol Spritz and its history, check out my previous post.

In this drink, the very distinct bitter flavor of the Aperol is counterbalanced by the sweet and tart flavor of the pomegranate.

I tried different formulas to create this drink and I think this ratio is the best. A higher ratio of Aperol will overpower the taste of the pomegranate, while a higher ratio of pomegranate will result in a drink that is too sweet.

This cocktail is rather simple to make:

Take a red wine glass.
Add 5 ice cubes.
Add 3 parts of Prosecco, 1 part of Aperol,1 part of pomegranate juice and 1 part of sparkling water.

Stir well and garnish with a slice of orange. Add some pomegranate seeds that will float on the surface, creating a nice effect.

Serving suggestions

I recommend serving this cocktail with some nibbles. For the festive season, I suggest Prosciutto Dip Tartine or Olive Ascolane (Italian Stuffed Olives). This is a great way to create the Italian aperitif atmosphere.

The Pomegranate Aperol Spritz will pair perfectly with both of these salty and creamy appetizers.

Looking for more cocktail ideas? Check out the Aperol Spritz and Negroni Sbagliato.

Please let me know how you like the Pomegranate Aperol Spritz in the comments! I really would love hearing from you, and hope this festive drink will accompany you throughout this holiday season.